2021 NCAA Division II football season

In today's world, 2021 NCAA Division II football season has become a topic of interest to a wide variety of people. With the passage of time, 2021 NCAA Division II football season has gained relevance in different areas, whether in the personal, academic, professional, political or cultural sphere. The importance of 2021 NCAA Division II football season is not limited to a single area, but its impact extends to multiple aspects of daily life. In this article, we will explore the different facets of 2021 NCAA Division II football season and its influence on today's society, analyzing both its positive aspects and its challenges. Through a multidisciplinary approach, we seek to deepen the understanding of 2021 NCAA Division II football season and its meaning in the contemporary world.

2021 NCAA Division II football season
Total No. of teams165
Regular seasonAugust 28 – November 13, 2021
PlayoffsNovember 20 – December 18, 2021
National ChampionshipMcKinney Independent School District Stadium
McKinney, TX
December 18, 2021
ChampionFerris State
Harlon Hill TrophyTyson Bagent, QB, Shepherd

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. Ferris State defeated Valdosta State, 58–17, for the title.

D-II team wins over FCS teams

September 3: Southern Connecticut 28, Central Connecticut 21
September 4: West Florida 42, McNeese State 36

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  
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 Division
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 Division
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 Gulf South Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 2 Valdosta State +^   6 – 1     12 – 2  
No. 12 West Florida +^   6 – 1     9 – 2  
No. 13 West Georgia ^   5 – 2     9 – 3  
West Alabama   4 – 3     6 – 4  
Delta State   3 – 4     5 – 6  
Mississippi College   2 – 5     4 – 6  
North Greenville   2 – 5     5 – 6  
Shorter   0 – 7     3 – 8  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – 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     7 – 3  
Virginia–Wise   4 – 4     5 – 6  
Tusculum   3 – 5     5 – 6  
Catawba †   2 – 6     5 – 4  
Carson–Newman   1 – 7     1 – 9  
Limestone †   1 – 7     0 – 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 (OH)   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  
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 Great Lakes Valley Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Lindenwood $^   7 – 0     9 – 3  
Indianapolis   5 – 2     7 – 4  
Truman State #   4 – 3     9 – 3  
Missouri S&T   4 – 3     6 – 5  
McKendree   3 – 4     4 – 7  
Southwest Baptist   3 – 4     4 – 7  
Quincy   2 – 5     4 – 7  
William Jewell   0 – 7     0 – 11  
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  
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 Lone Star Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Midwestern State $   6 – 1     7 – 3  
No. 11 Angelo State ^   5 – 2     11 – 3  
West Texas A&M   5 – 2     7 – 4  
Texas A&M–Commerce   5 – 2     7 – 4  
Texas A&M–Kingsville   3 – 4     5 – 5  
UT Permian Basin #   3 – 4     5 – 6  
Eastern New Mexico   1 – 6     3 – 7  
Western New Mexico   0 – 7     1 – 9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
  • # – Heritage Bowl 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, 2021
Campus sites 		Second Round
November 27, 2021
Campus sites 		Quarterfinals
December 4, 2021
Campus 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, 2021
Campus sites 		Second Round
November 27, 2021
Campus sites 		Quarterfinals
December 4, 2021
Campus 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, 2021
Campus sites 		Second Round
November 27, 2021
Campus sites 		Quarterfinals
December 4, 2021
Campus 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, 2021
Campus sites 		Second Round
November 27, 2021
Campus sites 		Quarterfinals
December 4, 2021
Campus 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.

Semifinals
December 11
Hosted by higher seeded team 		National Championship
December 18
McKinney ISD Stadium, McKinney, TX
      
1 Ferris State 55
4 Shepherd 7
1 Ferris State 58
2 Valdosta State 17
2 Valdosta State 34
3 Colorado Mines 31

See also

References

  1. ^ "Ashland University to join Great Midwest Athletic Conference in summer of 2021". richlandsource. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  2. ^ "Alderson Broaddus To Join MEC". Mountain East. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  3. ^ "Allen University to move from NAIA to NCAA Division II effective 2020-21 academic year". HBCU Sports. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  4. ^ "NCAA DII Collegiate Football Is Coming to Barton". Barton College. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  5. ^ "Bluefield State Returns Football And 11 Additional Sports For 2021-2022". Bluefield State. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  6. ^ "Emory & Henry College to Join South Atlantic Conference; Will Begin Competition in 2022-23". SAC.
  7. ^ "Erskine Bringing Back Football for 2020 Season". Erskine College. August 24, 2018. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  8. ^ "Florida Tech cuts football program, announces layoffs due to COVID-19 impacts". Florida Today. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  9. ^ Tollefson, Elizabeth (December 10, 2019). "UMN Crookston Discontinues Golden Eagle Football Program". Crookston, Minnesota. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  10. ^ Zimmer, Matt (December 10, 2019). "St. Cloud State University cutting its football program". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  11. ^ "Ohio's Urbana University to close due to coronavirus challenges, low enrollment". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on October 2, 2021. Retrieved October 2, 2021.