The following is a list of current Division III schools that have participated in the playoffs leading to the NCAA Division III Football Championship.
The playoffs began with four teams in 1973, expanded to eight teams to 1975, 16 teams in 1985, 28 teams in 1999, 32 teams in 2005, and 40 teams in 2024.
Current Division III members Qualified programs Teams in bold participated in the 2025 postseason. Updated after 2025 playoffs on November 14, 2025.
TeamAppearancesFirstLastWinsLossesTotalPct. Adrian Bulldogs 4 1983 2014 0 4 4 Albion Britons 12 1977 2021 5 11 16 Albright Lions 5 1975 2015 4 5 9 Alfred Saxons 4 1981 2016 4 4 8 Alfred State Pioneers 2 2023 2024 0 2 2 Allegheny Gators 8 1987 2003 5 7 12 Alma Scots 6 1999 2025 3 6 9 Anderson (IN) Ravens 1 1993 1993 0 1 1 Augsburg Auggies 1 1997 1997 1 1 2 Augustana (IL) Vikings 15 1976 2005 22 11 33 Aurora Spartans 9 1992 2024 3 8 11 Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jackets 6 1978 2003 4 5 9 Belhaven Blazers 1 2023 2023 0 1 1 Benedictine (IL) Eagles 3 2010 2014 0 3 3 Berry Vikings 5 2017 2025 4 4 8 Bethany (WV) Bison 1 1980 1980 0 1 1 Bethel (MN) Royals 14 2000 2025 20 15 35 Bridgewater State Bears 4 1999 2016 0 4 4 Bridgewater (VA) Eagles 7 2000 2019 10 7 17 Brockport Golden Eagles 7 2000 2019 7 7 14 Buena Vista Beavers 2 1976 1986 1 2 3 Buffalo State Bengals 7 1992 1999 2 7 9 Cal Lutheran Kingsmen 4 2009 2012 0 4 4 Capital (OH) Crusaders 4 1987 2007 4 4 8 Carleton Knights 1 1992 1992 0 1 1 Carnegie Mellon Tartans 9 1978 2024 4 7 11 Carroll (WI) Pioneers 1 1976 1976 0 1 1 Carthage Red Men 1 2004 2004 2 1 3 Case Western Spartans 5 2007 2019 2 5 7 Catholic University Cardinals 3 1997 1999 0 3 3 Central (IA) Dutch 22 1974 2021 24 21 45 Centre Colonels 4 2011 2024 2 3 5 Chapman Panthers 5 2014 2025 2 5 7 Christopher Newport Captains 12 2001 2025 3 12 15 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Stags 1 2018 2018 0 1 1 Coast Guard Bears 2 1996 1997 0 2 2 Coe Kohawks 12 1985 2025 4 11 15 Concordia Chicago Cougars 1 2012 2012 0 1 1 Concordia–Moorhead Cobbers 6 1986 2005 4 6 10 Concordia Wisconsin Falcons 5 2003 2025 0 5 5 Cortland Red Dragons 14 1988 2025 13 13 26 Crown Polars 1 2025 2025 0 1 1 Curry Colonels 6 2003 2008 2 6 8 Delaware Valley Aggies 12 2004 2023 14 12 26 Denison Big Red 2 1985 2018 0 2 2 DePauw Tigers 7 2009 2025 2 6 8 Dickinson Red Devils 4 1989 2006 0 4 4 Dubuque Spartans 4 1979 2015 0 4 4 East Texas Baptist Tigers 1 2003 2003 1 1 2 Eastern Eagles 1 2025 2025 1 1 2 Elmhurst Bluejays 1 2012 2012 0 1 1 Endicott Gulls 7 2010 2025 1 7 8 Eureka Red Devils 2 2017 2018 0 2 2 Framingham State Rams 7 2012 2025 0 7 7 Franklin Grizzlies 9 2007 2017 5 9 14 Franklin & Marshall Diplomats 1 2025 2025 0 1 1 Gallaudet Bison 2 2013 2022 0 2 2 Gettysburg Bullets 1 1985 1985 2 1 3 Grove City Wolverines 3 2023 2025 1 2 3 Gustavus Adolphus Gusties 1 1987 1987 0 1 1 Greenville Panthers 1 2021 2021 0 1 1 Hampden–Sydney Tigers 7 1977 2014 1 7 8 Hanover Panthers 9 1995 2025 2 9 11 Hardin–Simmons Cowboys 14 1999 2025 4 14 18 Hartwick Hawks 1 2007 2007 0 1 1 Heidelberg Student Princes 1 2012 2012 0 1 1 Hendrix Warriors 1 2015 2015 0 1 1 Hiram Terriers 1 1987 1987 0 1 1 Hobart Statesmen 13 2000 2024 9 12 21 Hope Flying Dutchmen 7 1986 2025 0 6 6 Huntingdon Hawks 7 2009 2022 2 7 9 Husson Eagles 4 2014 2018 1 4 5 Illinois College Blueboys 2 2011 2023 0 2 2 Illinois Wesleyan Titans 6 1992 2017 3 6 9 Ithaca Bombers 21 1974 2023 31 18 49 John Carroll Blue Streaks 9 1989 2025 13 9 22 Johns Hopkins Blue Jays 14 2005 2025 18 14 32 Juniata Eagles 1 1973 1973 1 1 2 Kean Cougars 1 2011 2011 1 1 2 King's (PA) Monarchs 2 2002 2024 1 1 2 LaGrange Panthers 2 2008 2025 0 1 1 Lake Forest Foresters 4 2002 2024 0 4 4 Lakeland Muskies 5 2005 2017 0 5 5 Lawrence Vikings 1 1981 1981 1 1 2 La Verne Leopards 2 1994 2015 0 2 2 Lebanon Valley Flying Dutchmen 1 2013 2013 0 1 1 Linfield Wildcats 18 2000 2024 30 17 47 Lycoming Warriors 12 1985 2008 13 12 25 Macalester Scots 1 2014 2014 0 1 1 Maine Maritime Mariners 1 2009 2009 0 1 1 Maritime Privateers 2 2010 2019 0 2 2 Martin Luther Knights 2 2018 2019 0 2 2 Mary Hardin–Baylor Crusaders 19 2002 2024 42 17 59 Maryville Scots 3 2013 2024 0 1 2 MIT Engineers 3 2014 2019 1 3 4 McDaniel Green Terror 5 1997 2001 2 5 7 McMurry War Hawks 1 2011 2011 1 1 1 Merchant Marine Mariners 1 1994 1994 0 1 1 Millikin Big Blue 3 1989 2000 3 1 3 Millsaps Majors 3 1975 2008 2 3 5 Minnesota Morris Cougars 6 1977 2023 3 6 9 Monmouth (IL) Scots 8 2005 2025 2 8 10 Montclair State Red Hawks 10 2005 2011 9 10 19 Moravian Greyhounds 2 1988 1993 1 2 3 Mount Ida Mustangs 1 2012 2012 0 1 1 Mount St. Joseph Lions 8 2004 2024 0 7 7 Mount Union Purple Raiders 36 1985 2025 117 23 140 Muhlenberg Mules 11 2002 2025 10 11 21 TCNJ Lions 5 1990 2007 4 5 9 North Carolina Wesleyan Bishops 2 2007 2009 1 2 3 North Central (IL) Cardinals 17 2005 2025 39 14 53 Northwestern (MN) Eagles 3 2016 2024 0 2 0 Norwich Cadets 2 2011 2015 0 2 2 Ohio Northern Polar Bears 4 1999 2015 5 4 9 Olivet Comets 2 2007 2016 0 2 2 Otterbein Cardinals 1 2008 2008 0 1 1 Pacific Lutheran Lutes 6 1998 2013 8 5 13 Plymouth State Panthers 5 1984 2017 1 5 6 Pomona–Pitzer Sagehens 2 2022 2024 0 2 2 Randolph–Macon Yellow Jackets 8 1984 2025 6 8 14 Redlands Bulldogs 10 1990 2021 0 10 10 RPI Engineers 7 1999 2021 7 7 14 Rhodes Lynx 1 1988 1988 0 1 1 Rochester Yellowjackets 1 1987 1987 0 1 1 Rose–Hulman Fightin' Engineers 2 2016 2021 0 2 2 Rowan Profs 16 1991 2014 31 16 47 St. John Fisher Cardinals 5 2004 2013 10 5 15 Saint John's (MN) Johnnies 30 1976 2025 45 28 73 St. Lawrence Saints 4 1976 2010 2 4 6 St. Norbert Green Knights 13 1989 2018 2 13 15 St. Olaf Oles 1 1978 1978 0 1 1 St. Scholastica Saints 5 2011 2015 0 5 5 Salisbury Sea Gulls 15 1983 2025 13 15 28 Shenandoah Hornets 1 2004 2004 0 1 1 Simpson Storm 6 1988 2003 2 6 8 Springfield Pride 11 1998 2025 7 11 18 Stevenson Mustangs 1 2016 2016 0 1 1 Susquehanna River Hawks 7 1986 2025 9 7 16 Texas Lutheran Bulldogs 2 2014 2024 0 2 2 Thiel Tomcats 1 2005 2005 1 1 2 Trine Thunder 5 2008 2018 3 5 8 Trinity (TX) Tigers 17 1994 2025 15 17 32 UMass Dartmouth Corsairs320022024022 Union (NY) Garnet Chargers 14 1983 2025 11 14 25 Ursinus Bears 3 1996 2024 1 3 4 Utica Pioneers 1 2022 2022 1 1 2 Wabash Little Giants 10 1977 2019 11 9 20 Wartburg Knights 18 1982 2025 18 18 36 Washington–Saint Louis Bears 3 1999 2016 0 3 3 Washington & Jefferson Presidents 28 1984 2025 23 28 51 Washington and Lee Generals 6 2006 2021 0 6 6 Waynesburg Yellow Jackets 1 2003 2003 0 1 1 Western Connecticut Wolves 4 1985 2023 1 4 5 Western New England Golden Bears 6 2011 2019 1 6 7 Westfield State Owls 1 2001 2001 0 1 1 Wheaton Thunder 15 1995 2025 22 15 37 Whitworth Pirates 7 2001 2025 3 4 7 Widener Pride 14 1975 2014 19 12 31 Wilkes Colonels 3 1993 2006 1 3 4 Willamette Bearcats 3 1999 2008 1 3 4 William Paterson Pioneers 1 1993 1993 1 1 2 Wisconsin–Eau Claire Blugolds 2 1998 2007 3 2 5 Wisconsin–La Crosse Eagles 16 1983 2025 21 14 35 Wisconsin–Oshkosh Titans 5 2012 2019 12 5 17 Wisconsin–Platteville Pioneers 4 2013 2025 2 4 6 Wisconsin–River Falls Falcons 3 1995 2025 6 2 8 Wisconsin–Stevens Point Pointers 4 1986 2008 1 4 5 Wisconsin–Stout Blue Devils 1 2000 2000 0 1 1 Wisconsin–Whitewater Warhawks 21 1988 2025 60 14 74 Wittenberg Tigers 19 1973 2017 22 17 39 Wooster Fighting Scots 1 2004 2004 1 1 2 WPI Engineers 1 1992 1992 0 1 1
Not yet qualified American Rivers Conference (2) – Loras, Nebraska Wesleyan American Southwest Conference (2) – Howard Payne, Schreiner College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (1) – North Park Conference of New England (3) – New England, New England College, Nichols Empire 8 (1) – SUNY Morrisville Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (2) – Bluffton, Manchester Independent (1) – Keystone Liberty League (1) – Hilbert Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (4) – Dean, Fitchburg State, Massachusetts Maritime, Worcester State Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (2) – Calvin, Kalamazoo Middle Atlantic Conference (3) – Alvernia, FDU Florham, Misericordia Midwest Conference (7) – Beloit, Chicago, Cornell (IA), Grinnell, Knox, Luther, Ripon Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (1) – Hamline New England Small College Athletic Conference (10) – Amherst, Bates, Bowdoin, Colby, Hamilton, Middlebury, Trinity (CT), Tufts, Wesleyan, Williams New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (1) – Salve Regina New Jersey Athletic Conference (1) – Castleton North Coast Athletic Conference (3) – Kenyon, Oberlin, Ohio Wesleyan Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (2) – Rockford, Wisconsin Lutheran Northwest Conference (4) – George Fox, Lewis & Clark, Pacific (OR), Puget Sound Ohio Athletic Conference (3) – Marietta, Muskingum, Wilmington (OH) Old Dominion Athletic Conference (3) – Averett, Guilford, Roanoke Presidents' Athletic Conference (4) – Geneva, Saint Francis, St. Vincent, Westminster (PA) Southern Athletic Association (2) – Sewanee, Southwestern Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (2) – Azusa Pacific, Whittier Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (3) – Austin, Centenary, Lyon Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (1) – Westminster (MO) USA South Athletic Conference (4) – Brevard, Greensboro, Methodist, Southern Virginia
Former Division III members Former NCAA Division III teams that sponsored football at D-III level and had made at least one appearance in playoffs but had either left NCAA Division III or no longer sponsor football. TeamAppearancesFirstLastWinsLossesTotalPct. Albany Great Danes 1 1977 1977 1 1 2 Anna Maria Amcats 1 2021 2021 0 1 1 Birmingham–Southern Panthers 1 2021 2021 1 1 2 Bishop (TX) Tigers 1 1982 1982 1 1 2 Bridgeport Purple Knights 1 1973 1973 0 1 1 Colorado College Tigers 1 1975 1975 0 1 1 Dayton Flyers 11 1978 1992 16 9 25 Defiance Yellow Jackets 1 2001 2001 0 1 1 Emory & Henry Wasps 5 1986 2000 3 5 8 Evansville Purple Aces 1 1974 1974 0 1 1 Ferrum Panthers 5 1987 2005 4 5 9 Fordham Rams 1 1987 1987 1 1 2 Fort Valley State Wildcats 1 1975 1975 0 1 1 Frostburg State Bobcats 3 1993 2018 4 3 7 Hofstra Flying Dutchmen 6 1983 1990 2 6 8 Indianapolis Greyhounds 1 1975 1975 0 1 1 LIU Post Pioneers 1 1976 1976 0 1 1 Louisiana College Wildcats 1 2012 2012 0 1 1 MacMurray Highlanders 2 2001 2002 2 0 2 UMass Lowell River Hawks 1 1991 1991 1 0 1 Menlo Oaks 1 1987 1987 1 0 1 Millersville Marauders 1 1979 1979 0 1 1 Mississippi College Choctaws 1 2009 2009 0 1 1 Occidental Tigers 7 1983 2008 3 7 10 St. Thomas (MN) Tommies 9 1990 2017 20 9 29 San Diego Toreros 1 1973 1973 0 1 1 Slippery Rock 1 1974 1974 0 1 1 Thomas More Saints 8 1992 2016 4 8 12 Towson State Tigers 1 1976 1976 2 1 1 Wagner Seahawks 4 1980 1988 4 3 7 Wesley Wolverines 15 2000 2019 30 15 45 West Georgia Wolves 2 1981 1982 3 1 4
Notes
Program changes Program has since joined Division I FCS. Program has since joined NCAA Division I but has dropped football. Program has since joined Division II. Program has since joined Division II but has dropped football. Program has since joined the NAIA. Program remains in Division III but has dropped football. College has closed its doors.
See also NCAA Division III football championship List of NCAA Division III football programs List of NCAA Division I FBS football bowl records List of NCAA Division I FCS playoff appearances by team List of NCAA Division II football championship appearances by team List of NAIA national football championship series appearances by team
References
External links Past winners