The NAIA football national championship is decided by a post-season playoff system featuring the best National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) college football teams in the United States. Under sponsorship of the NAIA, the championship game has been played annually since 1956.
4-464: In 1970, NAIA football was divided into two divisions based on enrollment, Division I and Division II , with a championship game played in each division. In 1997, NAIA football was again consolidated back into one division. NAIA schools are allowed to offer 24 full varsity football scholarships which can be divided up as they wish. Junior varsity scholarship players do not count towards the total. Texas A&I (now known as Texas A&M–Kingsville)
8-565: A variety of names: NAIA Division II football national championship The NAIA Division II football national championship was a post-season playoff system featuring the best NAIA Division II college football teams in the United States. It was played annually between 1970 and 1996 when NAIA football play was divided into two divisions based on school enrollment size; the NAIA Division I football national championship
12-606: Is still the most prolific program with seven NAIA championships, despite having been in NCAA Division II since 1980. Carroll College of Montana is the most successful team still playing at the NAIA level, with six national titles. Keiser is the current champion, having defeated the Northwestern Red Raiders in the 2023 title game, 31–21. Over the years, the NAIA championship games were played under
16-462: Was played separately. It was typically held at the home field of the higher-seeded team. The championship was discontinued in 1997 after the two divisions were consolidated once again. The singular NAIA football national championship has been held every year since. Westminster (PA) was the most successful team at the Division II level, winning the national title six times. 1 Game ended in
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