NAIA Champions

The NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) began sponsoring a college football championship playoff system in 1956. In 1970, football was divided into two divisions, Division I and Division II, with a championship gamed played in each division. In 1997, football was again consolidated into one division.

Consolidated Champions (1956-1969 and 1997-present)

• 1956 Montana State & St. Joseph’s (Indiana) (co-champions)
• 1957 Pittsburg State (Kansas)
• 1958 Northeastern State (Oklahoma)
• 1959 Texas A&I
• 1960 Lenoir-Rhyne (North Carolina)
• 1961 Pittsburg State (Kansas)
• 1962 Central State (Oklahoma)
• 1963 St. John’s (Minnesota)
• 1964 Concordia (Minnesota) & Sam Houston State (Texas) (co-champions)
• 1965 St. John’s (Minnesota)
• 1966 Waynesburg (Pennsylvania)
• 1967 Fairmont State (West Virginia)
• 1968 Troy State (Alabama)
• 1969 Texas A&I
• 1970-1996 (see NAIA Division I Champions and NAIA Division II Champions)
• 1997 Sioux Falls (South Dakota)
• 1998 Azusa Pacific (California)
• 1999 Northwestern Oklahoma State
• 2000 Georgetown (Kentucky)
• 2001 Georgetown (Kentucky)
• 2002 Carroll (Montana)
• 2003 Carroll (Montana) 41-28 Northwestern Oklahoma State

Division I Champions (1970-1996)

• 1970 Texas A&I
• 1971 Livingston (Alabama)
• 1972 East Texas State
• 1973 Abilene Christian (Texas)
• 1974 Texas A&I
• 1975 Texas A&I
• 1976 Texas A&I
• 1977 Abilene Christian (Texas)
• 1978 Angelo State (Texas)
• 1979 Texas A&I
• 1980 Elon (North Carolina)
• 1981 Elon (North Carolina)
• 1982 Central State (Oklahoma)
• 1983 Carson-Newman (Tennessee)
• 1984 Carson-Newman (Tennessee) & Central Arkansas (co-champions)
• 1985 Hillsdale (Michigan) & Central Arkansas (co-champions)
• 1986 Carson-Newman (Tennessee)
• 1987 Cameron (Oklahoma)
• 1988 Carson-Newman (Tennessee)
• 1989 Carson-Newman (Tennessee)
• 1990 Central State (Ohio)
• 1991 Central Arkansas
• 1992 Central State (Ohio)
• 1993 East Central (Oklahoma)
• 1994 Northeastern State (Oklahoma)
• 1995 Central State (Ohio)
• 1996 Southwestern Oklahoma

Division II Champions (1970-1996)

• 1970 Westminster (Pennsylvania)
• 1971 California Lutheran
• 1972 Missouri Southern
• 1973 Northwestern (Iowa)
• 1974 Texas Lutheran
• 1975 Texas Lutheran
• 1976 Westminster (Pennsylvania)
• 1977 Westminster (Pennsylvania)
• 1978 Concordia (Minnesota)
• 1979 Findlay (Ohio)
• 1980 Pacific Lutheran (Washington)
• 1981 Austin College (Texas) & Condordia (Minnesota) (co-champions)
• 1982 Linfield (Oregon)
• 1983 Northwestern (Iowa)
• 1984 Linfield (Oregon)
• 1985 Wisconsin-La Crosse
• 1986 Linfield (Oregon)
• 1987 Pacific Lutheran (Washington) & vacated (co-champion)
• 1988 Westminster (Pennsylvania)
• 1989 Westminster (Pennsylvania)
• 1990 Peru State (Nebraska)
• 1991 Georgetown (Kentucky)
• 1992 Findlay (Ohio)
• 1993 Pacific Lutheran (Washington)
• 1994 Westminster (Pennsylvania)
• 1995 Central Washington & Findley (Ohio) (co-champions)
• 1996 Sioux Falls (South Dakota)