The 2024 NAIA football national championship was a college football game played on December 21, 2024, at Durham County Memorial Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. The 69th annual NAIA football national championship game concluded the five-round, 20-team playoff for the 2024 NAIA football season. The second-seeded Grand View Vikings defeated the top-seeded and defending national champion Keiser Seahawks, 35–7, to win their second national championship and finish the season with a 14–0 record.
Grand View represented Grand View University of Des Moines, Iowa, and the Heart of America Athletic Conference. Keiser represented Keiser University of West Palm Beach, Florida, and the Sun Conference. Both teams entered the championship game undefeated. Keiser finished the season 12–1, with the loss ending its 23-game winning streak.
Teams Grand View
Grand View entered the championship game with a 13–0 record under sixth-year head coach Joe Woodley. The Vikings were seeking their second national championship, having previously won in 2013. They received a first-round bye before defeating Friends, Northwestern (Iowa), and Morningside to reach the championship game.
2024 Grand View football Date Opponent Result September 7 W 54–6 September 14 at W 52–28 September 21 W 24–0 September 28 at W 45–13 October 5 W 89–0 October 17 at W 42–7 October 26 at W 34–0 November 2 W 42–6 November 9 at W 26–7 November 16 W 31–13 NAIA playoffs — No. 2 seed November 30 W 21–17 December 7 W 17–0 December 14 W 36–13 Source: Grand View University.
Keiser
Keiser entered the championship game with a 12–0 record, including a 6–0 record in Sun Conference play, under first-year head coach Myles Russ. The Seahawks were making their third consecutive championship-game appearance and seeking to defend their 2023 national title. After receiving a first-round bye, Keiser defeated Pikeville, Georgetown (Kentucky), and Benedictine (Kansas).
2024 Keiser football Date Opponent Result September 5 at W 23–20 (OT) September 14 at W 42–33 September 21 Fort Lauderdale W 45–0 October 5 at * W 31–27 October 12 * Canceled October 19 at * W 17–10 October 26 at * W 52–17 November 2 at * W 34–20 November 9 * W 51–16 November 16 * W 52–21 NAIA playoffs — No. 1 seed November 30 W 56–21 December 7 W 38–22 December 14 W 42–38 *Sun Conference game.Source: Keiser University Athletics.
Series history The championship game was the second meeting between Grand View and Keiser. Keiser won the first meeting, 38–21, in the 2022 NAIA semifinals in Des Moines.
+ Previous meeting Date Location Winning team Score Losing team December 3, 2022 Des Moines, Iowa Keiser 38–21 Grand View
Game summary Grand View built a 21–0 lead on three touchdown passes from Jackson Waring before Keiser scored shortly before halftime. The Vikings added a touchdown in each of the final two quarters while holding the Seahawks scoreless in the second half. Waring finished with four touchdown passes and 203 rushing yards. He received the offensive player of the game award, while Grand View defensive lineman Jackson Filer received the defensive award.
Statistics + Team statistics Statistic Grand View Keiser First downs 25 20 Total yards 485 407 Rushes–yards 47–353 27–130 Passing yards 132 277 Passing: completions–attempts–interceptions 11–18–0 22–45–1 Third-down conversions 7–11 1–13 Fourth-down conversions 1–1 4–8 Fumbles–lost 1–1 1–0 Penalties–yards 5–35 5–49 Time of possession 33:13 26:47
+ Individual leaders Team Category Player Statistics Grand View Passing Jackson Waring 11/18, 132 yards, 4 TD Rushing Jackson Waring 21 carries, 203 yards Receiving Aisea Toki 3 receptions, 45 yards, 2 TD Keiser Passing Shea Spencer 22/45, 277 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Andrew Burnette 11 carries, 85 yards Receiving Maurico Porcha 5 receptions, 102 yards, 1 TD
Postseason playoffs The playoffs featured 20 teams. Four first-round games were played on November 23, with the remaining 12 teams receiving byes. The second round took place on November 30, followed by the quarterfinals on December 7, semifinals on December 14, and championship game on December 21.
Bracket Numbers indicate tournament seeds.
References
External links NAIA championship recap