American college football season
2012 NCAA Division II football season Regular season September 1 – November 10, 2012 Playoffs November 17 – December 15, 2012[1] National Championship Braly Municipal Stadium Florence, AL Champion Valdosta State Harlon Hill Trophy Zach Zulli , Shippensburg
← 2011 NCAA Division II football seasons 2013 →
The 2012 NCAA Division II football season , part of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division II level, began on September 1, 2012, and concluded with the NCAA Division II Football Championship on December 15, 2012 at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama , hosted by the University of North Alabama . The Valdosta State Blazers defeated the Winston-Salem State Rams , 35–7, to win their third Division II national title.[2]
It proved to be the final season for the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC). Shortly before the start of the 2012–13 school year, the WVIAC's nine football-playing members announced plans to break away and form a new league. Before the new conference was announced, one of the nine breakaway schools (Seton Hill ) chose instead to join the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference ; the remaining eight schools joined with three other football-playing schools and one non-football WVIAC member left out of the original split. The new league, officially unveiled in August 2012 as the Mountain East Conference , began play in 2013.
The Harlon Hill Trophy was awarded to Zach Zulli , quarterback from Shippensburg .
Conference changes and new programs [ ]
School
Former conference
New conference
Azusa Pacific Independent (NAIA)GNAC
Black Hills State Independent RMAC
Central Oklahoma Independent MIAA
Central State Independent GLVC
Indianapolis GLIAC GLVC
Kentucky Wesleyan GLFC GLVC
Lindenwood Independent MIAA
Malone Independent (NAIA)GLIAC
McKendree Independent (NAIA)GLVC
McMurry American Southwest (D-III)Independent
Minot State Independent NSIC
Missouri S&T GLFC GLVC
Nebraska–Kearney RMAC MIAA
Northeastern State Independent MIAA
Northwestern Oklahoma State CSFL (NAIA)Independent
Notre Dame (OH) Independent GLIAC
Quincy MSFA (NAIA)GLVC
Saint Joseph's GLFC GLVC
Shorter Mid-South (NAIA)Gulf South
Sioux Falls Independent NSIC
Southern Nazarene CSFL (NAIA)Independent
Southwest Baptist Independent MIAA
Urbana GLFC GLVC
Walsh Independent (NAIA)GLIAC
William Jewell Independent GLVC
Minot State , Notre Dame (OH) , Simon Fraser , Sioux Falls , and William Jewell completed their transitions to Division II and became eligible for the postseason.
Regional realignment [ ] The GNAC , MIAA , and Great American moved from Super Region 4 to Super Region 3, while the RMAC and GLIAC moved in the opposite direction; the GLVC , newly sponsoring football, was assigned to Super Region 4.
Conference standings [ ] Super Region 1 [ ]
2012 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
Northern
Elizabeth City State xy
6
–
1
8
–
4
Chowan
5
–
2
6
–
4
Virginia Union
3
–
4
5
–
5
Virginia State
3
–
4
4
–
6
Bowie State
2
–
5
5
–
5
Lincoln (PA)
1
–
6
1
–
9
Southern
No. 2 Winston-Salem St. xy$^
7
–
0
14
–
1
Johnson C. Smith
5
–
2
6
–
4
St. Augustine's
4
–
3
6
–
4
Shaw
3
–
4
4
–
6
Livingstone
2
–
5
2
–
8
Fayetteville State
1
–
6
2
–
8
Championship: Winston-Salem State 34 , Elizabeth City State 19
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant AFCA Poll
2012 Northeast-10 Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
No. 8 New Haven y$^
8
–
0
10
–
1
American International y
7
–
1
7
–
3
Bentley
6
–
2
8
–
2
Stonehill
5
–
3
5
–
5
Merrimack
4
–
4
6
–
4
Assumption
3
–
5
3
–
7
Southern Connecticut
2
–
6
3
–
8
Saint Anselm
1
–
7
2
–
9
Pace
0
–
8
0
–
9
Championship: New Haven 37 , American International 12
$ – Conference champion y – Championship game participant ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant AFCA poll
2012 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
East
No. 14 Shippensburg xy^
7
–
0
11
–
2
No. 17 Bloomsburg ^
6
–
1
10
–
2
West Chester
4
–
3
7
–
4
East Stroudsburg
4
–
3
5
–
5
Kutztown
4
–
3
7
–
4
LIU Post
2
–
5
3
–
7
Millersville
1
–
6
2
–
9
Cheyney
0
–
7
1
–
10
West
No. 7 Indiana (PA) xy$^
6
–
1
12
–
3
Mercyhurst x
6
–
1
9
–
2
California (PA)
5
–
2
8
–
3
Slippery Rock
5
–
2
6
–
5
Edinboro
3
–
4
4
–
6
Clarion
2
–
5
4
–
7
Gannon
1
–
6
3
–
8
Lock Haven
0
–
7
1
–
10
Championship : Indiana (PA) 41 , Shippensburg 10
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant AFCA Poll
2012 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
No. 25 Shepherd $^
7
–
1
8
–
3
Charleston (WV)
6
–
2
9
–
2
Concord
6
–
2
7
–
4
Glenville State
6
–
2
6
–
5
West Liberty
4
–
4
6
–
5
Fairmont State
4
–
4
4
–
6
West Virginia Wesleyan
2
–
6
3
–
8
West Virginia State
1
–
7
2
–
9
Seton Hill
0
–
8
0
–
11
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant AFCA Poll
Super Region 2 [ ]
2012 Gulf South Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
No. 21 West Alabama $^
5
–
0
9
–
4
No. 1 Valdosta State ^
4
–
1
12
–
2
Shorter #
2
–
3
6
–
5
North Alabama
2
–
3
5
–
5
Delta State
1
–
4
3
–
7
West Georgia
1
–
4
3
–
7
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Provisional NCAA Division II member
AFCA Poll
2012 South Atlantic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
No. 20 Lenoir–Rhyne $^
6
–
1
9
–
3
No. 13 Carson–Newman ^
5
–
2
9
–
3
Mars Hill
5
–
2
6
–
4
Wingate
5
–
2
6
–
5
Newberry
3
–
4
5
–
6
Catawba
2
–
5
4
–
7
Brevard
1
–
6
2
–
9
Tusculum
1
–
6
2
–
9
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant AFCA Poll
2012 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
East
Fort Valley State xy^
6
–
1
8
–
4
Albany State
5
–
2
6
–
4
Morehouse
2
–
5
3
–
7
Clark Atlanta
1
–
6
2
–
8
Benedict
1
–
6
1
–
9
West
No. 23 Tuskegee xy$
7
–
0
10
–
2
Miles ^
6
–
1
8
–
2
Stillman
4
–
3
6
–
5
Lane
3
–
4
5
–
5
Kentucky State
0
–
7
2
–
8
Championship: Tuskegee 55 , Fort Valley State 24
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant AFCA Poll
2012 NCAA Division II Super Region 2 independents football records
Conf Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
UNC Pembroke
–
6
–
4
North Greenville
–
5
–
6
Rankings from AFCA Poll
Super Region 3 [ ]
2012 Great American Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
No. 11 Henderson St. $^
8
–
0
10
–
1
No. 19 Harding ^
7
–
1
9
–
2
Southern Arkansas
6
–
2
8
–
3
Ouachita Baptist
4
–
4
6
–
2
East Central
4
–
4
6
–
5
Arkansas Tech
3
–
5
5
–
6
SE Oklahoma State
2
–
6
4
–
6
SW Oklahoma State
2
–
6
3
–
7
Arkansas–Monticello
0
–
8
1
–
10
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant AFCA Poll
2012 Great Northwest Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
Central Washington $
7
–
3
7
–
4
Humboldt State
6
–
4
7
–
4
Western Oregon
6
–
4
6
–
5
Simon Fraser
4
–
6
5
–
6
Azusa Pacific #
4
–
6
4
–
7
Dixie State
3
–
7
3
–
8
$ – Conference champion # – Provisional Division II member
AFCA Poll
2012 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football standings
Conf Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
No. 5 Missouri Western $^
9
–
1
12
–
2
No. 22 Emporia State
9
–
2
10
–
2
No. 10 NW Missouri State ^
8
–
2
10
–
3
Pittsburg State
7
–
3
7
–
3
Lindenwood #
7
–
3
8
–
4
Washburn
7
–
4
7
–
4
Central Missouri
6
–
4
6
–
4
Missouri Southern
5
–
5
6
–
5
Fort Hays State
4
–
6
5
–
6
Northeastern State
4
–
6
4
–
6
Truman
3
–
7
4
–
7
Southwest Baptist
3
–
8
3
–
8
Nebraska–Kearney
2
–
8
3
–
8
Central Oklahoma
2
–
8
2
–
8
Lincoln (MO)
1
–
10
1
–
10
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Provisional NCAA Division II member
AFCA Poll
2012 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
North
No. 12 Minnesota–Duluth ^
10
–
1
10
–
2
Bemidji State
7
–
4
7
–
4
St. Cloud State
7
–
4
7
–
4
Northern State
6
–
5
6
–
5
Mary
4
–
7
4
–
7
Minot State
3
–
8
3
–
8
Minnesota–Crookston
2
–
9
2
–
9
MSU Moorhead
1
–
10
1
–
10
South
No. 3 Minnesota State $^
11
–
0
13
–
1
Winona State
9
–
2
10
–
2
Sioux Falls
9
–
2
9
–
2
Wayne State (NE)
6
–
5
6
–
5
Augustana (SD)
5
–
6
5
–
6
SW Minnesota State
4
–
7
4
–
7
Concordia–St. Paul
2
–
9
2
–
9
Upper Iowa
2
–
9
2
–
9
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant AFCA Poll
Super Region 4 [ ]
2012 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
North
Grand Valley State
7
–
3
8
–
3
Saginaw Valley State
7
–
3
8
–
3
Michigan Tech
7
–
3
7
–
3
Hillsdale
7
–
3
7
–
4
Ferris State
6
–
4
7
–
4
Wayne State (MI)
5
–
5
5
–
5
Northwood
4
–
6
5
–
6
Northern Michigan
4
–
6
5
–
6
South
No. 9 Ashland $^
10
–
0
11
–
1
Ohio Dominican
7
–
3
8
–
3
Findlay
7
–
3
7
–
3
Lake Erie
3
–
7
3
–
8
Notre Dame (OH)
2
–
8
3
–
8
Tiffin
2
–
8
3
–
8
Walsh *
2
–
8
3
–
8
Malone *
1
–
9
1
–
9
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant * – Provisional Division II member
AFCA poll
2012 Lone Star Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
No. 16 Midwestern State +^
7
–
1
9
–
2
No. 4 West Texas A&M +^
7
–
1
12
–
3
Tarleton State
5
–
3
6
–
4
Texas A&M–Kingsville
5
–
3
6
–
6
Abilene Christian
4
–
4
7
–
4
Angelo State
4
–
4
5
–
6
Eastern New Mexico †
2
–
6
3
–
7
Incarnate Word
1
–
7
2
–
9
Texas A&M–Commerce
1
–
7
1
–
9
+ – Conference co-champions ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant † – Eastern New Mexico vacated all three wins. AFCA poll
2012 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
No. 6 CSU Pueblo $^
9
–
0
12
–
1
No. 18 Chadron State ^
8
–
1
9
–
3
New Mexico Highlands
7
–
2
8
–
3
Adams State
6
–
3
8
–
3
Colorado Mines
4
–
5
6
–
5
Colorado Mesa
4
–
5
4
–
7
Black Hills State #
3
–
6
4
–
7
Western New Mexico
3
–
6
4
–
7
Western State
1
–
8
1
–
10
Fort Lewis
0
–
9
0
–
10
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Provisional Division II member
AFCA Poll
2012 NCAA Division II Super Region 4 independents football records
Conf Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
McMurry #
–
8
–
3
OK Panhandle State
–
4
–
6
NW Oklahoma State #
–
3
–
7
South Dakota Mines #
–
2
–
9
Southern Nazarene #
–
2
–
9
# – Provisional Division II member
AFCA Poll
Conference champions [ ] See also: List of NCAA Division II football seasons
Conference Champions
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association – Winston-Salem State (14–1, 7–0)Henderson State Ashland Great Lakes Valley Conference – Indianapolis Central Washington West Alabama Midwestern State and West Texas A&M Missouri Western State New Haven Minnesota–Duluth (North) and Minnesota State–Mankato (South)Indiana (PA) CSU Pueblo Lenoir-Rhyne Tuskegee Shepherd
Postseason [ ] 2012 NCAA Division II Football Championship Teams 24 Finals Site Braly Municipal Stadium Florence, AL Champion Valdosta State (3rd title, title game) Runner-up Winston-Salem State (1st title game) Semifinalists Winning coach
The 2012 NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs were the 39th single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division II college football. The championship game was held at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama for the 25th time.
Seeded teams [ ] Playoff bracket [ ]
First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National Championship Game Braly Municipal Stadium Florence, Alabama
*
Winston-Salem State 37
Shippensburg
14
*
Shippensburg 58
Bloomsburg
20
*
Winston-Salem State
21
Super Region 1
IUP
17
*
New Haven
14
IUP
17
*
IUP 27
Shepherd
17
*
Winston-Salem State
41
West Texas A&M
18
*
CSU Pueblo 28
Indianapolis
7
*
Indianapolis 31
Midwestern State
14
*
CSU Pueblo
13
Super Region 4
West Texas A&M
34
*
Ashland
28
West Texas A&M
33
West Texas A&M 38
*
Chadron State
30
Winston-Salem State
7
Valdosta State
35
*
Valdosta State 49
West Alabama
21
*
West Alabama 41
Miles
7
*
Valdosta State
48
Super Region 2
Carson–Newman
26
*
Carson–Newman 38
Lenoir–Rhyne
35
*
Lenoir–Rhyne 21
Fort Valley State
6
Valdosta State
35
*
Minnesota State
19
*
Minnesota State 38
Northwest Missouri State
35
*
NW Missouri State 35
Harding
0
*
Minnesota State
17
Super Region 3
Missouri Western
10
*
Henderson State
21
Missouri Western
45
*
Missouri Western 57
Minnesota–Duluth
55
* Home team † Overtime
Awards and honors [ ] Harlon Hill Trophy [ ] The Harlon Hill Trophy is given to the year's most outstanding player.[3]
Player
School
Position
1st
2nd
3rd
Total
Zach Zulli Shippensburg QB 52 14 18 202
Michael Hill Missouri Western RB
23
26
17
138
Bloomsburg RB
8
27
23
101
Dustin Vaughan West Texas A&M QB
10
14
10
68
Ashland QB
7
14
15
64
See also [ ] References [ ]
Seasons
Playoffs
1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Championship games
Bowl era
East: Tangerine Bowl (1964–1967), Boardwalk Bowl (1968–1972)Mideast: Grantland Rice Bowl (1964–1972)Midwest: Pecan Bowl (1964–1970), Pioneer Bowl (1971–1972)West: Camellia Bowl (1964–1967) Playoff era
1973 2008 2009 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Records & statistics
Pre-NCAA
1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 NCAA pre-divisional NCAA University Division
1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 NCAA Division I NCAA Division I-A/FBS NCAA Division I-AA/FCS NCAA College Division NCAA Division II NCAA Division III
