List of NCAA Division II football championship appearances by team

The list of team that have participated in the NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs. The NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs began with eight teams in 1973 and expanded to include 16 teams in 1988, 24 teams in 2004, 28 teams in 2015, and 32 teams in 2025.^[1]

Current Division II members

Qualified teams

• Teams in bold participated in the 2024 postseason.
• Updated at the conclusion of the 2024 playoffs.

NCAA Division II Football Championship appearances
Team	Appearances	First	Last	Wins	Losses	Total games	Pct.
Albany State Golden Rams	14	1993	2021	3	14	17	.176
American International Yellow Jackets	2	2008	2013	0	2	2	.000
Angelo State Rams	9	1987	2024	7	9	16	.438
Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys	3	1999	2009	2	3	5	.500
Ashland Eagles	9	1986	2024	4	9	13	.308
Assumption Greyhounds	4	2015	2022	3	4	7	.429
Augustana (SD) Vikings	8	1988	2024	2	8	10	.200
Bemidji State Beavers	4	2021	2024	5	4	9	.556
Benedict Tigers	2	2022	2023	0	2	2	.000
Bentley Falcons	3	2003	2021	0	3	3	.000
Bloomsburg Huskies	11	1985	2014	9	11	20	.450
Bowie State Bulldogs	6	1988	2021	3	6	9	.333
California (PA) Vulcans	8	2007	2024	9	8	17	.529
Carson–Newman Eagles	17	1993	2024	20	17	37	.541
Catawba Indians	7	1999	2015	5	7	12	.417
Central Missouri Mules	5	2002	2023	4	5	9	.444
Central Oklahoma Bronchos	5	1996	2024	4	5	9	.444
Central State Marauders	4	1983	1986	3	4	7	.429
Central Washington Wildcats	8	2002	2024	5	8	13	.385
Chadron State Eagles	8	1996	2012	3	8	11	.273
Charleston Golden Eagles	3	2015	2024	1	3	4	.250
Clarion Golden Eagles	1	1996	1996	2	1	3	.667
Colorado Mesa Mavericks	4	2000	2016	1	4	5	.200
Colorado Mines Orediggers	9	2004	2023	12	9	21	.571
CSU Pueblo ThunderWolves	10	2011	2024	9	8	17	.529
Concord (WV) Mountain Lions	2	2011	2014	2	2	4	.500
Davenport Panthers	1	2022	2022	0	1	1	.000
Delta State Statesmen	11	1998	2023	17	10	27	.630
East Stroudsburg Warriors	6	1991	2024	4	6	10	.400
Edinboro Fighting Scots	8	1989	2009	3	8	11	.273
Elizabeth City State Vikings	3	1981	2011	0	3	3	.000
Emporia State Hornets	4	2003	2016	3	3	6	.500
Fairmont State Falcons	1	2016	2016	0	1	1	.000
Fayetteville State Broncos	4	2002	2022	0	4	4	.000
Findlay Oilers	2	2017	2021	1	2	3	.333
Ferris State Bulldogs	15	1992	2024	30	12	42	.714
Fort Hays State Tigers	4	1993	2018	0	4	4	.000
Fort Valley State Wildcats	6	1982	2012	1	6	7	.143
Glenville State Pioneers	1	1997	1997	0	1	1	.000
Grand Valley State Lakers	23	1989	2024	39	18	57	.684
Harding Bisons	7	2012	2024	12	8	20	.600
Henderson State Reddies	4	2012	2023	1	4	5	.200
Hillsdale Chargers	3	2009	2018	2	3	5	.400
Indiana (PA) Crimson Hawks	19	1987	2022	22	19	41	.537
Indianapolis Greyhounds	9	2012	2024	2	9	11	.182
Kutztown Golden Bears	7	2010	2024	6	7	13	.462
Lenoir–Rhyne Bears	8	2012	2024	11	8	19	.579
Mars Hill Lions	1	2011	2011	0	1	1	.000
Michigan Tech Huskies	2	2004	2014	0	2	2	.000
Midwestern State Mustangs	8	2004	2017	2	8	10	.200
Miles Golden Bears	3	2012	2024	1	3	4	.250
Millersville Marauders	3	2002	2005	2	3	5	.400
Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs	12	2002	2021	14	10	24	.583
Minnesota State–Mankato Mavericks	15	1987	2024	18	15	33	.545
Missouri Southern Lions	1	1993	1993	0	1	1	.000
Missouri Western Griffons	4	2006	2012	2	4	6	.333
Morehouse Maroon Tigers	1	2010	2010	0	1	1	.000
Nebraska–Kearney Lopers	5	2002	2021	2	5	7	.286
Newberry Wolves	5	2006	2021	2	5	7	.286
UNC Pembroke Braves	3	2009	2016	1	3	4	.250
North Greenville Crusaders	4	2011	2016	4	4	8	.500
Northeastern State RiverHawks	2	1999	2000	2	2	4	.500
Northern Michigan Wildcats	7	1975	1987	6	6	12	.500
Northwest Missouri State Bearcats	26	1984	2022	53	20	73	.726
Northwood Timberwolves	4	2000	2006	1	4	5	.200
Ohio Dominican Panthers	2	2013	2014	2	2	4	.500
Ouachita Baptist Tigers	6	2014	2024	1	6	7	.143
Pittsburg State Gorillas	21	1989	2024	27	19	46	.587
Saginaw Valley State Cardinals	8	2000	2013	4	8	12	.333
Savannah State Tigers	1	1992	1992	0	1	1	.000
Seton Hill Griffins	1	2008	2008	1	1	2	.500
Shaw Bears	2	2007	2010	0	2	2	.000
Shepherd Rams	15	1998	2023	18	14	32	.563
Shippensburg Red Raiders	6	1981	2017	3	6	9	.333
Sioux Falls Cougars	4	2015	2019	1	4	5	.200
Slippery Rock	12	1997	2024	15	11	26	.577
Southeastern Oklahoma State Savage Storm	1	2004	2004	0	1	1	.000
Southern Arkansas Muleriders	2	1997	2003	0	2	2	.000
Southern Connecticut State Fighting Owls	4	2005	2008	1	4	5	.200
Southwest Baptist Bearcats	1	2016	2016	0	1	1	.000
Texas A&M–Kingsville Javelinas	15	1988	2010	17	15	32	.531
Tiffin Dragons	2	2019	2023	0	2	2	.000
Truman State Bulldogs	4	1982	1994	0	4	4	.000
Tusculum Pioneers	1	2008	2008	1	1	2	.500
Tuskegee Golden Tigers	4	2013	2016	3	3	6	.500
UT Permian Basin Falcons	1	2023	2023	0	1	1	.000
Valdosta State Blazers	20	1994	2024	34	16	50	.680
Virginia State Trojans	2	2014	2017	1	2	3	.333
Virginia Union Panthers	12	1979	2024	2	12	14	.143
Washburn Ichabods	4	2005	2021	1	4	5	.200
Wayne State (MI) Warriors	1	2011	2011	4	1	5	.800
Wayne State (NE) Wildcats	2	1982	2022	0	2	2	.000
West Alabama Tigers	7	1975	2024	4	7	11	.364
West Chester Golden Rams	14	1988	2019	10	14	24	.417
West Florida Argonauts	5	2017	2023	12	4	15	.750
West Liberty Hilltoppers	1	2009	2009	1	1	2	.500
West Texas A&M Buffaloes	7	2005	2013	8	7	15	.533
Western Colorado Mountaineers	6	1992	2024	1	6	7	.143
Wingate Bulldogs	6	2010	2024	4	6	10	.400
Winona State Warriors	7	2001	2022	1	7	8	.125
Winston-Salem State Rams	9	1978	2016	7	9	15	.438

Not yet qualified

NCAA Division II Football Championship appearances
Conference[a]	Team	Joined
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (4)	Bluefield State Big Blues	2021
	Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls	1973
	Lincoln (PA) Lions	2011
	Livingstone Blue Bears	1973
Conference Carolinas (5)	Barton Bulldogs	2021
	Chowan Hawks	2007
	Erskine Flying Fleet	2021
	Ferrum Panthers	2025
	Shorter Hawks	2012
Great American Conference (6)	Arkansas–Monticello Boll Weevils	1997
	East Central Tigers	1998
	Northwestern Oklahoma Rangers	2012
	Oklahoma Baptist Bison	2015
	Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm	2012
	Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs	1998
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (1)	Roosevelt Lakers	2024
Great Lakes Valley Conference (6)	Lincoln (MO) Blue Tigers	2001
	McKendree Bearcats	2012
	Missouri S&T Miners	1973
	Quincy Hawks	2012
	Upper Iowa Peacocks	2005
	William Jewell Cardinals	2012
Great Midwest Athletic Conference (4)	Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers	1993
	Lake Erie Storm	2010
	Thomas More Saints	2023
	Walsh Cavaliers	2012
Lone Star Conference (4)	Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds	1985
	Sul Ross Lobos	2024
	Western New Mexico Mustangs	1994
	Western Oregon Wolves	2001
Mountain East Conference (4)	Frostburg State Bobcats	2019
	West Virginia State Yellow Jackets	1997
	West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats	1993
	Wheeling Cardinals	2019
Northeast 10 Conference (4)	Franklin Pierce Ravens	2019
	Pace Setters	1993
	Post Eagles	2022
	Saint Anselm Hawks	1999
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (7)	Concordia St. Paul Golden Bears	2002
	Jamestown Jimmies	2025
	Mary Marauders	2007
	Minnesota State Moorhead Dragons	1978
	Minot State Beavers	2011
	Northern State Wolves	2000
	Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs	1993
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (2)	Gannon Golden Knights	1993
	Lock Haven Bald Eagles	1980
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (5)	Adams State Grizzlies	1990
	Black Hills State Yellow Jackets	2011
	Fort Lewis Skyhawks	1990
	New Mexico Highlands Cowboys	1991
	South Dakota Mines Hardrockers	2011
South Atlantic Conference (3)	Anderson Trojans	2024
	Emory and Henry Wasps	2021
	UVA Wise Cavaliers	2013
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (5)	Allen Yellow Jackets	2021
	Clark Atlanta Panthers	1980
	Edward Waters Tigers	2021
	Kentucky State Thorobreds	1973
	Lane Dragons	1993

• Teams in yellow are ineligible for the playoffs due to a transition to Division II.

Former NCAA Division II members

Former NCAA Division II teams that sponsored football at D-II level and had made at least one appearance in the playoffs, but had left NCAA Division II.

Team	Appearances	First	Last	Wins	Losses	Total	Pct.
Abilene Christian Wildcats [FCS]	6	2006	2011	3	6	9	.333
Akron Zips [FBS]	1	1976	1976	2	1	3	.667
Alabama A&M Bulldogs [FCS]	2	1979	1989	1	2	3	.333
Alcorn State Braves [FCS]	1	1974	1974	0	1	1	.000
Bethune–Cookman Wildcats [FCS]	1	1977	1977	0	1	1	.000
Boise State Broncos [FBS]	3	1973	1975	1	3	4	.250
Bryant Bulldogs [FCS]	2	2006	2007	0	2	2	.000
Butler Bulldogs [FCS]	3	1983	1991	0	3	3	.000
Cal Poly–San Luis Obispo Mustangs [FCS]	3	1978	1990	4	2	6	.667
Cal State Northridge Matadors [D1]	1	1990	1990	0	1	1	.000
Central Arkansas Bears [FCS]	2	2001	2005	2	2	4	.500
UCF Knights [FBS]	1	1987	1987	1	1	1	.500
Central Michigan Chippewas [FBS]	1	1974	1974	3	0	3	1.000
Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens [FBS]	5	1973	1979	7	4	11	.636
East Texas A&M Lions [FCS][b]	8	1990	2019	11	7	18	.611
Eastern Illinois Panthers [FCS]	2	1978	1980	5	1	6	.833
Eastern Kentucky Colonels [FCS]	1	1976	1976	0	1	1	.000
Grambling State Tigers [FCS]	1	1973	1973	1	1	2	.500
Hampton Pirates [FCS]	3	1985	1993	1	3	4	.250
Jacksonville State Gamecocks [FBS]	10	1977	1992	15	9	24	.625
Lehigh Mountain Hawks [FCS]	3	1973	1977	3	2	5	.600
Lindenwood Lions [FCS]	2	2019	2021	1	2	3	.333
LIU Post Pioneers [FCS] [c]	6	2002	2018	3	6	9	.333
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs [FBS]	2	1973	1974	4	1	5	.800
Massachusetts Minutemen [FBS]	1	1977	1977	1	1	2	.500
Mercyhurst Lakers [FCS]	1	2010	2010	1	1	2	.500
Merrimack Warriors [FCS]	1	2006	2006	1	1	2	.500
Montana State Bobcats [FCS]	1	1976	1976	3	0	3	1.000
Morgan State Bears [FCS]	1	1979	1979	0	1	1	.000
Nebraska–Omaha Mavericks [D1][d]	10	1978	2008	2	10	12	.167
New Hampshire Wildcats [FCS]	2	1975	1976	1	2	3	.333
New Haven Chargers [FCS]	10	1992	2024	10	11	21	.476
Norfolk State Spartans [FCS]	1	1984	1984	0	1	1	.000
North Alabama Lions [FCS]	21	1980	2016	35	18	53	.660
North Carolina Central Eagles [FCS]	3	1988	2006	1	3	4	.250
North Dakota Fighting Sioux [FCS][e]	14	1975	2007	18	13	31	.581
North Dakota State Bison [FCS]	17	1976	2000	30	12	42	.714
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks [FCS]	1	1977	1977	0	1	1	.000
Northern Colorado Bears [FCS]	9	1980	2002	12	7	19	.632
Northern Iowa Panthers [FCS]	1	1975	1975	0	1	1	.000
Portland State Vikings [FCS]	8	1987	1995	12	8	20	.600
Presbyterian Blue Hose [FCS]	1	2005	2005	0	1	1	.000
Puget Sound Loggers [D3]	1	1981	1981	0	1	1	.000
Sacramento State Hornets [FCS]	1	1988	1988	2	1	3	.667
Santa Clara Broncos [D1]	1	1980	1980	1	1	2	.500
South Dakota Coyotes [FCS]	4	1973	2006	4	4	8	.500
South Dakota State Jackrabbits [FCS]	1	1979	1979	0	1	1	.000
Tarleton State Texans [FCS][f]	5	2001	2019	4	5	9	.444
Tennessee–Martin Skyhawks [FCS][g]	1	1988	1988	1	1	2	.500
Texas State Bobcats [FBS]	3	1981	1983	6	1	7	.857
Towson Tigers [FCS]	3	1983	1986	1	3	4	.250
Troy Trojans [FBS]	3	1984	1987	7	1	2	.875
UC Davis Aggies [FCS]	18	1977	2002	15	18	33	.455
UNLV Rebels [FBS]	2	1974	1976	1	2	3	.333
West Georgia Wolves [FCS]	9	1988	2021	6	8	12	.429
Western Carolina Catamounts [FCS]	1	1974	1974	0	1	1	.000
Western Illinois Leathernecks [FCS]	1	1973	1973	0	1	1	.000
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers [FBS]	2	1973	1975	4	2	6	.667
Wofford Terriers [FCS]	3	2002	2005	2	3	5	.400
Youngstown State Penguins [FCS]	3	1974	1979	3	3	6	.500

Defunct programs

NCAA Division II teams that sponsored football at D-II level and had made at least one appearance in playoffs but either dropped their football programs or closed entirely.

Team	Appearances	First	Last	Wins	Losses	Total	Pct.
Azusa Pacific Cougars	2	2016	2018	0	2	2	.000
Florida Tech Panthers	2	2016	2018	0	2	2	.000
Humboldt State Lumberjacks[h]	1	2015	2015	1	1	2	.500
Limestone Saints	2	2022	2023	0	2	2	.000
Mississippi College Choctaws[i]	5	1979	1991	8	4	12	.667
Notre Dame Falcons	4	2018	2022	5	4	9	.556
St. Cloud State Huskies	5	1989	2013	4	5	9	.444
Western Washington Vikings	1	1999	1999	0	1	1	.000

Notes

1. According to conferences in football, not necessarily a team's primary conference.
2. East Texas A&M was known by two different names during its Division II tenure–first East Texas State University through the 1995 football season, then as Texas A&M University–Commerce before adopting its current name in November 2024, a little more than two years after its move to Division I.
3. After the 2018–19 school year, Long Island University merged the athletic programs of its two campuses—Division I LIU Brooklyn and Division II LIU Post—into a single Division I program under the LIU name. All varsity sports previously sponsored by either campus continued to be sponsored by the new LIU program, which inherited LIU Brooklyn's Division I and Northeast Conference memberships. The new nickname of Sharks was announced on May 15, 2019.^[2][3]
4. The athletic program rebranded itself as the Omaha Mavericks after dropping football.
5. North Dakota changed its nickname to Fighting Hawks in 2015, several years after it moved to FCS.
6. The program was branded exclusively as "Tarleton State" during its entire Division II tenure. The school now uses "Tarleton" and "Tarleton State" interchangeably for athletic purposes.
7. The program changed its brand to "UT Martin" several years after moving to Division I. The university name has not changed.
8. The university changed its name to California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt in January 2022, well after football was dropped. The athletic program is now known as the Cal Poly Humboldt Lumberjacks.
9. The university will change its name to Mississippi Christian University in 2026, two years after football was dropped. The athletic program will then be known as the Mississippi Christian Choctaws.

Program changes

• ^FBS Program has since joined Division I FBS.
• ^FCS Program has since joined Division I FCS.
• ^D1 Program has since joined NCAA Division I but has dropped football.
• ^D3 Program has since joined Division III.

See also

• List of NCAA Division II football programs
• List of NCAA Division I FBS football bowl records
• List of NCAA Division I FCS playoff appearances by team
• List of NCAA Division III Football Championship appearances by team
• List of NAIA national football championship series appearances by team