The NCAA Division III football championship is an American college football tournament played annually to determine a champion at the NCAA Division III level. It was first held in 1973, as a single-elimination playoff with eight teams. Over the past 50 seasons, the number of participants has grown to 40. In 2025, 27 playoff bids went to conference champions via automatic qualification, leaving 13 places for at-large selections.

The Division III championship game, known as the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl or Stagg Bowl (named after football coach Amos Alonzo Stagg), was held at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston, Texas in 2024. Other Stagg Bowl sites have included Annapolis, Maryland (2022), Canton, Ohio (2021, 2025, 2027), Shenandoah, Texas (2018–2019), Salem, Virginia (1993–2017, 2023, 2026), Bradenton, Florida (1990–1992), Phenix City, Alabama (1973–1982, 1985–1989), and Kings Island, Ohio (1983–1984).

West and East Region Championships (1969–1972) The Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl was founded by the NCAA in October 1969. Along with its counterpart, the Knute Rockne Bowl, it was "created by the NCAA ... for its College Division II schools, those 100-plus smallest schools in the NCAA." Eligible schools were divided into an East Region (the Northeast and Middle Atlantic states) and West Region (the rest of the country), with the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl serving as the championship of the West Region, and the Knute Rockne Bowl as the championship of the East Region.

The NCAA thus provided postseason opportunities for College Division teams too small to compete for spots in the four regional bowls it had established in 1964 (as of 1969, these were the Camellia Bowl for the West, the Pecan Bowl for the Midwest, the Grantland Rice Bowl for the Mideast, and the Boardwalk Bowl for the East). At least for the sport of football, this accommodation in 1969 foreshadowed the decision to subdivide the College Division four years later, into Division II and Division III.

Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl (West Region championship) Year Date Champion Runner-up Score Location1969 Nov 29 Wittenberg William Jewell27–21Springfield, Ohio1970 Nov 28CapitalLuther34–21Columbus, Ohio1971 Nov 26 Samford (vacated) Ohio Wesleyan 20–10Phenix City, Alabama1972 Nov 24 Heidelberg Fort Valley State28–16

Knute Rockne Bowl (East Region championship) Year Date Champion Runner-up Score Location1969 Nov 29 Randolph–Macon Bridgeport47–28Bridgeport, Connecticut1970 Nov 28 Montclair State Hampden–Sydney7–6Atlantic City, New Jersey1971 Nov 26 Bridgeport17–121972 Nov 24 Slippery Rock 27–22

National Championships (1973–present) When the College Division was subdivided into the current Division II and Division III in 1973, the NCAA made the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl the Division III national championship game. Initially, Phenix City, Alabama (site of the 1971 and 1972 Stagg Bowls) continued as the host city.

Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl Year Date Champion Runner-up Score Venue City 1973Dec. 8 Wittenberg 41–0 5,000Garrett–Harrison StadiumPhenix City, Alabama Dave Maurer1974Dec. 7 Central (IA) 10–8 5,500 Ron Schipper1975Dec. 6 Wittenberg 28–0 6,000 Dave Maurer1976Dec. 4 Saint John's (MN) 31–28 7,214 John Gagliardi1977Dec. 3 Widener 39–36 7,852 Bill Manlove1978Dec. 2 Baldwin–Wallace 24–10 7,500 Lee Tressel1979Dec. 1 Ithaca 14–10 6,500 Jim Butterfield1980Dec. 6 Dayton 63–0 8,701 Rick E. Carter1981Dec. 5 Widener 17–10 6,100 Bill Manlove1982Dec. 4 West Georgia 14–0 9,000 Bobby Pate1983Dec. 1 Augustana (IL) 21–17 3,800Galbreath FieldKings Mills, Ohio Bob Reade1984Dec. 8 Augustana (IL) 21–12 2,300 1985Dec. 14 Augustana (IL) 20–7 1,879Garrett–Harrison StadiumPhenix City, Alabama 1986Dec. 13 Augustana (IL) 31–3 2,000 1987Dec. 12 Wagner 19–3 4,000 Walt Hameline1988 Dec. 10 Ithaca 39–24 4,000 Jim Butterfield1989Dec. 9 Dayton 17–7 3,500 Mike Kelly1990Dec. 8 Allegheny 21–14 (OT) 4,800Hawkins StadiumBradenton, Florida Ken O'Keefe1991Dec. 14 Ithaca Dayton 34–20 5,469 Jim Butterfield1992Dec. 12 Wisconsin–La Crosse 16–12 5,329 Roger Harring1993 Dec. 11 Mount Union 34–24 7,304Salem Football StadiumSalem, Virginia Larry Kehres1994 Dec. 10 Albion 38–15 7,168 Pete Schmidt1995Dec. 9 Wisconsin–La Crosse 36–7 4,905 Roger Harring1996Dec. 14 Mount Union 56–24 5,048 Larry Kehres1997Dec. 13 Mount Union 61–12 5,777 1998Dec. 12 Mount Union 44–24 5,145 1999Dec. 18 Pacific Lutheran 42–13 4,101 Frosty Westering2000Dec. 16 Mount Union 10–7 4,643 Larry Kehres2001 Dec. 15 Mount Union 30–27 7,992 2002 Dec. 21 Mount Union 48–7 4,389 2003 Dec. 20 Saint John's (MN) Mount Union 24–6 5,073 John Gagliardi2004 Dec. 18 Linfield 28–21 3,240 Jay Locey2005 Dec. 17 Mount Union 35–28 4,619 Larry Kehres2006 Dec. 16 Mount Union 35–16 6,051 2007 Dec. 15 Wisconsin–Whitewater Mount Union 31–21 5,099 Lance Leipold2008 Dec. 20 Mount Union 31–26 5,344 Larry Kehres2009 Dec. 19 Wisconsin–Whitewater 38–28 3,468 Lance Leipold2010 Dec. 18 Wisconsin–Whitewater 31–21 4,598 2011 Dec. 16 Wisconsin–Whitewater 13–10 3,784 2012 Dec. 14 Mount Union 28–10 6,027 Larry Kehres2013 Dec. 20 Wisconsin–Whitewater 52–14 5,371 Lance Leipold2014 Dec. 19 Wisconsin–Whitewater 43–34 5,465 2015Dec. 18 Mount Union 49–35 5,343 Vince Kehres2016Dec. 16 Mary Hardin–Baylor 10–7 3,476 Pete Fredenburg2017Dec. 15 Mount Union 12–0 4,971 Vince Kehres2018Dec. 14 Mary Hardin–Baylor Mount Union 24–16 6,816 Woodforest Bank StadiumShenandoah, Texas Pete Fredenburg2019 Dec. 20 North Central (IL)41–141,362Jeff Thorne 2020 Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2021 Dec. 17 Mary Hardin–Baylor 57–24 1,830 Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium Canton, Ohio Pete Fredenburg 2022 Dec. 16 North Central (IL) Mount Union 28–21 3,231 Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Annapolis, Maryland Brad Spencer 2023 Dec. 15 Cortland North Central (IL) 38–37 3,381 Salem Football Stadium Salem, Virginia Curt Fitzpatrick 2024 Jan. 5 North Central (IL) 41–25 1,938 Shell Energy Stadium Houston, Texas Brad Spencer 2025 Jan. 4 Wisconsin–River Falls 24–14 2,403 Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium Canton, Ohio Matt Walker 2026 Salem Football Stadium Salem, Virginia 2027 Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium Canton, Ohio

Notes

National championships by team

Active programs Team Titles Years Mount Union 13 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2015, 2017 Wisconsin–Whitewater 6 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 Augustana (IL) 4 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 Ithaca 3 1979, 1988, 1991 North Central (IL) 3 2019, 2022, 2024 Mary Hardin–Baylor 2 2016, 2018, 2021 Saint John's (MN) 2 1976, 2003 Wisconsin–La Crosse 2 1992, 1995 Widener 2 1977, 1981 Wittenberg 2 1973, 1975 Wisconsin–River Falls 1 2025 Cortland 1 2023 Linfield 1 2004 Pacific Lutheran 1 1999 Albion 1 1994 Allegheny 1 1990 Baldwin Wallace 1 1978 Central (IA) 1 1974

Former programs Team Titles Years Dayton 2 1980, 1989 Wagner 1 1987 West Georgia 1 1982

Notes

Championship game appearances

Team Years Mount Union 23 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2024 Wisconsin–Whitewater 10 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2019 Ithaca 7 1974, 1975, 1979, 1980, 1985, 1988, 1991 North Central (IL) 6 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 Augustana (IL) 5 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 Dayton 5 1980, 1981, 1987, 1989, 1991 Rowan 5 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999 Mary Hardin–Baylor 4 2004, 2016§, 2017, 2018, 2021 Wittenberg 4 1973, 1975, 1978, 1979 Saint John's (MN) 3 1976, 2001, 2003 Central (IA) 3 1974, 1984, 1988 Wisconsin–La Crosse 2 1992, 1995 Widener 2 1977, 1981 St. Thomas (MN) 2 2012, 2015 Lycoming 2 1990, 1997 Washington & Jefferson 2 1992, 1994 Union (NY) 2 1983, 1989 Wisconsin–River Falls 1 2025 Cortland 1 2023 Linfield 1 2004 Pacific Lutheran 1 1999 Albion 1 1994 Allegheny 1 1990 Wagner 1 1987 West Georgia 1 1982 Baldwin Wallace 1 1978 Wisconsin–Oshkosh 1 2016 Trinity (TX) 1 2002 Bridgewater (VA) 1 2001 Salisbury State 1 1986 Wabash 1 1977 Towson State 1 1976 Juniata 1 1973

Stagg Bowl Most Outstanding Player Award As voted by the media at the game since 2000. Year Player Team Class 2000 Chuck Moore Mount Union Senior RB2001 5th year Senior RB2002 Dan Pugh Senior RB2003 Blake Elliot Saint John's (MN) Senior WR2004 Riley Jenkins Linfield Senior RB2005 Nate Kmic Mount Union Freshman RB2006 Greg Micheli Sophomore QB2007 Justin Beaver Wisconsin–Whitewater Senior RB2008 Greg Micheli Mount Union Senior QB2009 Levell Coppage Wisconsin–Whitewater Sophomore RB2010 Junior RB2011 Loussaint Minett Sophomore DE2012 Kevin Burke Mount Union Sophomore QB2013 Matt Behrendt Wisconsin–Whitewater Junior QB2014 Senior QB2015 Taurice Scott Mount Union Senior QB2016 Blake Jackson Mary Hardin-Baylor Senior QB2017 Nick Brish Mount Union Sophomore DB2018 T.J. Josey Mary Hardin–Baylor Senior WR2019 Ethan Greenfield North Central Sophomore RB2021 Micah Hackett Mary Hardin–Baylor Senior LB 2022 Ethan Greenfield North Central Senior RB 2023 Zac Boyes Cortland Junior QB 2024 Luke Lehnen North Central Senior QB 2025 Kaleb Blaha Wisconsin–River Falls Senior QB

References

Sources NCAA Division III national football championship history from NCAA.org NCAA Division III Football Championships Records Book from NCAA.org Division III football playoff history from d3football.com

External links