2023 NCAA Division II football season
Total No. of teams163
Regular seasonAugust 31 – November 11, 2023
PlayoffsNovember 18 – December 16, 2023
National ChampionshipMcKinney Independent School District Stadium
McKinney, TX
December 16, 2023

The 2023 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 31 and will end on December 16 with the Division II championship at the McKinney Independent School District Stadium in McKinney, Texas.

Conference changes and new programs

Membership changes

SchoolFormer conferenceNew conference
Alderson Broaddus BattlersMountain EastSchool closed
Bluefield State Big BluesIndependent (D-II)CIAA
Chowan HawksCIAAGulf South
Lincoln (MO) Blue TigersMIAAIndependent (D-II)
Simon Fraser Red LeafsLone StarDropped program
Thomas More SaintsMid-South (NAIA)G-MAC
Upper Iowa PeacocksNorthern SunGLVC

Headlines

  • January 14 – At the 2023 NCAA Convention, the D-II football membership approved a change to redshirt rules to allow freshmen to play in up to three games without losing a season of athletic eligibility.[1]
  • January 26 – Conference Carolinas announced that Shorter University would join from the Gulf South Conference in 2024. This gave the conference 6 football sponsoring members, and accordingly, it was announced that they would begin sponsoring football again effective for the 2025 season, a sport they had previously discontinued in 1975. Inaugural members of the new league would be Barton and Erskine, who currently play in the South Atlantic Conference; UNC Pembroke, who plays in the Mountain East Conference; and Chowan, North Greenville, and Shorter, who all play in the Gulf South Conference.[2]

Rankings

The top 25 from the AFCA Coaches' Poll.

Preseason Poll

AFCA[3]
Ranking Team
1 Ferris State (29)
2 Colorado Mines
3 Grand Valley State
4 Pittsburg State
5 Angelo State
6 NW Missouri State
7 West Florida
8 Ouachita Baptist
9 Minnesota State
10 Delta State
11 Bemidji State
12 Ashland
13 Shepherd
14 Harding
15 Slippery Rock
16 IUP
17 Benedict (1)
18 Virginia Union
19 Emporia State
20 Indianapolis
21 Wingate
22 West Georgia
23 Assumption
24 Newberry
25 Lenoir–Rhyne

Conference standings

Super Region 1

2023 Great Midwest Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 9 Tiffin $^  9 –0   11 –1  
Ashland  8 –1   8 –3  
Findlay  6 –3   7 –4  
Hillsdale  6 –3   6 –5  
Northwood  5 –4   5 –6  
Thomas More  4 –5   5 –6  
Kentucky Wesleyan  3 –6   4 –7  
Ohio Dominican  3 –6   4 –7  
Walsh  1 –8   3 –8  
Lake Erie  0 –9   1 –10  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2023 Mountain East Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 24 Charleston (WV) $^  8 –1   9 –1  
Fairmont State  6 –3   8 –3  
Frostburg State  6 –3   7 –3  
Notre Dame (OH)  6 –3   7 –3  
UNC Pembroke  6 –3   7 –3  
Glenville State  5 –4   6 –4  
Wheeling  4 –5   5 –5  
West Liberty  4 –5   4 –6  
West Virginia State  4 –5   4 –6  
Concord  1 –9   1 –10  
West Virginia Wesleyan  0 –9   0 –10  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2023 Northeast-10 Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
New Haven $^  6 –1   8 –3  
Bentley  5 –2   6 –4  
Saint Anselm  5 –2   6 –4  
Assumption  3 –4   5 –5  
Franklin Pierce  3 –4   4 –6  
Southern Connecticut  3 –4   4 –6  
Pace  2 –5   3 –7  
American International  1 –6   3 –8  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2023 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
Kutztown xy$^  7 –0   11 –2  
East Stroudsburg ^  5 –2   9 –3  
Shepherd ^  5 –2   9 –3  
West Chester  3 –4   6 –5  
Lock Haven  3 –4   5 –6  
Shippensburg  2 –5   3 –8  
Bloomsburg  2 –5   3 –8  
Millersville  1 –6   3 –8  
West Division
No. 15 Slippery Rock xy^  7 –0   12 –1  
California (PA)  6 –1   7 –3  
Gannon  5 –2   5 –6  
Seton Hill  4 –3   6 –5  
IUP  3 –4   6 –5  
Edinboro  1 –6   3 –8  
Clarion  1 –6   2 –9  
Mercyhurst  1 –6   2 –9  
Championship: Kutztown 31, Slippery Rock 7
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2023 NCAA Division II Super Region 1 independents football records
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
Post   –   1 –8  
Rankings from AFCA Poll

Super Region 2

2023 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
Northern Division
No. 13 Virginia Union xy$^  7 –1   10 –2  
Virginia State  6 –2   8 –2  
Bowie State  5 –3   6 –4  
Lincoln (PA)  3 –5   4 –6  
Elizabeth City State  2 –6   3 –7  
Bluefield State  0 –8   1 –9  
Southern Division
Fayetteville State xy  8 –0   8 –2  
Johnson C. Smith  6 –2   7 –3  
Livingstone  4 –4   4 –6  
Winston-Salem State  4 –4   4 –6  
Shaw  3 –5   3 –7  
St. Augustine's  0 –8   0 –10  
Championship: Virginia Union 21, Fayetteville State 10
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2023 Gulf South Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 14 Valdosta State +^  7 –1   10 –1  
No. 8 Delta State +^  7 –1   9 –1  
No. 23 West Florida ^  6 –2   8 –3  
West Georgia  5 –3   6 –4  
North Greenville  4 –4   5 –5  
West Alabama  4 –4   5 –5  
Mississippi College  2 –6   3 –7  
Shorter  1 –7   3 –8  
Chowan  0 –8   0 –10  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2023 South Atlantic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
Mountain Division
Mars Hill x  7 –2   8 –2  
Tusculum xy  6 –3   6 –5  
Carson–Newman  4 –5   5 –6  
Emory & Henry  3 –6   5 –6  
Virginia–Wise  1 –8   2 –9  
Erskine  0 –9   0 –11  
Piedmont Division
No. 11 Lenoir–Rhyne xy$^  8 –1   12 –1  
Limestone x^  8 –1   8 –4  
Wingate  7 –2   8 –3  
Barton  4 –5   6 –5  
Catawba  3 –6   5 –6  
Newberry  3 –6   4 –7  
Championship: Lenoir-Rhyne 48, Tusculum 7
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2023 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 4 Benedict y$^  8 –0   11 –1  
Albany State y  6 –2   6 –5  
Fort Valley State  6 –2   7 –3  
Miles  6 –2   7 –3  
Tuskegee  6 –2   7 –3  
Allen  5 –3   7 –3  
Edward Waters  5 –3   6 –4  
Central State  4 –4   5 –5  
Kentucky State  2 –6   3 –7  
Lane  2 –6   2 –8  
Morehouse  1 –7   1 –9  
Savannah State  1 –7   2 –8  
Clark Atlanta  0 –8   0 –10  
Championship: Benedict 47, Albany State 10
  • $ – Conference champion
  • y – Championship game participant
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll

Super Region 3

2023 Great American Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 3 Harding $^  11 –0   11 –0  
No. 25 Henderson State ^  9 –2   9 –2  
No. 20 Ouachita Baptist  9 –2   9 –2  
Southern Arkansas  9 –2   9 –2  
Oklahoma Baptist  6 –5   6 –5  
Southern Nazarene  6 –5   6 –5  
Arkansas Tech  5 –6   5 –6  
SE Oklahoma State  5 –6   5 –6  
East Central  3 –8   3 –8  
Arkansas–Monticello  2 –9   2 –9  
NW Oklahoma State  1 –10   1 –10  
SW Oklahoma State  0 –11   0 –11  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2023 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 2 Grand Valley State $^  6 –0   10 –1  
No. 5 Ferris State ^  5 –1   8 –3  
No. 22 Davenport  4 –2   8 –2  
Saginaw Valley State  3 –3   6 –5  
Wayne State (MI)  2 –4   3 –8  
Michigan Tech  1 –5   5 –5  
Northern Michigan  0 –6   0 –11  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2023 Great Lakes Valley Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 17т Indianapolis $^  6 –1   9 –2  
Truman  5 –2   9 –2  
McKendree #  5 –2   5 –6  
Missouri S&T  4 –3   4 –7  
Quincy  3 –4   6 –5  
Southwest Baptist  3 –4   4 –7  
Upper Iowa  1 –6   3 –8  
William Jewell  1 –6   2 –8  
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2023 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 6 Central Missouri +^  9 –1   11 –2  
No. 7 Pittsburg State +^  9 –1   11 –2  
Emporia State  7 –3   8 –3  
Missouri Western  7 –3   8 –3  
Fort Hays State  6 –4   7 –4  
NW Missouri State  6 –4   7 –4  
Central Oklahoma  4 –6   5 –6  
Missouri Southern  4 –6   5 –6  
Nebraska–Kearney  2 –8   3 –8  
Northeastern State  1 –9   2 –9  
Washburn  0 –10   1 –10  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2023 NCAA Division II Super Region 3 independents football records
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
Lincoln (MO)   –   0 –11  
Rankings from AFCA Poll

Super Region 4

2023 Lone Star Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 12 Texas–Permian Basin $^  8 –0   10 –2  
Central Washington ^  7 –1   9 –3  
Angelo State  6 –2   7 –3  
Texas A&M–Kingsville  5 –3   7 –3  
Midwestern State  3 –5   4 –6  
Eastern New Mexico  2 –6   5 –6  
West Texas A&M  2 –6   3 –7  
Western Oregon  2 –6   3 –8  
Western New Mexico  1 –7   2 –8  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
As of December 2, 2023
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2023 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 16 Augustana (SD) $^  9 –1   11 –2  
No. 17т Minnesota Duluth  8 –2   9 –2  
No. 21 Bemidji State ^  8 –2   9 –3  
No. 19 Minnesota State ^  8 –2   9 –3  
Wayne State (NE)  7 –3   8 –3  
MSU Moorhead  6 –4   7 –4  
Winona State  5 –5   5 –6  
Northern State  4 –6   5 –6  
Sioux Falls  3 –7   3 –8  
Concordia–St. Paul  2 –8   3 –8  
Minot State  2 –8   2 –9  
Mary  2 –8   2 –9  
SW Minnesota State  1 –9   1 –10  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2023 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 1 Colorado Mines $^  9 –0   12 –0  
No. 10 Western Colorado ^  8 –1   10 –2  
CSU Pueblo  7 –2   8 –3  
Black Hills State  5 –4   6 –5  
Colorado Mesa  5 –4   6 –5  
Chadron State  4 –5   5 –6  
South Dakota Mines  4 –5   5 –6  
Adams State  2 –7   3 –8  
New Mexico Highlands  1 –8   2 –9  
Fort Lewis  0 –9   0 –11  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll

Postseason

Qualifiers

Playoff teams
Super RegionSchoolConferenceRecordAppearanceLast bid
Super Region 1 Tiffin G-MAC 11–0 2nd 2019
Charleston (WV) Mountain East 9–1 2nd 2015
Kutztown PSAC 9–2 6th 2021
Slippery Rock PSAC 10–1 11th 2022
East Stroudsburg PSAC 9–2 5th 2009
Virginia Union* CIAA 10–1 11th 2022
New Haven Northeast-10 8–2 9th 2022
Super Region 2 Benedict SIAC 11–0 2nd 2022
Delta State Gulf South 9–1 11th 2022
Valdosta State Gulf South 10–1 19th 2021
Lenoir–Rhyne SAC 10–1 7th 2021
Shepherd* PSAC 9–2 15th 2022
Limestone SAC 8–3 2nd 2022
West Florida Gulf South 8–3 5th 2022
Super Region 3 Harding GAC 11–0 6th 2021
Grand Valley State GLIAC 9–1 22nd 2022
Pittsburg State MIAA 10–1 20th 2022
Central Missouri MIAA 10–1 5th 2019
Henderson State GAC 9–2 4th 2015
Indianapolis GLVC 9–1 8th 2022
Ferris State GLIAC 8–2 14th 2022
Super Region 4 Colorado Mines RMAC 11–0 9th 2022
Western Colorado RMAC 10–1 5th 2021
Texas–Permian Basin Lone Star 10–1 1st —
Augustana (SD) NSIC 10–1 7th 2021
Minnesota State NSIC 9–2 14th 2022
Bemidji State NSIC 8–2 3rd 2022
Central Washington Lone Star 7–3 7th 2021

* — Indicates a team playing outside of its assigned super region.

Bracket

Super Region 1

First Round
November 18, 2023
Campus sites 		Second Round
November 25, 2023
Campus sites 		Quarterfinals
December 2, 2023
Campus sites
         
1 Tiffin* 35
4 Slippery Rock 45
East Stroudsburg 14
4 Slippery Rock* 45
4 Slippery Rock* 16
3 Kutztown 28
3 Kutztown* 38
Virginia Union 15
3 Kutztown 32
2 Charleston (WV)* 31
New Haven 44
2 Charleston (WV)* 52

Super Region 2

First Round
November 18, 2023
Campus sites 		Second Round
November 25, 2023
Campus sites 		Quarterfinals
December 2, 2023
Campus sites
         
1 Benedict* 25
4 Lenoir–Rhyne 35
Shepherd 17
4 Lenoir–Rhyne* 63
4 Lenoir–Rhyne 35
3 Valdosta State* 7
3 Valdosta State* 62
Limestone 41
3 Valdosta State 38
2 Delta State* 31
West Florida 14
2 Delta State* 48

Super Region 3

First Round
November 18, 2023
Campus sites 		Second Round
November 25, 2023
Campus sites 		Quarterfinals
December 2, 2023
Campus sites
         
1 Harding* 35
4 Central Missouri 34
Henderson State 14
4 Central Missouri* 56
1 Harding* 7
2 Grand Valley State 6
3 Pittsburg State* 35
Indianapolis 14
3 Pittsburg State 21
2 Grand Valley State* 24
Ferris State 14
2 Grand Valley State* 21

Super Region 4

First Round
November 18, 2023
Campus sites 		Second Round
November 25, 2023
Campus sites 		Quarterfinals
December 2, 2023
Campus sites
         
1 Colorado Mines* 56
4 Augustana (SD) 10
Minnesota State 24
4 Augustana (SD)* 51
1 Colorado Mines* 38
Central Washington 14
3 Texas–Permian Basin* 3
Bemidji State 10
Bemidji State* 17
Central Washington 21
Central Washington 16
2 Western Colorado* 13

Semifinals & Championship

Teams will be re-seeded prior to semifinals.

Semifinals
December 9, 2023
Campus sites 		Championship
December 16, 2023
McKinney, Texas
      
 
 
 
 
 
 

Bowl games

Division II has four bowl games which feature teams that did not qualify for the Division II postseason tournament.

The schedule includes the inaugural edition of the Florida Beach Bowl, to be contested between teams from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), two conferences mostly consisting of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).[4]

Date Time (EST) Game Site Television Teams Affiliations Results
Dec. 1 7:00 p.m. America's Crossroads Bowl Hammond Central High School
Hammond, Indiana		 No broadcast McKendree (5–5)
Ashland (8–3)		 GLVC
GMAC		 Ashland 23
McKendree 20
Dec. 2 1:00 p.m. Live United Bowl Arkansas High School
Texarkana, Arkansas		 Southern Arkansas (9–2)
Missouri Western (8–3)		 GAC
MIAA		 Southern Arkansas 43
Missouri Western 27
Dec. 2 1:00 p.m. Heritage Bowl Tiger Stadium
Corsicana, Texas		 Southern Nazarene (6–5)
Emporia State (8–3)		 GAC
MIAA		 Emporia State 55
Southern Nazarene 24
Dec. 13 7:30 p.m. Florida Beach Bowl DRV PNK Stadium
Fort Lauderdale, Florida		 Johnson C. Smith (7–3)
Fort Valley State (7–3)		 CIAA
SIAC

Coaching changes

Preseason and in-season

This is restricted to coaching changes that took place on or after May 1, 2023, 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
Clark Atlanta Willie Slater October 2, 2023 Fired[5] Richard Moncrief Clark Atlanta – Offensive coordinator / quarterbacks (2022–2023)
St. Augustine's Howard Feggins October 13, 2023 Fired[6] Jody Owens St. Augustine's – Defensive coordinator (2023)

End of season

This list includes coaching changes announced during the season that did not take effect until the end of the season.

School Outgoing coach Date Reason Replacement Previous position
Morehouse Gerard Wilcher November 6, 2023 Fired[7]
West Chester Bill Zwaan November 6, 2023 Retired[8]
Northeastern State J. J. Eckert November 13, 2023 Contract expired[9]
Mississippi College John Bland November 13, 2023 Resigned[10]
West Georgia David Dean November 13, 2023 Resigned[11]
Wingate Joe Reich November 14, 2023 Resigned (became school's athletic director)[12] Rashaan Jordan Wingate – Defensive coordinator / linebackers (2013–2023)
Hillsdale Keith Otterbein November 14, 2023 Retired[13] Nate Shreffler Hillsdale – Offensive coordinator (2011–2023)
Virginia–Wise Dane Damron November 14, 2023 Resigned[14] Mike Compton (interim) Virginia–Wise – Assistant head coach / offensive line (2016–2023)
Southwestern Oklahoma State Ruzell McCoy (interim) November 16, 2023 New coach hired (expected)[15]
Lake Erie DJ Boldin November 21, 2023 Resigned
Clark Atlanta Richard Moncrief (interim) November 27, 2023 New coach hired[16] Teddy Keaton Allen – Head coach (2018–2023)
Allen Teddy Keaton November 27, 2023 Hired by Clark Atlanta[16]
Carson–Newman Mike Clowney November 29, 2023 Fired[17]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "DII adopts football proposals providing more season-of-competition flexibility, spring scrimmage opportunities" (Press release). NCAA. January 14, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Conference Carolinas Unveils Addition of Shorter University and Return of Football in 2025" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. January 26, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Defending national champion Ferris State begins 2023 at No. 1". afca.com. AFCA. August 14, 2023. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  4. ↑ "DRV PNK Stadium to Host Inaugural Florida Beach Bowl on Dec. 13". intermiamicf.com. Inter Miami CF Communications Department. October 9, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Clark Atlanta fires legendary coach Willie Slater". Sports Illustrated. October 2, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  6. ↑ "SAU releases Howard Feggins as Head Football Coach". Saint Augustine's University Athletics. October 13, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  7. ↑ Mosley, Kyle T. (November 6, 2023). "Morehouse College Fires Coach Gerard Wilcher". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Bill Zwaan Announces His Retirement". West Chester University Athletics. November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Northeastern State University seeks new direction for Football Program". Northeastern State University Athletics. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Head Football Coach John Bland Steps Down". Mississippi College Athletics. November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  11. ↑ "UWG's David Dean Stepping Down After Successful Tenure in Football Program". UWG Wolves | Athletic Programs | Official Athletics Site. November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Reich takes over as full-time Athletic Director; Rashaan Jordan named head football coach". Wingate University Athletics. November 14, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Hillsdale College football head coach Keith Otterbein announces retirement; assistant Nate Shreffler to take over". hillsdalechargers.com. November 14, 2023.
  14. ↑ "UVA Wise Partners with Mammoth Sports Consulting on Football Search". The University of Virginia's College at Wise Athletics. November 14, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  15. ↑ "SWOSU Announces Search for New Head Football Coach". Southwestern Oklahoma State University Athletics. November 16, 2023. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  16. 1 2 "Clark Atlanta University Selects Teddy Keaton as Head Coach of Panthers Football". Clark Atlanta University Athletics. November 27, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Pope makes leadership change in Carson-Newman's football program". November 29, 2023. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
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