DII football: 2025 selection show
The 2025 NCAA DII football championship begins with a selection show on Sunday, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. ET on krikya18.com. The 32-team field consists of 16 automatic qualifiers and 8 at-large bids per super region.
Here is everything you need to know for the 2025 DII football championship.
2025 DII football championship bracket
👉 Click or tap here for the interactive bracket
2025 DII football championship schedule
All times listed in ET.
First round: Saturday, Nov. 22
- 1 p.m. | Valdosta State vs. Albany ;State (GA)
- 1 p.m. | Assumption vs. Indiana (PA)
- 1 p.m. | Bentley vs. Kutztown
- 1 p.m. | Frostburg St. vs. Johnson C. Smith
- 1 p.m. | California (PA) vs. Virginia Union
- 1 p.m. | Benedict vs. Wingate
- 1 p.m. | Kentucky State vs. Newberry
- 1 p.m. | North Greenville vs. West Florida
- 1 p.m. | Northwood vs. Ferris St.
- 1 p.m. | Truman State vs. UIndy
- 1 p.m. | Minnesota Duluth vs. Ashland
- 2 p.m. | Minnesota State Mankato vs. Findlay
- 2 p.m. | Northwest Missouri State vs. Harding
- 2 p.m. | Chadron State vs. Pittsburg State
- 3 p.m. | Texas Permian Basin vs. Colorado State
- 4 p.m. | Western Colorado University vs. Central Washington
Selection show: 6 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 16 on krikya18.com
First round: Saturday, Nov. 22
Second round: Saturday, Nov. 29
Quarterfinals: Saturday, Dec. 6
Semifinals: Saturday, Dec. 13 | ESPN+
National championship: 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20 | ESPNU
NCAA DII football championship history
Below is the DII football national championship history, since 1973. In 2024, Ferris State won its third title in four years, defeating Valdosta State 49-14.
| Year | Champion | Coach | Score | Runner-Up | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Ferris State | Tony Annese | 49-14 | Valdosta State | McKinney, Texas |
| 2023 | Harding | Paul Simmons | 38-7 | Colorado School of Mines | McKinney, Texas |
| 2022 | Ferris State | Tony Annese | 41-14 | Colorado School of Mines | McKinney, Texas |
| 2021 | Ferris State | Tony Annese | 58-17 | Valdosta State | McKinney, Texas |
| 2020 | Canceled due to Covid-19 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2019 | West Florida | Pete Shinnick | 48-40 | Minnesota State | McKinney, Texas |
| 2018 | Valdosta State | Kerwin Bell | 49-47 | Ferris State | McKinney, Texas |
| 2017 | Texas A&M-Commerce | Colby Carthel | 37-27 | West Florida | Kansas City, Kan. |
| 2016 | Northwest Missouri State | Adam Dorrel | 29-3 | North Alabama | Kansas City, Kan. |
| 2015 | Northwest Missouri State | Adam Dorrel | 34-7 | Shepherd | Kansas City, Kan. |
| 2014 | Colorado State-Pueblo | John Wristen | 13-0 | Minnesota State-Mankato | Kansas City, Kan. |
| 2013 | Northwest Missouri State | Adam Dorrel | 43-28 | Lenoir-Rhyne | Florence, Ala. |
| 2012 | Valdosta State | David Dean | 35-7 | Winston-Salem State | Florence, Ala. |
| 2011 | Pittsburg State | Tim Beck | 35-21 | Wayne State (Mich.) | Florence, Ala. |
| 2010 | Minnesota-Duluth | Bob Nielson | 20-17 | Delta State | Florence, Ala. |
| 2009 | Northwest Missouri State | Mel Tjeersdma | 30-23 | Grand Valley State | Florence, Ala. |
| 2008 | Minnesota-Duluth | Bob Nielson | 21-14 | Northwest Missouri State | Florence, Ala. |
| 2007 | Valdosta State | David Dean | 25-20 | Northwest Missouri State | Florence, Ala. |
| 2006 | Grand Valley State | Chuck Martin | 17-14 | Northwest Missouri State | Florence, Ala. |
| 2005 | Grand Valley State | Chuck Martin | 21-17 | Northwest Missouri State | Florence, Ala. |
| 2004 | Valdosta State | Christ Hatcher | 36-31 | Pittsburg State | Florence, Ala. |
| 2003 | Grand Valley State | Brian Kelly | 10-3 | North Dakota | Florence, Ala. |
| 2002 | Grand Valley State | Brian Kelly | 31-24 | Valdosta State | Florence, Ala. |
| 2001 | North Dakota | Dale Lennon | 17-14 | Grand Valley State | Florence, Ala. |
| 2000 | Delta State | Steve Campbell | 63-34 | Bloomsburg | Florence, Ala. |
| 1999 | Northwest Missouri State | Mel Tjeersdma | 58-52 (4ot) | Carson-Newman | Florence, Ala. |
| 1998 | Northwest Missouri State | Mel Tjeersdma | 24-6 | Carson-Newman | Florence, Ala. |
| 1997 | Northern Colorado | Joe Glenn | 51-0 | New Haven | Florence, Ala. |
| 1996 | Northern Colorado | Joe Glenn | 23-14 | Carson-Newman | Florence, Ala. |
| 1995 | North Alabama | Bobby Wallace | 27-7 | Pittsburg State | Florence, Ala. |
| 1994 | North Alabama | Bobby Wallace | 16-10 | Texas A&M-Kingsville | Florence, Ala. |
| 1993 | North Alabama | Bobby Wallace | 41-34 | Indiana (Pa.) | Florence, Ala. |
| 1992 | Jacksonville State | Bill Burgess | 17-13 | Pittsburg State | Florence, Ala. |
| 1991 | Pittsburg State | Chuck Broyles | 23-6 | Jacksonville State | Florence, Ala. |
| 1990 | North Dakota State | Rocky Hager | 51-11 | Indiana (Pa.) | Florence, Ala. |
| 1989 | *Mississippi College | John Williams | 3-0 | Jacksonville State | Florence, Ala. |
| 1988 | North Dakota State | Rocky Hager | 35-21 | Portland State | Florence, Ala. |
| 1987 | Troy | Rick Rhoades | 31-17 | Portland State | Florence, Ala. |
| 1986 | North Dakota State | Earle Solomonson | 27-7 | South Dakota | Florence, Ala. |
| 1985 | North Dakota State | Earle Solomonson | 35-7 | North Alabama | McAllen, Texas |
| 1984 | Troy | Chan Gailey | 18-17 | North Dakota State | McAllen, Texas |
| 1983 | North Dakota State | Don Morton | 41-21 | Central State (Ohio) | McAllen, Texas |
| 1982 | Texas State | Jim Wacker | 34-9 | UC Davis | McAllen, Texas |
| 1981 | Texas State | Jim Wacker | 42-13 | North Dakota State | McAllen, Texas |
| 1980 | Cal Poly | Joe Harper | 21-13 | Eastern Illinois | Albuquerque, N.M. |
| 1979 | Delaware | Tubby Raymond | 38-21 | Youngstown State | Albuquerque, N.M. |
| 1978 | Eastern Illinois | Darrell Mudra | 10-9 | Delaware | Longview, Texas |
| 1977 | Lehigh | John Whitehead | 33-0 | Jacksonville State | Wichita Falls, Texas |
| 1976 | Montana State | Sonny Holland | 24-13 | Akron | Wichita Falls, Texas |
| 1975 | Northern Michigan | Gil Krueger | 16-14 | Western Kentucky | Sacramento, Calif. |
| 1974 | Central Michigan | Roy Kramer | 54-14 | Delaware | Sacramento, Calif. |
| 1973 | Louisiana Tech | Maxie Lambright | 34-0 | Western Kentucky | Sacramento, Calif. |
*Mississippi College's participation in the 1989 Division II championship vacated by the krikya18.committee on Infractions
