American college football season
The 2017 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, 2017 and ended with the Division II championship on December 16, 2017 at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas .[1] Northwest Missouri State were the defending champions from the previous season .[2] Texas A&M–Commerce won the school's first Division II National Championship and second overall.
Coverage of the Division 2 Playoffs were on ESPN 3, ESPN's streaming service up until the championship in which was broadcast on ESPN 2.
Conference changes and new programs [ ]
Membership changes [ ]
School
Former conference
New conference
Brevard Tornadoes
South Atlantic
Independent (D-III)
Davenport Panthers
Independent (NAIA)
GLIAC
Findlay Oilers
GLIAC
G-MAC
Hillsdale Chargers
GLIAC
G-MAC
Lake Erie Storm
GLIAC
G-MAC
Limestone Saints
Independent
South Atlantic
Ohio Dominican Panthers
GLIAC
G-MAC
Oklahoma Panhandle State Aggies
Lone Star
CSFL (NAIA)
Saint Joseph's Pumas
GLVC
School closed
Walsh Cavaliers
GLIAC
G-MAC
Oklahoma Baptist completed their transition to Division II and became eligible for the postseason.
Regional realignment [ ]
The GNAC and NSIC moved from Super Region 3 to Super Region 4, while the GLIAC and GLVC moved in the opposite direction. The newly-expanded G-MAC joined Super Region 1, replacing the CIAA , which moved to Super Region 2.
Conference standings [ ]
Super Region 1 [ ]
2017 Great Midwest Athletic Conference football standings
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
Ohio Dominican $
7
–
0
7
–
3
No. 22 Findlay ^
6
–
1
10
–
3
Hillsdale
5
–
2
7
–
4
Walsh
4
–
3
4
–
7
Lake Erie
2
–
5
2
–
8
Alderson Broaddus
2
–
5
3
–
8
Kentucky Wesleyan
1
–
6
2
–
8
Malone
1
–
6
1
–
9
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll
2017 Mountain East Conference football standings
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
No. 14 Shepherd $^
10
–
0
10
–
1
Notre Dame (OH)
8
–
2
8
–
3
Fairmont State
8
–
2
8
–
3
West Virginia State
5
–
5
6
–
5
West Virginia Wesleyan
5
–
5
5
–
6
Virginia–Wise
4
–
6
5
–
6
Urbana
4
–
6
5
–
6
Charleston (WV)
4
–
6
4
–
6
Glenville State
3
–
7
4
–
7
West Liberty
3
–
7
3
–
8
Concord
1
–
9
2
–
9
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA poll
2017 Northeast-10 Conference football standings
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
No. 9 Assumption $^
8
–
1
11
–
2
LIU Post
7
–
2
8
–
2
Bentley
6
–
3
6
–
4
New Haven
5
–
4
6
–
4
Stonehill
5
–
4
6
–
4
Southern Connecticut
5
–
4
5
–
5
Merrimack
4
–
5
4
–
6
Pace
2
–
7
3
–
7
American International
2
–
7
2
–
8
Saint Anselm
1
–
8
1
–
9
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA poll
2017 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football standings
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
East
No. 25 Shippensburg x^
6
–
1
10
–
2
West Chester xy^
6
–
1
9
–
4
Kutztown
5
–
2
8
–
3
Bloomsburg
4
–
3
7
–
4
Millersville
3
–
4
4
–
7
East Stroudsburg
2
–
5
3
–
8
Lock Haven
2
–
5
2
–
9
Cheyney
0
–
7
1
–
10
West
No. 3 IUP xy$^
7
–
0
13
–
1
California (PA) ^
5
–
2
9
–
3
Slippery Rock
5
–
2
8
–
3
Edinboro
4
–
3
7
–
4
Gannon
3
–
4
5
–
6
Mercyhurst
3
–
4
5
–
6
Clarion
1
–
6
1
–
10
Seton Hill
0
–
7
0
–
11
Championship : Indiana (PA) 24 , West Chester 7
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll
Super Region 2 [ ]
2017 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
Northern
No. 18 Virginia State xy$^
7
–
0
10
–
1
No. 23 Bowie State ^
6
–
1
9
–
2
Virginia Union
5
–
2
6
–
4
Chowan
4
–
3
4
–
6
Elizabeth City State
2
–
5
4
–
6
Lincoln (PA)
0
–
7
0
–
10
Southern
Fayetteville State xy
5
–
2
6
–
5
St. Augustine's x
5
–
2
5
–
5
Winston-Salem State
4
–
3
6
–
4
Shaw
2
–
5
3
–
7
Johnson C. Smith
2
–
5
2
–
8
Livingstone
0
–
7
0
–
10
Championship: Virginia St. 42 , Fayetteville St. 19
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll
2017 Gulf South Conference football standings
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
No. 12 West Alabama $^
7
–
1
10
–
3
No. 2 West Florida ^
5
–
3
11
–
4
No. 21 Delta State ^
5
–
3
9
–
4
No. 19 West Georgia ^
5
–
3
9
–
4
Valdosta State
5
–
3
5
–
4
North Alabama
5
–
3
5
–
5
Florida Tech
3
–
5
5
–
6
Mississippi College
1
–
7
1
–
9
Shorter
0
–
8
0
–
11
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll
2017 South Atlantic Conference football standings
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
No. 24 Wingate $^
6
–
1
9
–
2
Catawba
5
–
2
9
–
2
Carson–Newman
5
–
2
8
–
3
Tusculum
3
–
4
5
–
5
Newberry
3
–
4
5
–
6
Limestone
3
–
4
4
–
6
Lenoir–Rhyne
2
–
5
3
–
7
Mars Hill
1
–
6
3
–
7
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll
2017 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
East
Benedict x
5
–
1
7
–
2
Fort Valley State xy
5
–
1
5
–
5
Albany State
4
–
2
6
–
4
Morehouse
2
–
4
4
–
6
Clark Atlanta
2
–
4
4
–
6
West
Tuskegee xy$
6
–
0
9
–
2
Miles
4
–
2
6
–
4
Kentucky State
2
–
4
3
–
8
Lane
1
–
5
2
–
8
Central State
0
–
6
1
–
9
Championship: Tuskegee 13 , Fort Valley State 6
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant Rankings from AFCA Poll
2017 NCAA Division II independents football records
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
North Greenville
–
4
–
6
UNC Pembroke
–
2
–
8
Rankings from AFCA Poll
Super Region 3 [ ]
2017 Great American Conference football standings
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
Ouachita Baptist $^
9
–
2
9
–
3
No. 6 Harding ^
8
–
3
11
–
4
Arkansas Tech
8
–
3
8
–
4
Southern Arkansas
7
–
4
7
–
4
SE Oklahoma State
7
–
4
7
–
4
Henderson State
6
–
5
6
–
5
Arkansas–Monticello
5
–
6
5
–
6
NW Oklahoma State
5
–
6
5
–
6
Southern Nazarene
4
–
7
4
–
7
SW Oklahoma State
3
–
8
3
–
8
East Central
2
–
9
2
–
9
Oklahoma Baptist
2
–
9
2
–
9
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll
2017 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
No. 10 Ashland $^
9
–
0
11
–
2
No. 5 Ferris State ^
8
–
1
11
–
2
Grand Valley State
7
–
2
8
–
3
Tiffin
5
–
4
6
–
5
Northwood
5
–
4
7
–
4
Wayne State (MI)
4
–
5
5
–
6
Michigan Tech
3
–
6
4
–
7
Saginaw Valley State
3
–
6
5
–
6
Northern Michigan
1
–
8
1
–
9
Davenport *
0
–
9
1
–
10
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant * – Provisional Division II member
Rankings from AFCA poll
2017 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football standings
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
No. 8 Fort Hays State $^
11
–
0
11
–
1
No. 16 NW Missouri State ^
9
–
2
9
–
3
Central Missouri
8
–
3
9
–
3
Central Oklahoma
7
–
4
8
–
4
Pittsburg State
7
–
4
8
–
4
Washburn
6
–
5
7
–
5
Emporia State
6
–
5
6
–
5
Lindenwood
4
–
7
4
–
7
Missouri Western
4
–
7
4
–
7
Nebraska–Kearney
3
–
8
3
–
8
Northeastern State
1
–
10
1
–
10
Missouri Southern
0
–
11
0
–
11
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll
Super Region 4 [ ]
2017 Great Northwest Athletic Conference football standings
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
No. 7 Central Washington $^
8
–
0
11
–
1
Humboldt State
6
–
2
8
–
2
Azusa Pacific
4
–
4
7
–
4
Western Oregon
2
–
6
3
–
8
Simon Fraser
0
–
8
0
–
10
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll
2017 Lone Star Conference football standings
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
No. 11 Midwestern State $^
8
–
0
10
–
1
No. 1 Texas A&M–Commerce ^
7
–
1
14
–
1
Eastern New Mexico
6
–
2
8
–
2
Tarleton State
4
–
4
6
–
6
Angelo State
4
–
4
6
–
5
Western New Mexico
3
–
5
4
–
7
Texas A&M–Kingsville
2
–
6
4
–
7
West Texas A&M
1
–
7
3
–
8
Texas–Permian Basin
1
–
7
2
–
9
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA poll
2017 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football standings
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
North
Minnesota–Duluth
9
–
2
9
–
3
Bemidji State
8
–
3
8
–
3
Northern State
6
–
5
6
–
5
St. Cloud State
6
–
5
6
–
5
MSU Moorhead
5
–
6
5
–
6
Minot State
3
–
8
3
–
8
Mary
1
–
10
1
–
10
Minnesota–Crookston
0
–
11
0
–
11
South
No. 4 Minnesota State $^
11
–
0
13
–
1
No. 15 Winona State ^
10
–
1
10
–
2
No. 20 Sioux Falls ^
9
–
2
9
–
3
Upper Iowa
6
–
5
6
–
5
Wayne State (NE)
6
–
5
6
–
5
Augustana (SD)
4
–
7
4
–
7
Concordia–St. Paul
2
–
9
2
–
9
SW Minnesota State
2
–
9
2
–
9
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll
2017 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football standings
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
Colorado Mesa +
9
–
1
9
–
2
No. 17 CSU Pueblo +^
9
–
1
9
–
3
Colorado Mines
7
–
3
7
–
4
Chadron State
6
–
4
6
–
5
Dixie State
5
–
5
5
–
6
Fort Lewis
5
–
5
5
–
6
South Dakota Mines
4
–
6
5
–
6
Black Hills State
4
–
6
4
–
6
Adams State
4
–
6
4
–
7
New Mexico Highlands
1
–
9
2
–
9
Western Colorado
1
–
9
1
–
10
+ – Conference co-champions ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll
Postseason [ ]
2017 NCAA Division II Football Championship Teams 28 Finals Site Champion Runner-up West Florida (1st title game) Semifinalists Winning coach
The 2017 NCAA Division II Football Championship was the 45th edition of the Division II playoffs . The playoffs began on November 18 and concluded with the championship game on December 16.
The field consisted of 28 teams, seven from each of the four super regions. The participants in each region were determined by the regional rankings; if a conference's highest-ranked team was ranked in the top eight, that team qualified via the "earned access" provision, and all other participants were selected directly from the rankings. The top seed in each region received a first-round bye. After the quarterfinals, the regional winners were reseeded one through four, with No. 1 meeting No. 4 in the semifinals and No. 2 meeting No. 3.
Bracket [ ]
First round November 18
Second round November 25
Quarterfinals December 2
Semifinals December 9
Championship Kansas City, KS December 16
1
IUP *
44
5
West Chester
10
4
Shippensburg *
6
5
West Chester
27
1
IUP
27
Super Region 1
3
Assumption
22
2
Shepherd *
17
7
Findlay
29
7
Findlay
26
3
Assumption *
45
3
Assumption *
40
6
California (PA)
31
1
IUP *
17
4
West Florida
27
1
West Alabama *
27
5
Delta State
20
4
Bowie State *
35
5
Delta State
45
1
West Alabama *
14
Super Region 2
6
West Florida
17
2
Virginia State *
9
7
West Georgia
35
7
West Georgia *
14
6
West Florida
17
3
Wingate *
0
6
West Florida
31
4
West Florida
27
2
Texas A&M–Commerce
37
1
Fort Hays State *
21
4
Ferris State
31
4
Ferris State *
24
5
Ouachita Baptist
19
4
Ferris State
14
Super Region 3
7
Harding
16
2
Indianapolis *
24
7
Harding
27
7
Harding
34
3
Ashland *
24
3
Ashland *
21
6
NW Missouri State
18
3
Harding
17
2
Texas A&M–Commerce *
31
1
Central Washington *
31
5
Texas A&M–Commerce
34 †
4
Winona State *
6
5
Texas A&M–Commerce
20
5
Texas A&M–Commerce
31
Super Region 4
2
Minnesota State *
21
2
Minnesota State *
16 †
7
CSU Pueblo
13
2
Minnesota State *
63
3
Midwestern State
21
3
Midwestern State *
24
6
Sioux Falls
20
Bowl games [ ]
Date
Game
Site
Teams
Affiliations
Results
Dec 2
Corsicana Bowl
Tiger Stadium Corsicana, Texas
Central Oklahoma Bronchos (7–4) Tarleton State Texans (6–5)
MIAA Lone Star
Central Oklahoma 38 Tarleton State 31
C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl
Bulldawg StadiumCopperas Cove, Texas
Washburn Ichabods (6–5)Angelo State Rams (6–5)
MIAA Lone Star
Washburn 41 Angelo State 25
Live United Texarkana Bowl
Razorback StadiumTexarkana, Arkansas
Pittsburg State Gorillas (7–4)Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys (8–3)
MIAA GAC
Pittsburg State 41 Arkansas Tech 31
Mineral Water Bowl
Tiger StadiumExcelsior Springs, Missouri
Central Missouri Mules (8–3)Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs (9–2)
MIAA NSIC
Central Missouri 38 Minnesota–Duluth 28
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
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1884
1885
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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