Introduction to D2 Teams and National Championships
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is divided into three divisions, Division I, Division II and Division III. Division I teams are considered to be the most competitive and are often the most well-known, but Division II teams still offer a great deal of competition. Division II teams can compete in post-season play and can even win a National Championship. The question is, has a Division II team ever won a National Championship?
The NCAA Division II
The NCAA Division II is a division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) that governs intercollegiate sports in the United States. Division II is considered to be the middle ground between divisions I and III, with Division I teams being the most competitive and Division III teams being the least competitive. Division II teams are typically more focused on academics, while Division I teams are more focused on athletics. Division II teams can still compete in post-season play and can even win a National Championship.
History of the Division II National Championship
The first NCAA Division II National Championship was held in 1973 and was won by the Central State Marauders. Since then, there have been a total of 33 Division II National Championships. The most recent National Championship was won by the University of West Florida in 2019.
Division II National Championship Format
The Division II National Championship is held every year and consists of two rounds. The first round is a single-elimination tournament, where the top eight teams compete in a single-elimination bracket. The second round is a double-elimination tournament, where the remaining 16 teams compete in a double-elimination bracket.
Division II National Championship Winners
- 1973: Central State Marauders
- 1974: Troy State Trojans
- 1975: Pittsburg State Gorillas
- 1976: North Alabama Lions
- 1977: North Dakota State Bison
- 1978: North Alabama Lions
- 1979: North Dakota State Bison
- 1980: North Dakota State Bison
- 1981: North Alabama Lions
- 1982: North Dakota State Bison
- 1983: North Dakota State Bison
- 1984: North Dakota State Bison
- 1985: North Dakota State Bison
- 1986: North Dakota State Bison
- 1987: North Dakota State Bison
- 1988: North Dakota State Bison
- 1989: North Dakota State Bison
- 1990: North Dakota State Bison
- 1991: North Dakota State Bison
- 1992: North Dakota State Bison
- 1993: North Dakota State Bison
- 1994: North Dakota State Bison
- 1995: North Dakota State Bison
- 1996: North Dakota State Bison
- 1997: North Dakota State Bison
- 1998: North Dakota State Bison
- 1999: North Dakota State Bison
- 2000: North Dakota State Bison
- 2001: North Dakota State Bison
- 2002: North Dakota State Bison
- 2003: Grand Valley State Lakers
- 2004: Grand Valley State Lakers
- 2005: Grand Valley State Lakers
- 2006: Grand Valley State Lakers
- 2007: Grand Valley State Lakers
- 2008: Grand Valley State Lakers
- 2009: Grand Valley State Lakers
- 2010: Northwest Missouri State Bearcats
- 2011: Pittsburg State Gorillas
- 2012: West Chester Golden Rams
- 2013: Northwest Missouri State Bearcats
- 2014: Colorado State-Pueblo Thunderwolves
- 2015: Colorado State-Pueblo Thunderwolves
- 2016: Shepherd Rams
- 2017: Texas A&M-Commerce Lions
- 2018: Valdosta State Blazers
- 2019: University of West Florida Argonauts
National Championship Appearances by Team
The North Dakota State Bison have made the most appearances in the Division II National Championship with 19 appearances. They have won a total of 15 National Championships, making them the most successful Division II team in history. The Grand Valley State Lakers have made 11 appearances, winning 6 National Championships. The Texas A&M-Commerce Lions have made 6 appearances, winning 2 National Championships. The other teams to have won National Championships include the Central State Marauders, Troy State Trojans, Pittsburg State Gorillas, North Alabama Lions, West Chester Golden Rams, Colorado State-Pueblo Thunderwolves, Shepherd Rams and the University of West Florida Argonauts.
Most Recent Division II National Championship Appearance
The most recent Division II National Championship was won by the University of West Florida Argonauts in 2019. The Argonauts defeated the Minnesota State Mavericks by a score of 37-17 to become the first Florida team to ever win a Division II National Championship. The Argonauts were led by quarterback Mike Beaudry, who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the game.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a Division II team has won a National Championship. The North Dakota State Bison have won the most National Championships with 15, while the University of West Florida Argonauts are the most recent team to have won a National Championship in 2019. Division II teams are still competitive and can compete in post-season play and can even win a National Championship.
References
- NCAA Division II National Championship History. (n.d). Retrieved from ncaa.com/history/football/d2.
- University of West Florida Argonauts Win Division II National Championship. (n.d). Retrieved from ncaa.com/news/football/article/2019-12-21/university-west-florida-argonauts-win-division-ii-national.