2012 NCAA Division II football season

2012 NCAA Division II football season
Regular seasonSeptember 1 – November 10, 2012
PlayoffsNovember 17 – December 15, 2012[1]
National ChampionshipBraly Municipal Stadium
Florence, AL
ChampionValdosta State
Harlon Hill TrophyZach Zulli, Shippensburg

The 2012 NCAA Division II football season, part of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division II level, began on September 1, 2012, and concluded with the NCAA Division II Football Championship on December 15, 2012 at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama, hosted by the University of North Alabama. The Valdosta State Blazers defeated the Winston-Salem State Rams, 35–7, to win their third Division II national title.[2]

It proved to be the final season for the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC). Shortly before the start of the 2012–13 school year, the WVIAC's nine football-playing members announced plans to break away and form a new league. Before the new conference was announced, one of the nine breakaway schools (Seton Hill) chose instead to join the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference; the remaining eight schools joined with three other football-playing schools and one non-football WVIAC member left out of the original split. The new league, officially unveiled in August 2012 as the Mountain East Conference, began play in 2013.

The Harlon Hill Trophy was awarded to Zach Zulli, quarterback from Shippensburg.

Conference changes and new programs

School Former conference New conference
Azusa Pacific Independent (NAIA) GNAC
Black Hills State Independent RMAC
Central Oklahoma Independent MIAA
Central State Independent GLVC
Indianapolis GLIAC GLVC
Kentucky Wesleyan GLFC GLVC
Lindenwood Independent MIAA
Malone Independent (NAIA) GLIAC
McKendree Independent (NAIA) GLVC
McMurry American Southwest (D-III) Independent
Minot State Independent NSIC
Missouri S&T GLFC GLVC
Nebraska–Kearney RMAC MIAA
Northeastern State Independent MIAA
Northwestern Oklahoma State CSFL (NAIA) Independent
Notre Dame (OH) Independent GLIAC
Quincy MSFA (NAIA) GLVC
Saint Joseph's GLFC GLVC
Shorter Mid-South (NAIA) Gulf South
Sioux Falls Independent NSIC
Southern Nazarene CSFL (NAIA) Independent
Southwest Baptist Independent MIAA
Urbana GLFC GLVC
Walsh Independent (NAIA) GLIAC
William Jewell Independent GLVC

Minot State, Notre Dame (OH), Simon Fraser, Sioux Falls, and William Jewell completed their transitions to Division II and became eligible for the postseason.

Regional realignment

The GNAC, MIAA, and Great American moved from Super Region 4 to Super Region 3, while the RMAC and GLIAC moved in the opposite direction; the GLVC, newly sponsoring football, was assigned to Super Region 4.

Conference standings

Super Region 1

2012 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Northern
Elizabeth City State # xy   6 – 1     8 – 4  
Chowan   5 – 2     6 – 4  
Virginia Union   3 – 4     5 – 5  
Virginia State   3 – 4     4 – 6  
Bowie State   2 – 5     5 – 5  
Lincoln (PA)   1 – 6     1 – 9  
Southern
No. 2 Winston-Salem St. xy$^   7 – 0     14 – 1  
Johnson C. Smith   5 – 2     6 – 4  
St. Augustine's   4 – 3     6 – 4  
Shaw   3 – 4     4 – 6  
Livingstone   2 – 5     2 – 8  
Fayetteville State   1 – 6     2 – 8  
Championship: Winston-Salem State 34, Elizabeth City State 19
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
  • # – Pioneer Bowl participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2012 Northeast-10 Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 8 New Haven y$^   8 – 0     10 – 1  
American International y   7 – 1     7 – 3  
Bentley   6 – 2     8 – 2  
Stonehill   5 – 3     5 – 5  
Merrimack   4 – 4     6 – 4  
Assumption   3 – 5     3 – 7  
Southern Connecticut   2 – 6     3 – 8  
Saint Anselm   1 – 7     2 – 9  
Pace   0 – 8     0 – 9  
Championship: New Haven 37, American International 12
  • $ – Conference champion
  • y – Championship game participant
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA poll
2012 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East
No. 14 Shippensburg xy^   7 – 0     11 – 2  
No. 17 Bloomsburg ^   6 – 1     10 – 2  
West Chester   4 – 3     7 – 4  
East Stroudsburg   4 – 3     5 – 5  
Kutztown   4 – 3     7 – 4  
LIU Post   2 – 5     3 – 7  
Millersville   1 – 6     2 – 9  
Cheyney   0 – 7     1 – 10  
West
No. 7 IUP xy$^   6 – 1     12 – 3  
Mercyhurst x   6 – 1     9 – 2  
California (PA)   5 – 2     8 – 3  
Slippery Rock   5 – 2     6 – 5  
Edinboro   3 – 4     4 – 6  
Clarion   2 – 5     4 – 7  
Gannon   1 – 6     3 – 8  
Lock Haven   0 – 7     1 – 10  
Championship: IUP 41, Shippensburg 10
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA poll
2012 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 25 Shepherd $^   7 – 1     8 – 3  
Charleston (WV)   6 – 2     9 – 2  
Concord   6 – 2     7 – 4  
Glenville State   6 – 2     6 – 5  
West Liberty   4 – 4     6 – 5  
Fairmont State   4 – 4     4 – 6  
West Virginia Wesleyan   2 – 6     3 – 8  
West Virginia State   1 – 7     2 – 9  
Seton Hill   0 – 8     0 – 11  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll

Super Region 2

2012 Gulf South Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 21 West Alabama $^   5 – 0     9 – 4  
No. 1 Valdosta State ^   4 – 1     12 – 2  
Shorter #   2 – 3     6 – 5  
North Alabama   2 – 3     5 – 5  
Delta State   1 – 4     3 – 7  
West Georgia   1 – 4     3 – 7  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
  • # – Provisional NCAA Division II member
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2012 South Atlantic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 20 Lenoir–Rhyne $^   6 – 1     9 – 3  
No. 13 Carson–Newman ^   5 – 2     9 – 3  
Mars Hill   5 – 2     6 – 4  
Wingate   5 – 2     6 – 5  
Newberry   3 – 4     5 – 6  
Catawba   2 – 5     4 – 7  
Brevard   1 – 6     2 – 9  
Tusculum   1 – 6     2 – 9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2012 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East
Fort Valley State xy^   6 – 1     8 – 4  
Albany State   5 – 2     6 – 4  
Morehouse   2 – 5     3 – 7  
Clark Atlanta   1 – 6     2 – 8  
Benedict   1 – 6     1 – 9  
West
No. 23 Tuskegee # xy$   7 – 0     10 – 2  
Miles ^   6 – 1     8 – 2  
Stillman   4 – 3     6 – 5  
Lane   3 – 4     5 – 5  
Kentucky State   0 – 7     2 – 8  
Championship: Tuskegee 55, Fort Valley State 24
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
  • # – Pioneer Bowl participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2012 NCAA Division II Super Region 2 independents football records
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
UNC Pembroke   –     6 – 4  
North Greenville   –     5 – 6  
Rankings from AFCA Poll

Super Region 3

2012 Great American Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 11 Henderson St. $^   8 – 0     10 – 1  
No. 19 Harding ^   7 – 1     9 – 2  
Southern Arkansas #   5 – 3     7 – 4  
Ouachita Baptist   4 – 4     6 – 4  
East Central   4 – 4     6 – 5  
Arkansas Tech   3 – 5     5 – 6  
SE Oklahoma State   2 – 6     4 – 6  
SW Oklahoma State   2 – 6     3 – 7  
Arkansas–Monticello   0 – 8     1 – 10  
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2012 Great Northwest Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Central Washington $   7 – 3     7 – 4  
Humboldt State   6 – 4     7 – 4  
Western Oregon   6 – 4     6 – 5  
Simon Fraser   4 – 6     5 – 6  
Azusa Pacific #   4 – 6     4 – 7  
Dixie State   3 – 7     3 – 8  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • # – Provisional Division II member
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2012 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 5 Missouri Western $^   9 – 1     12 – 2  
No. 22 Emporia State #   9 – 2     10 – 2  
No. 10 NW Missouri State ^   8 – 2     10 – 3  
Pittsburg State   7 – 3     7 – 3  
Lindenwood @ #   7 – 3     8 – 4  
Washburn   7 – 4     7 – 4  
Central Missouri   6 – 4     6 – 4  
Missouri Southern   5 – 5     6 – 5  
Fort Hays State   4 – 6     5 – 6  
Northeastern State   4 – 6     4 – 6  
Truman   3 – 7     4 – 7  
Southwest Baptist   3 – 8     3 – 8  
Nebraska–Kearney   2 – 8     3 – 8  
Central Oklahoma   2 – 8     2 – 8  
Lincoln (MO)   1 – 10     1 – 10  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
  • # – bowl game participant (Emporia State - Kanza Bowl, Lindenwood - Mineral Water Bowl)

    @ – Provisional NCAA Division II member

Rankings from AFCA Poll
2012 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
North
No. 12 Minnesota–Duluth ^   10 – 1     10 – 2  
Bemidji State   7 – 4     7 – 4  
St. Cloud State   7 – 4     7 – 4  
Northern State   6 – 5     6 – 5  
Mary   4 – 7     4 – 7  
Minot State   3 – 8     3 – 8  
Minnesota–Crookston   2 – 9     2 – 9  
MSU Moorhead   1 – 10     1 – 10  
South
No. 3 Minnesota State $^   11 – 0     13 – 1  
Winona State #   9 – 2     10 – 2  
Sioux Falls   9 – 2     9 – 2  
Wayne State (NE)   6 – 5     6 – 5  
Augustana (SD)   5 – 6     5 – 6  
SW Minnesota State   4 – 7     4 – 7  
Concordia–St. Paul   2 – 9     2 – 9  
Upper Iowa   2 – 9     2 – 9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
  • # – Mineral Water Bowl participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll

Super Region 4

2012 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
North
Grand Valley State   7 – 3     8 – 3  
Saginaw Valley State   7 – 3     8 – 3  
Michigan Tech   7 – 3     7 – 3  
Hillsdale   7 – 3     7 – 4  
Ferris State   6 – 4     7 – 4  
Wayne State (MI)   5 – 5     5 – 5  
Northwood   4 – 6     5 – 6  
Northern Michigan   4 – 6     5 – 6  
South
No. 9 Ashland $^   10 – 0     11 – 1  
Ohio Dominican   7 – 3     8 – 3  
Findlay   7 – 3     7 – 3  
Lake Erie   3 – 7     3 – 8  
Notre Dame (OH)   2 – 8     3 – 8  
Tiffin   2 – 8     3 – 8  
Walsh *   2 – 8     3 – 8  
Malone *   1 – 9     1 – 9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
  • * – Provisional Division II member
Rankings from AFCA poll
2012 Great Lakes Valley Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 15 Indianapolis $^   8 – 0     10 – 3  
No. 24 Missouri S&T   7 – 1     10 – 1  
Urbana   5 – 3     7 – 4  
Saint Joseph's (IN)   5 – 3     6 – 5  
Quincy   4 – 4     4 – 7  
McKendree #   3 – 5     3 – 7  
William Jewell   2 – 6     3 – 8  
Central State   2 – 6     2 – 9  
Kentucky Wesleyan   0 – 8     2 – 9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
  • # – Provisional Division II member
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2012 Lone Star Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 16 Midwestern State +^   7 – 1     9 – 2  
No. 4 West Texas A&M +^   7 – 1     12 – 3  
Tarleton State   5 – 3     6 – 4  
Texas A&M–Kingsville #   5 – 3     6 – 6  
Abilene Christian   4 – 4     7 – 4  
Angelo State   4 – 4     5 – 6  
Eastern New Mexico †   2 – 6     3 – 7  
Incarnate Word   1 – 7     2 – 9  
Texas A&M–Commerce   1 – 7     1 – 9  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
  • # – Kanza Bowl participant
    † – Eastern New Mexico vacated all three wins
Rankings from AFCA poll
2012 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 6 CSU Pueblo $^   9 – 0     12 – 1  
No. 18 Chadron State ^   8 – 1     9 – 3  
New Mexico Highlands   7 – 2     8 – 3  
Adams State   6 – 3     8 – 3  
Colorado Mines   4 – 5     6 – 5  
Colorado Mesa   4 – 5     4 – 7  
Black Hills State #   3 – 6     4 – 7  
Western New Mexico   3 – 6     4 – 7  
Western State   1 – 8     1 – 10  
Fort Lewis   0 – 9     0 – 10  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
  • # – Provisional Division II member
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2012 NCAA Division II Super Region 4 independents football records
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
McMurry *#   –     8 – 3  
Oklahoma Panhandle State   –     4 – 6  
NW Oklahoma State *   –     3 – 7  
South Dakota Mines *   –     2 – 9  
Southern Nazarene *   –     2 – 9  

Conference champions

See also: List of NCAA Division II football seasons
Conference Champions

Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association – Winston-Salem State (14–1, 7–0)
Great American Conference – Henderson State
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Ashland
Great Lakes Valley Conference – Indianapolis
Great Northwest Athletic Conference – Central Washington
Gulf South Conference – West Alabama
Lone Star Conference – Midwestern State and West Texas A&M
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association – Missouri Western State
Northeast-10 Conference – New Haven
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference – Minnesota–Duluth (North) and Minnesota State–Mankato (South)
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference – Indiana (PA)
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference – CSU Pueblo
South Atlantic Conference – Lenoir-Rhyne
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Tuskegee
West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference‡ – Shepherd

Postseason

2012 NCAA Division II Football Championship
Teams24
Finals Site
Champion
Runner-up
Semifinalists
Winning coach
  • championship

The 2012 NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs were the 39th single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division II college football. The championship game was held at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama for the 25th time.

Seeded teams

Playoff bracket

First Round
November 17
Campus Sites 		Second Round
November 24
Campus Sites 		Quarterfinals
December 1
Campus Sites 		Semifinals
December 8
Campus Sites 		National Championship Game
December 15
Braly Municipal Stadium
Florence, Alabama
               
* Winston-Salem State 37
Shippensburg 14
* Shippensburg 58
Bloomsburg 20
* Winston-Salem State 21
Super Region 1
IUP 17
* New Haven 14
IUP 17
* IUP 27
Shepherd 17
* Winston-Salem State 41
West Texas A&M 18
* CSU Pueblo 28
Indianapolis 7
* Indianapolis 31
Midwestern State 14
* CSU Pueblo 13
Super Region 4
West Texas A&M 34
* Ashland 28
West Texas A&M 33
West Texas A&M 38
* Chadron State 30
Winston-Salem State 7
Valdosta State 35
* Valdosta State 49
West Alabama 21
* West Alabama 41
Miles 7
* Valdosta State 48
Super Region 2
Carson–Newman 26
* Carson–Newman 38
Lenoir–Rhyne 35
* Lenoir–Rhyne 21
Fort Valley State 6
Valdosta State 35
* Minnesota State 19
* Minnesota State 38
Northwest Missouri State 35
* NW Missouri State 35
Harding 0
* Minnesota State 17
Super Region 3
Missouri Western 10
* Henderson State 21
Missouri Western 45
* Missouri Western
††† 		57
Minnesota–Duluth 55

* Home team    † Overtime

Awards and honors

Harlon Hill Trophy

The Harlon Hill Trophy is given to the year's most outstanding player.[3]

Player School Position 1st 2nd 3rd Total
Zach Zulli Shippensburg QB 52 14 18 202
Michael Hill Missouri Western RB 23 26 17 138
Franklyn Quiteh Bloomsburg RB 8 27 23 101
Dustin Vaughan West Texas A&M QB 10 14 10 68
Taylor Housewight Ashland QB 7 14 15 64

See also

References

  1. ^ "2010-2014 Winston-Salem State Schedules". College Football Warehouse. cfbdatawarehouse.com. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
  2. ^ "2012 NCAA Division II National Football Championship Bracket" (PDF). NCAA. NCAA.org. p. 15. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
  3. ^ "Harlon Hill Trophy All Time History 1986–2013" (PDF). National Harlon Hill Awards Committee. Retrieved June 13, 2015.