The 2021 NAIA football season is the component of the 2021 college football season organized by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in the United States. The regular season began on August 28 and culminated on November 13. The season's playoffs, known as the NAIA Football National Championship, began on November 20 and culminated with the championship game on December 18 at Durham County Memorial Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. The Morningside Mustangs defeated the Grand View Vikings in the title game, winning the program's third NAIA title in four seasons under head coach Steve Ryan.[1]
Conference changes and new programs[]
Membership changes[]
Conference standings[]
|
2021 Great Plains Athletic Conference football standings
|
|
Conf |
|
|
Overall
|
Team |
|
W |
|
L |
|
|
|
|
W |
|
L |
|
No. 2 Morningside $^
|
|
10
|
– |
0
|
|
|
|
|
14
|
– |
0
|
|
No. 4 Northwestern (IA) ^
|
|
9
|
– |
1
|
|
|
|
|
12
|
– |
2
|
|
Concordia (NE)
|
|
7
|
– |
3
|
|
|
|
|
7
|
– |
3
|
|
No. 23 Dordt
|
|
7
|
– |
3
|
|
|
|
|
7
|
– |
3
|
|
Midland
|
|
6
|
– |
4
|
|
|
|
|
6
|
– |
5
|
|
Doane
|
|
5
|
– |
5
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
– |
5
|
|
Dakota Wesleyan
|
|
4
|
– |
6
|
|
|
|
|
4
|
– |
7
|
|
Briar Cliff
|
|
3
|
– |
7
|
|
|
|
|
3
|
– |
8
|
|
Hastings
|
|
2
|
– |
8
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
– |
8
|
|
Jamestown
|
|
2
|
– |
8
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
– |
9
|
|
Mount Marty
|
|
0
|
– |
10
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
– |
10
|
|
|
- $ – Conference champion
- ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from
|
|
2021 Heart of America Athletic Conference football standings
|
|
Conf |
|
|
Overall
|
Team |
|
W |
|
L |
|
|
|
|
W |
|
L |
|
North
|
No. 3 Grand View x^
|
|
5
|
– |
0
|
|
|
|
|
14
|
– |
1
|
|
No. 22 Culver–Stockton
|
|
4
|
– |
1
|
|
|
|
|
8
|
– |
3
|
|
Peru State
|
|
3
|
– |
2
|
|
|
|
|
7
|
– |
4
|
|
William Penn
|
|
2
|
– |
3
|
|
|
|
|
3
|
– |
8
|
|
Clarke
|
|
1
|
– |
4
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
– |
10
|
|
Graceland
|
|
0
|
– |
5
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
– |
11
|
|
South
|
No. 16 Central Methodist x^
|
|
5
|
– |
0
|
|
|
|
|
9
|
– |
3
|
|
No. 13 Baker
|
|
4
|
– |
1
|
|
|
|
|
9
|
– |
2
|
|
Benedictine (KS)
|
|
3
|
– |
2
|
|
|
|
|
7
|
– |
4
|
|
Evangel
|
|
2
|
– |
3
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
– |
6
|
|
MidAmerica Nazarene
|
|
1
|
– |
4
|
|
|
|
|
3
|
– |
8
|
|
Missouri Valley
|
|
0
|
– |
5
|
|
|
|
|
3
|
– |
8
|
|
|
- x – Division champion/co-champions
- ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from
|
|
|
2021 Mid-South Conference football standings
|
|
Conf |
|
|
Overall
|
Team |
|
W |
|
L |
|
|
|
|
W |
|
L |
|
Appalachian Division
|
No. 6 Reinhardt x^
|
|
6
|
– |
0
|
|
|
|
|
9
|
– |
3
|
|
No. 24 Faulkner
|
|
5
|
– |
1
|
|
|
|
|
8
|
– |
2
|
|
Bluefield
|
|
4
|
– |
2
|
|
|
|
|
6
|
– |
5
|
|
Kentucky Christian
|
|
2
|
– |
4
|
|
|
|
|
3
|
– |
8
|
|
Point
|
|
2
|
– |
4
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
– |
8
|
|
St. Andrews
|
|
2
|
– |
4
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
– |
9
|
|
Union (KY)
|
|
0
|
– |
6
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
– |
9
|
|
Bluegrass Division
|
No. 1 Lindsey Wilson x^
|
|
7
|
– |
0
|
|
|
|
|
12
|
– |
1
|
|
No. 15 Georgetown (KY)
|
|
5
|
– |
2
|
|
|
|
|
8
|
– |
2
|
|
Bethel (TN)
|
|
4
|
– |
3
|
|
|
|
|
7
|
– |
4
|
|
Thomas More
|
|
4
|
– |
3
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
– |
5
|
|
Cumberlands (KY)
|
|
3
|
– |
4
|
|
|
|
|
6
|
– |
4
|
|
Pikeville
|
|
2
|
– |
5
|
|
|
|
|
4
|
– |
6
|
|
Cumberland (TN)
|
|
2
|
– |
5
|
|
|
|
|
3
|
– |
7
|
|
Campbellsville
|
|
1
|
– |
6
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
– |
8
|
|
Sun Division
|
No. 11 Keiser x^
|
|
5
|
– |
1
|
|
|
|
|
9
|
– |
3
|
|
Southeastern x
|
|
5
|
– |
1
|
|
|
|
|
8
|
– |
3
|
|
St. Thomas (FL)
|
|
4
|
– |
2
|
|
|
|
|
9
|
– |
2
|
|
Ave Maria
|
|
4
|
– |
2
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
– |
6
|
|
Warner
|
|
1
|
– |
5
|
|
|
|
|
3
|
– |
8
|
|
Webber International
|
|
1
|
– |
5
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
– |
8
|
|
Florida Memorial
|
|
1
|
– |
5
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
– |
9
|
|
|
- x – Division champion/co-champions
- ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from
|
|
2021 Mid-States Football Association standings
|
|
Conf |
|
|
Overall
|
Team |
|
W |
|
L |
|
|
|
|
W |
|
L |
|
Mideast League
|
No. 8 Concordia (MI) x^
|
|
6
|
– |
1
|
|
|
|
|
9
|
– |
2
|
|
No. 7 Marian (IN) x^
|
|
6
|
– |
1
|
|
|
|
|
9
|
– |
3
|
|
Siena Heights
|
|
5
|
– |
2
|
|
|
|
|
6
|
– |
4
|
|
No. 5 Indiana Wesleyan x^
|
|
4
|
– |
3
|
|
|
|
|
7
|
– |
4
|
|
Lawrence Tech
|
|
3
|
– |
4
|
|
|
|
|
7
|
– |
4
|
|
Saint Francis (IN)
|
|
2
|
– |
5
|
|
|
|
|
3
|
– |
6
|
|
Taylor
|
|
2
|
– |
5
|
|
|
|
|
3
|
– |
7
|
|
Madonna
|
|
0
|
– |
7
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
– |
9
|
|
Midwest League
|
No. 12 Saint Xavier x^
|
|
6
|
– |
1
|
|
|
|
|
8
|
– |
3
|
|
St. Francis (IL) x
|
|
6
|
– |
1
|
|
|
|
|
6
|
– |
3
|
|
Olivet Nazarene
|
|
5
|
– |
2
|
|
|
|
|
7
|
– |
3
|
|
Roosevelt
|
|
3
|
– |
4
|
|
|
|
|
4
|
– |
6
|
|
Judson
|
|
3
|
– |
4
|
|
|
|
|
4
|
– |
7
|
|
St. Ambrose
|
|
3
|
– |
4
|
|
|
|
|
4
|
– |
7
|
|
Missouri Baptist
|
|
1
|
– |
6
|
|
|
|
|
4
|
– |
7
|
|
Trinity International
|
|
1
|
– |
6
|
|
|
|
|
3
|
– |
8
|
|
|
- x – League champion/co-champions
^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from
|
|
2021 North Star Athletic Association football standings
|
|
Conf |
|
|
Overall
|
Team |
|
W |
|
L |
|
|
|
|
W |
|
L |
|
No. 17 Dickinson State $^
|
|
8
|
– |
0
|
|
|
|
|
8
|
– |
3
|
|
Valley City State
|
|
6
|
– |
2
|
|
|
|
|
8
|
– |
2
|
|
Waldorf
|
|
5
|
– |
3
|
|
|
|
|
7
|
– |
3
|
|
Dakota State
|
|
5
|
– |
3
|
|
|
|
|
6
|
– |
4
|
|
Mayville State
|
|
2
|
– |
6
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
– |
9
|
|
Iowa Wesleyan
|
|
1
|
– |
6
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
– |
9
|
|
Presentation
|
|
0
|
– |
8
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
– |
11
|
|
|
- $ – Conference champion
- ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from
|
|
2021 Sooner Athletic Conference football standings
|
|
Conf |
|
|
Overall
|
Team |
|
W |
|
L |
|
|
|
|
W |
|
L |
|
No. 14 Ottawa (AZ) $^
|
|
8
|
– |
1
|
|
|
|
|
8
|
– |
2
|
|
No. 20 Arizona Christian
|
|
7
|
– |
2
|
|
|
|
|
8
|
– |
2
|
|
Texas Wesleyan
|
|
7
|
– |
2
|
|
|
|
|
7
|
– |
3
|
|
SAGU
|
|
6
|
– |
3
|
|
|
|
|
9
|
– |
3
|
|
Langston
|
|
6
|
– |
3
|
|
|
|
|
7
|
– |
3
|
|
Louisiana Christian
|
|
4
|
– |
5
|
|
|
|
|
4
|
– |
7
|
|
OK Panhandle State
|
|
3
|
– |
6
|
|
|
|
|
4
|
– |
7
|
|
Lyon
|
|
2
|
– |
7
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
– |
8
|
|
Wayland Baptist
|
|
2
|
– |
7
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
– |
8
|
|
Texas College
|
|
0
|
– |
9
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
– |
11
|
|
|
- $ – Conference champion
- ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from
|
|
Postseason[]
Main article: 2021 NAIA Football National Championship
Bracket[]
| 1st Round November 20
| | | Quarterfinals November 27
| | | Semifinals December 4
| | | Championship December 18
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1
| Lindsey Wilson
| 48
| | | | |
|
| 16
| Montana Western
| 21
| |
| | 1
| Lindsey Wilson
| 54
| |
|
| |
| | | 12
| Keiser
| 12
| |
| 6
| Reinhardt
| 13
| |
| |
| 12
| Keiser
| 16
| |
| | 1
| Lindsey Wilson
| 28
| |
|
| |
| | | 3
| Grand View
| 34
| |
| 3
| Grand View
| 38
| | |
| |
| 14
| Dickinson State
| 13
| |
| | 3
| Grand View
| 31
| |
|
| |
| | | 8
| Concordia (MI)
| 16
| |
| 8
| Concordia (MI)
| 47
| |
| |
| 11
| Saint Xavier
| 3
| |
| | 3
| Grand View
| 28
| |
|
| |
| | | 2
| Morningside
| 38
| |
| 2
| Morningside
| 63
| | | |
| |
| 15
| Ottawa (AZ)
| 38
| |
| | 2
| Morningside
| 58
| |
|
| |
| | | 10
| Kansas Wesleyan
| 21
| |
| 5
| Indiana Wesleyan
|
| |
| |
| 10
| Kansas Wesleyan
| forfeit
| |
| | 2
| Morningside
| 28
| |
|
| |
| | | 4
| Northwestern (IA)
| 19
| |
| 4
| Northwestern (IA)
| 24
| | |
| |
| 13
| Central Methodist
| 7
| |
| | 4
| Northwestern (IA)
| 25
| |
|
| |
| | | 7
| Marian (IN)
| 20
| |
| 7
| Marian (IN)
| 21
| |
| |
| 9
| Southwestern (KS)
| 17
| |
Rankings[]
Main article:
See also[]
References[]
|
---|
Seasons | |
---|
Championships | | Division I |
- 1970
- 1971
- 1972
- 1973
- 1974
- 1975
- 1976
- 1977
- 1978
- 1979
- 1980
- 1981
- 1982
- 1983
- 1984
- 1985
- 1986
- 1987
- 1988
- 1989
- 1990
- 1991
- 1992
- 1993
- 1994
- 1995
- 1996
|
---|
Division II |
- 1970
- 1971
- 1972
- 1973
- 1974
- 1975
- 1976
- 1977
- 1978
- 1979
- 1980
- 1981
- 1982
- 1983
- 1984
- 1985
- 1986
- 1987
- 1988
- 1989
- 1990
- 1991
- 1992
- 1993
- 1994
- 1995
- 1996
|
---|
|
---|
Records & statistics | |
---|