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Here’s how the NCAA Division 3 football playoffs work

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Here’s how the NCAA Division 3 football playoffs work

The NCAA Division III football playoffs are an exciting postseason tournament that culminates in the Stagg Bowl, where the national champion is crowned. Only the country’s top teams make it to the playoffs after meeting the automatic and overall qualifications.

In April 2024, the NCAA D3 Management Council decided to expand the tournament scope from 32 to 40 teams and approved the use of the NCAA Power Index (NPI) for the selection of at-large berths for team sports championships.

Very different from the way Division I does things, here’s the full explanation of how the NCAA DIII Football Playoffs work as teams compete for the title of National Champion.

How do the Division 3 football play-offs work?

How to Qualify for the NCAA Division 3 Football Playoffs

By 2024, a total of 40 teams will make the Division III football playoffs. The vast majority of teams (28 total) earn automatic bids by winning their respective conferences. All Division III conferences are eligible except the New England Small College Athletic Conference, which is electing not to participate in the Division 3 football playoffs.

In addition to the automatic bids, 12 teams will receive at-large invites. These are awarded to teams that have not won their conference but still have strong records and resumes. Criteria such as win rate, strength of schedule and quality wins are taken into account.

In 2024, the teams will be divided into a new group of 40 teams. The playoff field is divided into four regions, each consisting of 10 teams. First round matchups are organized by seed,

When are the NCAA Division 3 Football Playoffs?

Selection Show: Sunday, November 17 at 5pm ET on NCAA.com
First round: Saturday November 23
Second round: Saturday November 30
Quarter-finals: Saturday December 7
Semi-finals: Saturday December 14
National Championship: Sunday January 5

History of the NCAA Division 3 Football Championship

View past NCAA Division III football champions since 1973.

2023 – Cortland – 38-37 – North Central (IL) – Salem, Virginia
2022 – North Central (IL) – 28-21 – Mount Union – Annapolis, Maryland
2021 – Mary Hardin-Baylor – 57-24 – North Central (IL) – Canton, Ohio
2020 – Canceled due to Covid-19
2019 – North Central (IL) – 41-14 – Wisconsin-Whitewater – Shenandoah, Texas
2018 – Mary Hardin-Baylor – 24-16 – Mount Union – Shenandoah, Texas
2017 – Mount Union – 12-0 – Mary Hardin-Baylor – Salem, Virginia
2016 – Mary Hardin-Baylor – 10-7 – Wisconsin-Oshkosh – Salem, Virginia
2015 – Mount Union – 49-35 – St. Thomas (Minn.) – Salem, Virginia
2014 – Wisconsin-Whitewater – 43-34 – Mount Union – Salem, Virginia
2013 – Wisconsin-Whitewater – 52-14 – Mount Union – Salem, Virginia
2012 – Mount Union – 10/28 – St. Thomas (Minn.) – Salem, Virginia
2011 – Wisconsin-Whitewater – 10/13 – Mount Union – Salem, Virginia
2010 – Wisconsin-Whitewater – 31-21 – Mount Union – Salem, Virginia
2009 – Wisconsin-Whitewater – 38-28 – Mount Union – Salem, Virginia
2008 – Mount Union – 31-26 – Wisconsin-Whitewater – Salem, Virginia
2007 – Wisconsin-Whitewater – 31-21 – Mount Union – Salem, Virginia
2006 – Mount Union – 35-16 – Wisconsin-Whitewater – Salem, Virginia
2005 – Mount Union – 35-28 – Wisconsin-Whitewater – Salem, Virginia
2004 – Linfield – 28-21 – Mary Hardin-Baylor – Salem, Virginia
2003 – St. John’s (Minn.) – 24-6 – Mount Union – Salem, Virginia
2002 – Mount Union – 48-7 – Trinity (Texas) – Salem, Virginia
2001 – Mount Union – 30-27 – Bridgewater (Va.) – Salem, Va
2000 – Mount Union – 10-7 – St. John’s (Minn.) – Salem, Virginia
1999 – Pacific Lutheran – 42-13 – Rowan – Salem, Virginia
1998 – Mount Union – 44-24 – Rowan – Salem, Virginia
1997 – Mount Union – 61-12 – Lycoming – Salem, Virginia
1996 – Mount Union – 56-24 – Rowan – Salem, Virginia
1995 – Wisconsin-La Crosse – 36-7 – Rowan – Salem, Virginia
1994 – Albion – 38-15 – Washington & Jefferson – Salem, Virginia
1993 – Mount Union – 34-24 – Rowan – Salem, Virginia
1992 – Wisconsin-La Crosse – 12/16 – Washington & Jefferson – Bradenton, Florida
1991 – Ithaca – 34-20 – Dayton – Bradenton, Florida
1990 – Allegheny – 21-14 – Lycoming – Bradenton, Florida
1989 – Dayton – 17-7 – Union (NY) – Phoenix City, Alabama
1988 – Ithaca – 39-24 – Central (Iowa) – Phoenix City, Alabama
1987 – Wagner – 19-3 – Dayton – Phoenix City, Alabama
1986 – Augustana (Ill.) – 31-3 – Salisbury – Phoenix City, Alabama
1985 – Augustana (Ill.) – 20-7 – Ithaca – Phoenix City, Alabama
1984 – Augustana (Ill.) – 12/21 – Central (Iowa) – Kings Island, Ohio
1983 – Augustana (Ill.) – 21-17 – Union (NY) – Kings Island, Ohio
1982 – West Georgia – 14-0 – Augustana (NY) – Phoenix City, Alabama
1981 – Widener – 10/24 – Dayton – Phoenix City, Alabama
1980 – Dayton – 63-0 – Ithaca – Phoenix City, Alabama
1979 – Ithaca – 10/14 – Wittenberg – Phoenix City, Alabama
1978 – Baldwin-Wallace – 10/24 – Wittenberg – Phoenix City, Alabama
1977 – Widener – 39-36 – Wabash – Phoenix City, Alabama
1976 – St. John’s (Minn.) – 31-28 – Towson – Phoenix City, Alabama
1975 – Wittenberg – 28-0 – Ithaca – Phoenix City, Alabama
1974 – Central (Iowa) – 10-8 – Ithaca – Phoenix City, Alabama
1973 – Wittenberg – 41-0 – Juniata – Phoenix City, Alabama

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