American college football season
2021 NCAA Division II football season Regular season August 28 – November 13, 2021 Playoffs November 20 – December 18, 2021 National Championship McKinney Independent School District Stadium McKinney, TX December 18, 2021Champion Ferris State Harlon Hill Trophy Tyson Bagent, QB, Shepherd
← 2020
NCAA Division II football seasons
The 2021 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 28 and ended December 18 with the Division II championship at the McKinney Independent School District Stadium in McKinney, Texas .
Conference changes and new programs [ ]
Membership changes [ ]
School
Former conference
New conference
Ashland Eagles
GLIAC
G-MAC [1]
Alderson Broaddus Battlers
G-MAC
Mountain East [2]
Allen Yellow Jackets
Appalachian (NAIA)
Independent [3]
Azusa Pacific Cougars
GNAC
Dropped program
Barton Bulldogs
Returning program, last competed 1950
Independent [4]
Bluefield State Big Blues
Returning program, last competed 1980
Independent [5]
Dixie State Trailblazers
RMAC
WAC (FCS)
Edward Waters Tigers
Independent (NAIA)
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic
Emory and Henry Wasps
Old Dominion (DIII)
Independent [6]
Erskine Flying Fleet
Returning program, last competed 1951
Independent [7]
Florida Tech Panthers
Gulf South
Dropped program [8]
Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Northern Sun
Dropped program [9]
UNC Pembroke Braves
Independent
Mountain East
St. Cloud State Huskies
Northern Sun
Dropped program [10]
Tarleton Texans
Lone Star
WAC (FCS)
Urbana Blue Knights
Mountain East
Shut down at end of 2019–20 academic year [11]
Conference standings [ ]
Super Region 1 [ ]
2021 Great Midwest Athletic Conference football standings
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
Findlay $^
6
–
1
8
–
4
Tiffin
5
–
2
8
–
3
Hillsdale
5
–
2
6
–
6
Ohio Dominican
4
–
3
7
–
4
Ashland
4
–
3
5
–
5
Lake Erie
2
–
5
5
–
6
Kentucky Wesleyan
1
–
6
3
–
8
Walsh
1
–
6
2
–
9
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll
2021 Mountain East Conference football standings
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
No. 22 Frostburg State #
9
–
1
10
–
1
No. 9 Notre Dame (OH) $^
9
–
1
11
–
2
Charleston (WV)
8
–
2
8
–
2
UNC Pembroke
6
–
4
6
–
5
West Virginia State
6
–
4
6
–
5
Fairmont State
5
–
5
5
–
6
Wheeling
5
–
5
5
–
6
Concord
4
–
6
4
–
6
West Liberty
4
–
6
4
–
7
Glenville State
3
–
7
3
–
7
Alderson Broaddus
1
–
9
1
–
10
West Virginia Wesleyan
0
–
10
0
–
11
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Provisional NCAA Division II member
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2021 Northeast-10 Conference football standings
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
No. 14 New Haven $^
8
–
0
10
–
2
No. 24 Bentley ^
7
–
1
9
–
2
Stonehill
6
–
2
8
–
2
Assumption
5
–
3
5
–
5
Southern Connecticut
3
–
5
4
–
6
Saint Anselm
3
–
5
3
–
6
American International
2
–
6
4
–
6
Pace
2
–
6
2
–
8
Franklin Pierce
0
–
8
0
–
10
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll
2021 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football standings
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
East
No. 8 Kutztown xy$^
7
–
0
11
–
2
No. 5 Shepherd x^
6
–
1
13
–
2
Shippensburg
5
–
2
9
–
2
West Chester
4
–
3
6
–
5
East Stroudsburg
3
–
4
5
–
6
Bloomsburg
2
–
5
3
–
8
Millersville
1
–
6
2
–
9
Lock Haven
0
–
7
1
–
10
West
No. 20 Slippery Rock xy^
6
–
1
9
–
3
No. 21 California (PA) x
5
–
1
9
–
1
IUP
5
–
2
7
–
3
Gannon
3
–
4
5
–
6
Edinboro
3
–
4
4
–
6
Mercyhurst
3
–
4
4
–
7
Seton Hill
2
–
5
5
–
6
Clarion
0
–
6
0
–
10
Championship : Kutztown 38 , Slippery Rock 32
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll
Super Region 2 [ ]
2021 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
Northern
No. 6 Bowie State xy$^
7
–
0
12
–
2
Virginia Union
5
–
2
6
–
4
Chowan
4
–
3
7
–
3
Virginia State
3
–
4
3
–
6
Elizabeth City State
3
–
4
3
–
7
Lincoln (PA)
1
–
6
1
–
9
Southern
Fayetteville State xy
7
–
0
8
–
2
Shaw
5
–
2
6
–
4
Winston–Salem State
3
–
4
3
–
6
Johnson C. Smith
1
–
5
1
–
7
Livingstone
1
–
5
1
–
8
St. Augustine's
1
–
6
1
–
7
Championship: Bowie State 17 , Fayetteville State 7
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll
2021 South Atlantic Conference football standings
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
No. 17 Newberry $^
7
–
1
10
–
3
Lenoir–Rhyne ^
6
–
2
8
–
3
Mars Hill
6
–
2
8
–
3
Wingate †
6
–
2
8
–
3
Virginia–Wise
4
–
4
5
–
6
Tusculum
3
–
5
5
–
6
Catawba †
2
–
6
5
–
6
Carson–Newman
1
–
7
1
–
9
Limestone †
1
–
7
1
–
9
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant † – Catawba's cancellations against Wingate and Limestone were counted as forfeits in the conference standings. Rankings from AFCA Poll
2021 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
East
No. 18 Albany State xy$^
6
–
0
10
–
2
Savannah State
5
–
1
8
–
2
Morehouse
4
–
2
4
–
6
Fort Valley State
3
–
3
5
–
5
Benedict
2
–
4
5
–
5
Clark Atlanta
0
–
6
2
–
8
West
Miles xy
4
–
2
6
–
5
Kentucky State x
4
–
2
7
–
4
Lane
3
–
3
6
–
4
Tuskegee
2
–
4
3
–
8
Central State
0
–
6
1
–
9
Not competing for championship
Allen #
–
4
–
5
Edward Waters #
–
4
–
7
Championship: Albany State 31 , Miles 0
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Provisional NCAA Division II member
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2021 NCAA Division II independents football records
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
Emory & Henry #
–
6
–
4
Bluefield State
–
4
–
3
Barton
–
6
–
5
Erskine
–
3
–
8
# – Provisional NCAA Division II member
Super Region 3 [ ]
2021 Great American Conference football standings
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
No. 10 Harding $^
10
–
1
11
–
2
Henderson State
9
–
2
9
–
2
No. 23 Ouachita Baptist
9
–
2
9
–
2
SE Oklahoma State
8
–
3
9
–
3
Oklahoma Baptist
7
–
4
8
–
4
East Central
7
–
4
7
–
4
Arkansas–Monticello
5
–
6
5
–
6
Arkansas Tech
4
–
7
4
–
7
Southern Arkansas
4
–
7
4
–
7
NW Oklahoma State
2
–
9
2
–
9
Southern Nazarene
1
–
10
1
–
10
SW Oklahoma State
0
–
11
0
–
11
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll
2021 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
No. 1 Ferris State $^
7
–
0
14
–
0
No. 7 Grand Valley State ^
6
–
1
10
–
2
Michigan Tech
5
–
2
6
–
4
Saginaw Valley State
4
–
3
7
–
4
Northern Michigan
2
–
5
4
–
7
Davenport
2
–
5
3
–
8
Wayne State (MI)
2
–
5
2
–
9
Northwood
0
–
7
1
–
9
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll
2021 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football standings
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
No. 4 NW Missouri State $^
9
–
1
11
–
2
No. 15 Nebraska–Kearney ^
9
–
2
10
–
3
No. 25 Washburn ^
9
–
2
9
–
3
Pittsburg State
8
–
3
8
–
3
Missouri Western
6
–
5
6
–
5
Emporia State
6
–
5
6
–
6
Fort Hays State
5
–
6
5
–
6
Central Oklahoma
4
–
7
4
–
7
Central Missouri
4
–
7
4
–
7
Missouri Southern
3
–
8
3
–
8
Northeastern State
2
–
9
2
–
9
Lincoln (MO)
0
–
10
0
–
10
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll
Super Region 4 [ ]
2021 Great Northwest Athletic Conference football standings
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
Central Washington $^
4
–
0
8
–
3
Western Oregon
2
–
2
4
–
6
Simon Fraser
0
–
4
1
–
7
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll
2021 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football standings
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
North
No. 19 Bemidji State x$^
9
–
2
10
–
3
Minnesota–Duluth x^
9
–
2
9
–
3
Northern State
7
–
4
7
–
4
MSU Moorhead
5
–
6
5
–
6
Mary
3
–
3
4
–
7
Minot State
2
–
9
2
–
9
Concordia–St. Paul
1
–
10
1
–
10
South
Augustana (SD) x^
9
–
2
9
–
3
Sioux Falls
8
–
3
8
–
3
Winona State
7
–
4
7
–
4
Wayne State (NE)
7
–
4
7
–
4
Minnesota State
6
–
5
6
–
5
SW Minnesota State
2
–
9
2
–
9
Upper Iowa
1
–
10
1
–
10
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll
2021 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football standings
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
No. 3 Colorado Mines $^
8
–
1
12
–
2
No. 16 Western Colorado ^
8
–
1
10
–
2
Colorado Mesa
7
–
2
8
–
2
CSU Pueblo
6
–
3
6
–
5
Chadron State
5
–
4
6
–
5
South Dakota Mines
4
–
5
6
–
5
New Mexico Highlands
4
–
5
4
–
6
Black Hills State
2
–
7
4
–
7
Adams State
1
–
8
1
–
10
Fort Lewis
0
–
9
0
–
11
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll
Postseason [ ]
Bracket [ ]
Super Region 1 [ ]
First Round November 20, 2021Campus sites
Second Round November 27, 2021Campus sites
Quarterfinals December 4, 2021Campus sites
1
Kutztown
10
4
New Haven
7
4
New Haven *
38
Bentley
13
1
Kutztown
28
2
Shepherd
30
2
Shepherd *
38
Findlay
31
2
Shepherd
38
3
Notre Dame (OH)
34
3
Notre Dame (OH) *
33
Slippery Rock
25
Super Region 2 [ ]
First Round November 20, 2021Campus sites
Second Round November 27, 2021Campus sites
Quarterfinals December 4, 2021Campus sites
1
Valdosta State *
66
West Georgia
35
4
Albany State *
7
West Georgia
23
1
Valdosta State
41
2
Bowie State
17
2
Bowie State *
31
Lenoir–Rhyne
10
2
Bowie State
13
Newberry
10
3
West Florida *
30
Newberry
33 *
Super Region 3 [ ]
First Round November 20, 2021Campus sites
Second Round November 27, 2021Campus sites
Quarterfinals December 4, 2021Campus sites
1
Ferris State
54
4
Grand Valley State
20
4
Grand Valley State *
20
Lindenwood
3
1
Ferris State
41
3
NW Missouri State
20
2
Harding *
30
Washburn
14
2
Harding
9
3
NW Missouri State
28
3
NW Missouri State *
50
Central Washington
21
Super Region 4 [ ]
First Round November 20, 2021Campus sites
Second Round November 27, 2021Campus sites
Quarterfinals December 4, 2021Campus sites
1
Colorado Mines *
55
Bemidji State
6
4
Augustana (SD) *
24
Bemidji State
28
1
Colorado Mines
34
2
Angelo State
26
2
Angelo State *
48
Minnesota–Duluth
14
2
Angelo State
20
Nebraska–Kearney
7
3
Western Colorado *
24
Nebraska–Kearney
31
National semifinals [ ]
Teams that advanced to the semifinals were re-seeded.
See also [ ]
References [ ]
^ "Ashland University to join Great Midwest Athletic Conference in summer of 2021" . richlandsource . Retrieved October 2, 2021 .
^ "Alderson Broaddus To Join MEC" . Mountain East . Retrieved October 2, 2021 .
^ "Allen University to move from NAIA to NCAA Division II effective 2020-21 academic year" . HBCU Sports . Retrieved October 2, 2021 .
^ "NCAA DII Collegiate Football Is Coming to Barton" . Barton College . Retrieved October 2, 2021 .
^ "Bluefield State Returns Football And 11 Additional Sports For 2021-2022" . Bluefield State . Retrieved October 2, 2021 .
^ "Emory & Henry College to Join South Atlantic Conference; Will Begin Competition in 2022-23" . SAC .
^ "Erskine Bringing Back Football for 2020 Season" . Erskine College. August 24, 2018. Retrieved October 29, 2021 .
^ "Florida Tech cuts football program, announces layoffs due to COVID-19 impacts" . Florida Today . Retrieved October 2, 2021 .
^ Tollefson, Elizabeth (December 10, 2019). "UMN Crookston Discontinues Golden Eagle Football Program" . Crookston, Minnesota. Retrieved January 20, 2022 .
^ Zimmer, Matt (December 10, 2019). "St. Cloud State University cutting its football program" . Argus Leader . Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Retrieved August 26, 2020 .
^ "Ohio's Urbana University to close due to coronavirus challenges, low enrollment" . The Columbus Dispatch . Retrieved October 2, 2021 .
Seasons
Playoffs
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
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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
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1888
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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