NCAA Division III Football Championship



The NCAA Division III Football Championship began in 1973. Before 1973, most of the schools now in Division III competed in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

The Division III playoffs begin with 32 teams selected to participate in the playoffs. The Division III championship game, known as the Stagg Bowl (named after Amos Alonzo Stagg), will be held at Woodforest Bank Stadium in Shenandoah, Texas in 2018 and 2019. The game had previously been played at Salem Football Stadium in Salem, Virginia (1993–2017), at Hawkins Stadium in Bradenton, Florida (1990–1992), Garrett-Harrison Stadium in Phenix City, Alabama (1973–1982, 1985–1989), and at Galbreath Field at the College Football Hall of Fame, when the Hall was located in Kings Island, Ohio (1983–1984).

Mary Hardin–Baylor defeated Mount Union to win the 2018 season championship.

West and East Regional Championships (1969–1972)
In 1969, the NCAA started two regional championship games for small college teams: the East Regional's Knute Rockne Bowl and the West's Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl. When the NCAA developed a national Division III championship game in 1973, the Stagg Bowl name and the host city of Phenix City, Alabama was chosen.

Stagg Bowl Most Outstanding Player Award
As voted by the media at the game since 2000.