The 2026 NCAA Division II football season, part of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level, began on August 27 and will end on December 19 with the Division II championship at the McKinney Independent School District Stadium in McKinney, Texas.
Conference changes and new programs
School Former conference New conference West Florida Argonauts Gulf South UAC (FCS)
Headlines April 2 – After falling below the minimum required number of football-sponsoring members, the Gulf South Conference lost automatic qualification status for the NCAA Division II football championship, beginning in the fall of 2026. A request for a waiver for the requirement was denied by the NCAA Division II Championship Committee. August 29 – Shortly after scoring a touchdown for William Jewell in the first quarter of the Cardinals' game against Fort Lewis, running back MicahJo Barnett had a medical emergency on the sideline and was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The game was suspended with William Jewell leading 7–0. September 5 – A non-conference game between Colorado Mines and Washburn ended in a 16–16 tie due to extreme heat. October 2 – Valdosta State announced its football team will depart the Gulf South Conference after the 2026–27 season, becoming Division II independents.
Rankings
Conference standings Super Region 1
Super Region 2
Super Region 3
Super Region 4
Postseason
Automatic bids (15) Automatic bidsSuper RegionConferenceSchoolRecordAppearanceLastSuper Region 1CIAAMountain EastNortheast-10PSACSuper Region 2CarolinasSouth AtlanticSIACSuper Region 3GLIACGLVCGreat MidwestNorthern SunSuper Region 4Great AmericanLone StarMIAARocky Mountain
At-large bids (17) At-large bidsSuper RegionSchoolConferenceRecordAppearanceLastSuper Region 1Super Region 2Super Region 3Super Region 4
Bracket Host team indicated either by higher seed or * where applicable. Super Region 1
Super Region 2
Super Region 3
Super Region 4
Semifinals & Championship Teams are re-seeded prior to semifinals.
Coaching changes Preseason and in-season This is restricted to coaching changes that took place on or after May 1, 2026, and will include any changes announced after a team's last regularly scheduled games but before its playoff games. School Outgoing coach Date Reason Replacement Previous position Jamestown Brian Mistro June 8, 2026 Resigned (became school's athletic director) Tom Dosch Jamestown associate head coach and special teams coordinator (2025) Southwest Minnesota State Scott Underwood September 20, 2026 Retired Levi Bullerman (interim) Southwest Minnesota State defensive coordinator (2022–2026) Tuskegee Aaron James October 4, 2026 Fired Keith Higdon (interim) Tuskegee assistant head coach and offensive line coach (2009–2026) Central Oklahoma Adam Dorrel October 5, 2026 Resigned Cody Swanson (interim) Central Oklahoma defensive coordinator (2024–2026)
See also 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season 2026 NCAA Division I FCS football season 2026 NCAA Division III football season 2026 NAIA football season 2026 U Sports football season
References