2016 Stagg Bowl logo

The NCAA Division III Football Championship is an American college football tournament played annually to determine a champion at the NCAA Division III level. It was first held in 1973, as a single-elimination playoff with eight teams. Over the past 50 seasons, the number of participants has grown to 32, with the current bracket size dating from 2005. In 2023, 28 playoff bids went to conference champions via automatic qualification, leaving just four places for at-large selections.[1]

The Division III championship game, known as the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl or Stagg Bowl (named after football coach Amos Alonzo Stagg), was held at Salem Football Stadium in Salem, Virginia in 2023, where it was previously held annually from 1993 to 2017. Other Stagg Bowl sites have included Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland (2022), Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio (2021), Woodforest Bank Stadium in Shenandoah, Texas (2018–2019), Hawkins Stadium in Bradenton, Florida (1990–1992), Garrett-Harrison Stadium in Phenix City, Alabama (1973–1982, 1985–1989), and Galbreath Field at the College Football Hall of Fame, when the Hall was located in Kings Island, Ohio (1983–1984).

West and East Region Championships (1969–1972)

The Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl was founded by the NCAA in October 1969.[2] Along with its counterpart, the Knute Rockne Bowl, it was "created by the NCAA ... for its College Division II schools, those 100-plus smallest schools in the NCAA."[3] Eligible schools were divided into an East Region (the Northeast and Middle Atlantic states) and West Region (the rest of the country), with the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl serving as the championship of the West Region, and the Knute Rockne Bowl as the championship of the East Region.

The NCAA thus provided postseason opportunities for College Division teams too small to compete for spots in the four regional bowls it had established in 1964 (as of 1969, these were the Camellia Bowl for the West, the Pecan Bowl for the Midwest, the Grantland Rice Bowl for the Mideast, and the Boardwalk Bowl for the East). At least for the sport of football, this accommodation in 1969 foreshadowed the decision to subdivide the College Division four years later.

Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl (West Region championship)

YearDateChampionRunner-upScoreLocation
1969WittenbergWilliam Jewell27–21Springfield, Ohio
1970CapitalLuther34–21Columbus, Ohio
1971Samford (vacated)Ohio Wesleyan20–10Phenix City, Alabama
1972Nov 24HeidelbergFort Valley State28–16Phenix City, Alabama

Knute Rockne Bowl (East Region championship)

YearDateChampionRunner-upScoreLocation
1969Nov 29Randolph–MaconBridgeport47–28Bridgeport, Connecticut
1970Nov 28Montclair StateHampden–Sydney7–6Atlantic City, New Jersey
1971Nov 26BridgeportHampden–Sydney17–12Atlantic City, New Jersey
1972Nov 24BridgeportSlippery Rock27–22Atlantic City, New Jersey

National Championships (1973–present)

When the College Division was subdivided into the current Division II and Division III in 1973, the NCAA made the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl the Division III national championship game. Initially, Phenix City, Alabama (site of the 1971 and 1972 Stagg Bowls) continued as the host city.

Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl

YearDateChampionRunner-upScoreAttendanceVenueLocationWinning head coach
1973Dec. 8WittenbergJuniata41–05,000Garrett–Harrison StadiumPhenix City, AlabamaDave Maurer
1974Dec. 7Central (IA)Ithaca10–85,500Ron Schipper
1975Dec. 6WittenbergIthaca28–06,000Dave Maurer
1976Dec. 4Saint John's (MN)Towson State31–287,214John Gagliardi
1977Dec. 3WidenerWabash39–367,852Bill Manlove
1978Dec. 2Baldwin–WallaceWittenberg24–107,500Lee Tressel
1979Dec. 1IthacaWittenberg14–106,500Jim Butterfield
1980Dec. 6DaytonIthaca63–08,701Rick E. Carter
1981Dec. 5WidenerDayton17–106,100Bill Manlove
1982Dec. 4West GeorgiaAugustana (IL)14–09,000Bobby Pate
1983Dec. 1Augustana (IL)Union (NY)21–173,800Galbreath FieldKings Mills, OhioBob Reade
1984Dec. 8Augustana (IL)Central (IA)21–122,300Bob Reade
1985Dec. 14Augustana (IL)Ithaca20–71,879Garrett–Harrison StadiumPhenix City, AlabamaBob Reade
1986Dec. 13Augustana (IL)Salisbury State31–32,000Bob Reade
1987Dec. 12WagnerDayton19–34,000Walt Hameline
1988Dec. 10IthacaCentral (IA)39–244,000Jim Butterfield
1989Dec. 9DaytonUnion (NY)17–73,500Mike Kelly
1990Dec. 8AlleghenyLycoming21–14 (OT)4,800Hawkins StadiumBradenton, FloridaKen O'Keefe
1991Dec. 14IthacaDayton34–205,469Jim Butterfield
1992Dec. 12Wisconsin–La CrosseWashington & Jefferson16–125,329Roger Harring
1993Dec. 11Mount UnionRowan34–247,304Salem Football StadiumSalem, VirginiaLarry Kehres
1994Dec. 10AlbionWashington & Jefferson38–157,168Pete Schmidt
1995Dec. 9Wisconsin–La CrosseRowan36–74,905Roger Harring
1996Dec. 14Mount UnionRowan56–245,048Larry Kehres
1997Dec. 13Mount UnionLycoming61–125,777Larry Kehres
1998Dec. 12Mount UnionRowan44–245,145Larry Kehres
1999Dec. 18Pacific LutheranRowan42–134,101Frosty Westering
2000Dec. 16Mount UnionSaint John's (MN)10–74,643Larry Kehres
2001Dec. 15Mount UnionBridgewater30–277,992Larry Kehres
2002Dec. 21Mount UnionTrinity (TX)48–74,389Larry Kehres
2003Dec. 20Saint John's (MN)Mount Union24–65,073John Gagliardi
2004Dec. 18LinfieldMary Hardin–Baylor28–213,240Jay Locey
2005Dec. 17Mount UnionWisconsin–Whitewater35–284,619Larry Kehres
2006Dec. 16Mount UnionWisconsin–Whitewater35–166,051Larry Kehres
2007Dec. 15Wisconsin–WhitewaterMount Union31–215,099Lance Leipold
2008Dec. 20Mount UnionWisconsin–Whitewater31–265,344Larry Kehres
2009Dec. 19Wisconsin–WhitewaterMount Union38–283,468Lance Leipold
2010Dec. 18Wisconsin–WhitewaterMount Union31–214,598Lance Leipold
2011Dec. 16Wisconsin–WhitewaterMount Union13–103,784Lance Leipold
2012Dec. 14Mount UnionSt. Thomas (MN)28–106,027Larry Kehres
2013Dec. 20Wisconsin–WhitewaterMount Union52–145,371Lance Leipold
2014Dec. 19Wisconsin–WhitewaterMount Union43–345,465Lance Leipold
2015Dec. 18Mount UnionSt. Thomas (MN)49–355,343Vince Kehres
2016Dec. 16Mary Hardin–Baylor§Wisconsin–Oshkosh10–73,476Pete Fredenburg
2017Dec. 15Mount UnionMary Hardin–Baylor12–04,971Vince Kehres
2018Dec. 14Mary Hardin–BaylorMount Union24–166,816Woodforest Bank StadiumShenandoah, TexasPete Fredenburg
2019Dec. 20North Central (IL) Wisconsin–Whitewater 41–14 1,362 Jeff Thorne
2020Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021Dec. 17Mary Hardin–BaylorNorth Central (IL)57–241,830Tom Benson Hall of Fame StadiumCanton, OhioPete Fredenburg
2022Dec. 16North Central (IL)Mount Union28–213,231Navy–Marine Corps Memorial StadiumAnnapolis, MarylandBrad Spencer
2023Dec. 15CortlandNorth Central (IL)38–373,381Salem Football StadiumSalem, VirginiaCurt Fitzpatrick
2024Turner StadiumHumble, Texas
2025Tom Benson Hall of Fame StadiumCanton, Ohio

§ - On October 10, 2019, the NCAA vacated the 2016 championship due to violations self-reported by UMHB.[4] The appeal was unsuccessful, therefore there was no champion declared for the 2016 season. In late June 2020, UMHB's 2016 and 2017 seasons' wins and records were also vacated.[5]

National championships by team

Programs that no longer compete in Division III are indicated in italics with a pink background.

50-yard line action at the 2010 Stagg Bowl
Team Titles Winning Years
Mount Union131993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2015, 2017
Wisconsin–Whitewater62007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014
Augustana (IL)41983, 1984, 1985, 1986
Ithaca31979, 1988, 1991
Mary Hardin–Baylor22016§, 2018, 2021
Saint John's (MN)21976, 2003
Wisconsin–La Crosse21992, 1995
Dayton21980, 1989
Widener21977, 1981
Wittenberg21973, 1975
North Central (IL)22019, 2022
Cortland12023
Linfield12004
Pacific Lutheran11999
Albion11994
Allegheny11990
Wagner11987
West Georgia11982
Baldwin Wallace11978
Central (IA)11974

§ October 10, 2019 the NCAA vacated the 2016 championship due to violations self-reported by Mary Hardin–Baylor. The appeal was unsuccessful, therefore there was no champion declared for the 2016 season. Mary Hardin–Baylor also had its wins and records from that season and in 2017 vacated.

Championship game appearances

Programs that no longer compete in Division III are indicated in italics with a pink background.

Team Appearances Years
Mount Union221993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022
Wisconsin–Whitewater102005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2019
Ithaca71974, 1975, 1979, 1980, 1985, 1988, 1991
Augustana (IL)51982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986
Dayton51980, 1981, 1987, 1989, 1991
Rowan51993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999
North Central (IL)42019, 2021, 2022, 2023
Mary Hardin–Baylor42004, 2016§, 2017, 2018, 2021
Wittenberg41973, 1975, 1978, 1979
Saint John's (MN)31976, 2001, 2003
Central (IA)31974, 1984, 1988
Wisconsin–La Crosse21992, 1995
Widener21977, 1981
St. Thomas (MN)22012, 2015
Lycoming21990, 1997
Washington & Jefferson21992, 1994
Union (NY)21983, 1989
Cortland12023
Linfield12004
Pacific Lutheran11999
Albion11994
Allegheny11990
Wagner11987
West Georgia11982
Baldwin Wallace11978
Wisconsin–Oshkosh12016
Trinity (TX)12002
Bridgewater (VA)12001
Salisbury State11986
Wabash11977
Towson State11976
Juniata11973

Of the programs that no longer compete in D-III, West Georgia is the only one that is currently in Division II. All others compete in Division I FCS.

Stagg Bowl Most Outstanding Player Award

As voted by the media at the game since 2000.

YearPlayerTeamClassPosition
2000Chuck MooreMount UnionSeniorRB
2001Chuck MooreMount Union5th year SeniorRB
2002Dan PughMount UnionSeniorRB
2003Blake ElliotSaint John's (MN)SeniorWR
2004Riley JenkinsLinfieldSeniorRB
2005Nate KmicMount UnionFreshmanRB
2006Greg MicheliMount UnionSophomoreQB
2007Justin BeaverWisconsin–WhitewaterSeniorRB
2008Greg MicheliMount UnionSeniorQB
2009Levell CoppageWisconsin–WhitewaterSophomoreRB
2010Levell CoppageWisconsin–WhitewaterJuniorRB
2011Loussaint MinettWisconsin–WhitewaterSophomoreDE
2012Kevin BurkeMount UnionSophomoreQB
2013Matt BehrendtWisconsin–WhitewaterJuniorQB
2014Matt BehrendtWisconsin–WhitewaterSeniorQB
2015Taurice ScottMount UnionSeniorQB
2016Blake JacksonMary Hardin-BaylorSeniorQB
2017Nick BrishMount UnionSophomoreDB
2018T.J. JoseyMary Hardin–BaylorSeniorWR
2019Ethan GreenfieldNorth CentralSophomoreRB
2021Micah HackettMary Hardin–BaylorSeniorLB

See also

References

  1. ↑ "NCAA Division III Football Committee selects championship field". ncaa.com. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Bowl Games Ok'd". Chicago Tribune. October 22, 1969. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Stagg Bowl Foes Set". The Pantagraph. Bloomington, IL. November 17, 1969. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  4. ↑ "UMHB to appeal vacating 2016 title". D3football.com. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  5. ↑ "NCAA denies UMHB sanctions appeal". KCEN-TV. June 26, 2020.

Sources

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