List of NCAA Division III football championship appearances by team

The following is a list of current Division III schools that have participated in the playoffs leading to the NCAA Division III Football Championship.

The playoffs began with four teams in 1973, expanded to eight teams to 1975, 16 teams in 1985, 28 teams in 1999, 32 teams in 2005,[1] and 40 teams in 2024.[2]

Current Division III members

Qualified programs

  • Teams in bold participated in the 2024 postseason.
  • Updated before 2024 playoffs on November 16, 2024.
Team Appearances First Last Wins Losses Total Pct.
Adrian Bulldogs 4 1983 2014 0 4 4 .000
Albion Britons 12 1977 2021 5 11 16 .313
Albright Lions 5 1975 2015 4 5 9 .444
Alfred Saxons 4 1981 2016 4 4 8 .500
Alfred State Pioneers 2 2023 2024 0 1 1 .000
Allegheny Gators 8 1987 2003 5 7 12 .417
Alma Scots 5 1999 2023 3 5 8 .375
Anderson (IN) Ravens 1 1993 1993 0 1 1 .000
Anna Maria Amcats 1 2021 2021 0 1 1 .000
Augsburg Auggies 1 1997 1997 1 1 2 .500
Augustana (IL) Vikings 15 1976 2005 22 11 33 .667
Aurora Spartans 9 1992 2024 3 8 11 .273
Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jackets 6 1978 2003 4 5 9 .444
Belhaven Blazers 1 2023 2023 0 1 1 .000
Benedictine (IL) Eagles 3 2010 2014 0 3 3 .000
Berry Vikings 4 2017 2024 2 3 5 .400
Bethany (WV) Bison 1 1980 1980 0 1 1 .000
Bethel (MN) Royals 13 2000 2024 13 12 25 .520
Bridgewater State Bears 4 1999 2016 0 4 4 .000
Bridgewater (VA) Eagles 7 2000 2019 10 7 17 .588
Brockport Golden Eagles 7 2000 2019 7 7 14 .500
Buena Vista Beavers 2 1976 1986 1 2 3 .333
Buffalo State Bengals 7 1992 1999 2 7 9 .222
Cal Lutheran Kingsmen 4 2009 2012 0 4 4 .000
Capital (OH) Crusaders 4 1987 2007 4 4 8 .500
Carleton Knights 1 1992 1992 0 1 1 .000
Carnegie Mellon Tartans 9 1978 2024 4 7 11 .364
Carroll (WI) Pioneers 1 1976 1976 0 1 1 .000
Carthage Red Men 1 2004 2004 2 1 3 .667
Case Western Spartans 5 2007 2019 2 5 7 .286
Catholic University Cardinals 3 1997 1999 0 3 3 .000
Central (IA) Dutch 22 1974 2021 24 21 45 .533
Centre Colonels 4 2011 2024 2 3 5 .400
Chapman Panthers 4 2014 2023 1 4 5 .200
Christopher Newport Captains 11 2001 2023 3 11 14 .214
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Stags 1 2018 2018 0 1 1 .000
Coast Guard Bears 2 1996 1997 0 2 2 .000
Coe Kohawks 11 1985 2024 3 10 13 .231
Concordia Chicago Cougars 1 2012 2012 0 1 1 .000
Concordia–Moorhead Cobbers 6 1986 2005 4 6 10 .400
Concordia Wisconsin Falcons 4 2003 2013 0 4 4 .000
Cortland Red Dragons 13 1988 2024 11 10 21 .524
Curry Colonels 6 2003 2008 2 6 8 .250
Defiance Yellow Jackets 1 2001 2001 0 1 1 .000
Delaware Valley Aggies 12 2004 2023 14 12 26 .538
Denison Big Red 2 1985 2018 0 2 2 .000
DePauw Tigers 6 2009 2024 1 5 6 .167
Dickinson Red Devils 4 1989 2006 0 4 4 .000
Dubuque Spartans 4 1979 2015 0 4 4 .000
East Texas Baptist Tigers 1 2003 2003 1 1 2 .500
Elmhurst Bluejays 1 2012 2012 0 1 1 .000
Endicott Gulls 6 2010 2024 0 5 5 .000
Eureka Red Devils 2 2017 2018 0 2 2 .000
Ferrum Panthers 5 1987 2005 4 5 9 .444
Framingham State Rams 6 2012 2021 0 6 6 .000
Franklin Grizzlies 9 2007 2017 5 9 14 .357
Gallaudet Bison 2 2013 2022 0 2 2 .000
Gettysburg Bullets 1 1985 1985 2 1 3 .667
Grove City Wolverines 2 2023 2024 1 1 2 .500
Gustavus Adolphus Gusties 1 1987 1987 0 1 1 .000
Greenville Panthers 1 2021 2021 0 1 1 .000
Hampden-Sydney Tigers 7 1977 2014 1 7 8 .125
Hanover Panthers 8 1995 2019 1 8 9 .111
Hardin–Simmons Cowboys 13 1999 2024 4 12 16 .250
Hartwick Hawks 1 2007 2007 0 1 1 .000
Heidelberg Student Princes 1 2012 2012 0 1 1 .000
Hendrix Warriors 1 2015 2015 0 1 1 .000
Hiram Terriers 1 1987 1987 0 1 1 .000
Hobart Statesmen 13 2000 2024 9 12 21 .429
Hope Flying Dutchmen 6 1986 2024 0 5 5 .000
Huntingdon Hawks 7 2009 2022 2 7 9 .222
Husson Eagles 4 2014 2018 1 4 5 .200
Illinois College Blueboys 2 2011 2023 0 2 2 .000
Illinois Wesleyan Titans 6 1992 2017 3 6 9 .333
Ithaca Bombers 21 1974 2023 31 18 49 .633
John Carroll Blue Streaks 8 1989 2024 9 7 16 .563
Johns Hopkins Blue Jays 13 2005 2024 12 12 24 .500
Juniata Eagles 1 1973 1973 1 1 2 .500
Kean Cougars 1 2011 2011 1 1 2 .500
King's (PA) Monarchs 2 2002 2024 1 1 2 .500
LaGrange Panthers 1 2008 2008 0 1 1 .000
Lake Forest Foresters 4 2002 2024 0 3 3 .000
Lakeland Muskies 5 2005 2017 0 5 5 .000
Lawrence Vikings 1 1981 1981 1 1 2 .500
La Verne Leopards 2 1994 2015 0 2 2 .000
Lebanon Valley Flying Dutchmen 1 2013 2013 0 1 1 .000
Linfield Wildcats 18 2000 2024 29 16 45 .644
Lycoming Warriors 12 1985 2008 13 12 25 .520
Macalester Scots 1 2014 2014 0 1 1 .000
Maine Maritime Mariners 1 2009 2009 0 1 1 .000
Maritime Privateers 2 2010 2019 0 2 2 .000
Martin Luther Knights 2 2018 2019 0 2 2 .000
Mary Hardin–Baylor Crusaders 19 2002 2024 42 17 59 .712
Maryville Scots 3 2013 2024 0 1 2 .000
MIT Engineers 3 2014 2019 1 3 4 .250
McDaniel Green Terror 5 1997 2001 2 5 7 .286
McMurry War Hawks 1 2011 2011 1 1 1 .500
Merchant Marine Mariners 1 1994 1994 0 1 1 .000
Millikin Big Blue 3 1989 2000 3 1 3 .250
Millsaps Majors 3 1975 2008 2 3 5 .400
Minnesota Morris Cougars 6 1977 2023 3 6 9 .333
Monmouth (IL) Scots 7 2005 2019 2 7 9 .222
Montclair State Red Hawks 10 2005 2011 9 10 19 .474
Moravian Greyhounds 2 1988 1993 1 2 3 .333
Mount Ida Mustangs 1 2012 2012 0 1 1 .000
Mount St. Joseph Lions 8 2004 2024 0 7 7 .000
Mount Union Purple Raiders 35 1985 2024 112 21 133 .842
Muhlenberg Mules 10 2002 2021 9 10 19 .474
TCNJ Lions 5 1990 2007 4 5 9 .444
North Carolina Wesleyan Bishops 2 2007 2009 1 2 3 .333
North Central (IL) Cardinals 16 2005 2024 30 13 43 .698
Northwestern (MN) Eagles 3 2016 2024 0 2 0 .000
Norwich Cadets 2 2011 2015 0 2 2 .000
Ohio Northern Polar Bears 4 1999 2015 5 4 9 .556
Olivet Comets 2 2007 2016 0 2 2 .000
Otterbein Cardinals 1 2008 2008 0 1 1 .000
Pacific Lutheran Lutes 6 1998 2013 8 5 13 .615
Plymouth State Panthers 5 1984 2017 1 5 6 .167
Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens 2 2022 2024 0 1 1 .000
Randolph–Macon Yellow Jackets 7 1984 2024 5 6 11 .455
Redlands Bulldogs 10 1990 2021 0 10 10 .000
RPI Engineers 7 1999 2021 7 7 14 .500
Rhodes Lynx 1 1988 1988 0 1 1 .000
Rochester Yellowjackets 1 1987 1987 0 1 1 .000
Rose–Hulman Fightin' Engineers 2 2016 2021 0 2 2 .000
Rowan Profs 16 1991 2014 31 16 47 .660
St. John Fisher Cardinals 5 2004 2013 10 5 15 .667
Saint John's (MN) Johnnies 29 1976 2024 44 26 70 .629
St. Lawrence Saints 4 1976 2010 2 4 6 .333
St. Norbert Green Knights 13 1989 2018 2 13 15 .133
St. Olaf Oles 1 1978 1978 0 1 1 .000
St. Scholastica Saints 5 2011 2015 0 5 5 .000
Salisbury Sea Gulls 14 1983 2024 10 13 23 .435
Shenandoah Hornets 1 2004 2004 0 1 1 .000
Simpson Storm 6 1988 2003 2 6 8 .250
Springfield Pride 10 1998 2024 4 9 13 .308
Stevenson Mustangs 1 2016 2016 0 1 1 .000
Susquehanna River Hawks 6 1986 2024 3 5 8 .375
Texas Lutheran Bulldogs 2 2014 2024 0 1 1 .000
Thiel Tomcats 1 2005 2005 1 1 2 .500
Trine Thunder 5 2008 2018 3 5 8 .375
Trinity (TX) Tigers 16 1994 2024 14 15 29 .483
UMass Dartmouth Corsairs 3 2002 2024 0 2 2 .000
Union (NY) Garnet Chargers 13 1983 2023 11 13 24 .458
Ursinus Bears 3 1996 2024 1 2 3 .333
Utica Pioneers 1 2022 2022 1 1 2 .500
Wabash Little Giants 10 1977 2019 11 9 20 .550
Wartburg Knights 17 1982 2024 17 16 33 .515
Washington–Saint Louis Bears 3 1999 2016 0 3 3 .000
Washington & Jefferson Presidents 27 1984 2024 23 26 49 .469
Washington and Lee Generals 6 2006 2021 0 6 6 .000
Waynesburg Yellow Jackets 1 2003 2003 0 1 1 .000
Western Connecticut Wolves 4 1985 2023 1 4 5 .200
Western New England Golden Bears 6 2011 2019 1 6 7 .143
Westfield State Owls 1 2001 2001 0 1 1 .000
Wheaton Thunder 14 1995 2023 19 14 33 .576
Whitworth Pirates 6 2001 2024 3 4 7 .429
Widener Pride 14 1975 2014 19 12 31 .613
Wilkes Colonels 3 1993 2006 1 3 4 .250
Willamette Bearcats 3 1999 2008 1 3 4 .250
William Paterson Pioneers 1 1993 1993 1 1 2 .500
Wisconsin–Eau Claire Blugolds 2 1998 2007 3 2 5 .600
Wisconsin–La Crosse Eagles 15 1983 2024 19 12 31 .613
Wisconsin–Oshkosh Titans 5 2012 2019 12 5 17 .706
Wisconsin–Platteville Pioneers 3 2013 2024 1 2 3 .333
Wisconsin–River Falls Falcons 2 1995 1996 1 2 3 .333
Wisconsin–Stevens Point Pointers 4 1986 2008 1 4 5 .200
Wisconsin–Stout Blue Devils 1 2000 2000 0 1 1 .000
Wisconsin–Whitewater Warhawks 20 1988 2023 60 13 73 .822
Wittenberg Tigers 19 1973 2017 22 17 39 .564
Wooster Fighting Scots 1 2004 2004 1 1 2 .500
WPI Engineers 1 1992 1992 0 1 1 .000

Not yet qualified[a]

† New England Small College Athletic Conference teams do not participate in any postseason in football, they are only allowed to play in-conference games.[3]

Former Division III members

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

Team Appearances First Last Wins Losses Total Pct.
Albany Great Danes [FCS] 1 1977 1977 1 1 2 .500
Birmingham-Southern Panthers [Defunct] 1 2021 2021 1 1 2 .500
Bishop (TX) Tigers [Defunct] 1 1982 1982 1 1 2 .500
Bridgeport Purple Knights [D2-NF] 1 1973 1973 0 1 1 .000
Dayton Flyers [FCS] 11 1978 1992 16 9 25 .640
Emory & Henry Wasps [D2] 5 1986 2000 3 5 8 .375
Evansville Purple Aces [D1] 1 1974 1974 0 1 1 .000
Fordham Rams [FCS] 1 1987 1987 1 1 2 .500
Fort Valley State Wildcats [D2] 1 1975 1975 0 1 1 .000
Frostburg State Bobcats [D2] 3 1993 2018 4 3 7 .571
Hofstra Flying Dutchmen [D1] 6 1983 1990 2 6 8 .250
Indianapolis Greyhounds [D2] 1 1975 1975 0 1 1 .000
LIU Post Pioneers [FCS] [b] 1 1976 1976 0 1 1 .000
Louisiana College Wildcats [NAIA] 1 2012 2012 0 1 1 .000
MacMurray Highlanders [Defunct] 2 2001 2002 2 0 2 .000
UMass Lowell River Hawks [D1] 1 1991 1991 1 0 1 .000
Menlo Oaks [D2-NF] 1 1987 1987 1 0 1 .000
Millersville Marauders [D2] 1 1979 1979 0 1 1 .000
Mississippi College Choctaws [D2] 1 2009 2009 0 1 1 .000
St. Thomas (MN) Tommies [FCS] 9 1990 2017 20 9 29 .690
San Diego Toreros [FCS] 1 1973 1973 0 1 1 .000
Slippery Rock [D2] 1 1974 1974 0 1 1 .000
Thomas More Saints [D2] 8 1992 2016 4 8 12 .333
Towson State Tigers [FCS] 1 1976 1976 2 1 1 .667
Wagner Seahawks [FCS] 4 1980 1988 4 3 7 .571
Wesley Wolverines [Defunct] 15 2000 2019 30 15 45 .667
West Georgia Wolves [FCS] 2 1981 1982 3 1 4 .750

Defunct Division III programs

Currently NCAA Division III teams that sponsored football at D-III level and had made at least one appearance in playoffs but dropped their football programs.

Team Appearances First Last Wins Losses Total Pct.
Colorado College Tigers 1 1975 1975 0 1 1 .000
Occidental Tigers 7 1983 2008 3 7 10 .300

Notes

  1. ^ According to conferences in football, not necessarily a team's primary conference.
  2. ^ 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.[4][5]

Program changes

See also

References

  1. ^ "All-Time Division III Football Championship Records" (PDF). NCAA. NCAA.org. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  2. ^ "DIII Management Council supports expanding football, team sport brackets". NCAA (Press release). April 18, 2024.
  3. ^ "An Isolated Conference in an Age of Expansion". 27 October 2019.
  4. ^ "Long Island University Announces Unification Into One LIU Division I Program" (Press release). LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds. October 3, 2018. Archived from the original on October 11, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  5. ^ "Welcome to the Shark Tank: Long Island University Chooses the Shark as New Mascot" (Press release). Long Island University. May 15, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2019.