1973 NCAA Division II football season

American college football season

1973 NCAA Division II football season

Regular season| September –
November 1973
Playoffs| December 1–15
National championship| Camellia Bowl
Hughes Stadium
Sacramento, California
Champion(s)| Louisiana Tech
| <- 1972 · | football seasons | · 1974 ->

|
|

The 1973 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. The season began in September and concluded with the Division II Championship on December 15 at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento, California. This was the first season for Division II (and Division III) football, which were formerly in the College Division in 1972 and prior.

Louisiana Tech won their first Division II championship, defeating Western Kentucky 34–0 in the Camellia Bowl championship game.[1][2]

## Conference realignment

[edit]

### Membership changes

[edit]

School | 1972 Conference | 1973 Conference

|
|

Akron | Independent | D-II Independent
Ball State | Independent | D-II Independent
Eastern Michigan | Independent | D-II Independent
Illinois State | Independent | D-II Independent
Nevada–Reno | Independent | D-II Independent

## Conference standings

[edit]

1973 Big Sky Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |  | L |  | T |  |  | W |  | L |  | T
No. 5 Boise State $^  | 6  | - | 0  | - | 0 |  |  | 10  | - | 3  | - | 0
Montana State | 5  | - | 1  | - | 0 |  |  | 7  | - | 4  | - | 0
Idaho | 3  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 4  | - | 7  | - | 0
Northern Arizona | 2  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 4  | - | 6  | - | 0
Montana | 2  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 4  | - | 6  | - | 0
Weber State | 2  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 3  | - | 8  | - | 0
Idaho State | 0  | - | 6  | - | 0 |  |  | 2  | - | 9  | - | 0

* $ - Conference champion
* ^ - NCAA Division II playoff participant
* Idaho was classified as Division I.[3] All the other teams were classified as Division II.

Rankings from AP small college poll
1973 California Collegiate Athletic Association football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |  | L |  | T |  |  | W |  | L |  | T
No. 8/9 Cal Poly $  | 4  | - | 0  | - | 0 |  |  | 9  | - | 1  | - | 0
UC Riverside | 3  | - | 1  | - | 0 |  |  | 8  | - | 2  | - | 0
Cal State Fullerton | 1  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 7  | - | 4  | - | 0
Cal Poly Pomona | 1  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 4  | - | 6  | - | 1
Cal State Northridge | 1  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 2  | - | 9  | - | 0

* $ - Conference champion

Rankings from AP/UPI small college polls
1973 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |  | L |  | T |  |  | W |  | L |  | T
Virginia Union $  | 9  | - | 0  | - | 0 |  |  | 9  | - | 1  | - | 0
Livingstone | 5  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 7  | - | 2  | - | 1
Norfolk State | 5  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 5  | - | 5  | - | 0
Johnson C. Smith | 3  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 7  | - | 4  | - | 0
Virginia State | 3  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 5  | - | 5  | - | 0
Elizabeth City State | 4  | - | 4  | - | 1 |  |  | 4  | - | 5  | - | 1
Fayetteville State | 4  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 5  | - | 5  | - | 0
Winston-Salem State | 2  | - | 5  | - | 1 |  |  | 3  | - | 7  | - | 1
Hampton | 1  | - | 5  | - | 1 |  |  | 1  | - | 7  | - | 2
Shaw | 1  | - | 5  | - | 1 |  |  | 1  | - | 6  | - | 1
Saint Paul's (VA) | 1  | - | 6  | - | 0 |  |  | 1  | - | 9  | - | 0

* $ - Conference champion

1973 Eastern Football Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |  | L |  | T |  |  | W |  | L |  | T
Central Connecticut State $  | 3  | - | 0  | - | 0 |  |  | 9  | - | 1  | - | 0
Southern Connecticut State | 2  | - | 1  | - | 0 |  |  | 6  | - | 4  | - | 0
Montclair State | 1  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 6  | - | 4  | - | 0
Glassboro State | 0  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 4  | - | 6  | - | 0

* $ - Conference champion

1973 Far Western Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |  | L |  | T |  |  | W |  | L |  | T
UC Davis \+  | 4  | - | 1  | - | 0 |  |  | 7  | - | 3  | - | 0
Chico State \+  | 4  | - | 1  | - | 0 |  |  | 7  | - | 3  | - | 0
San Francisco State | 3  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 7  | - | 2  | - | 1
Cal State Hayward | 3  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 3  | - | 7  | - | 0
Humboldt State | 1  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 2  | - | 6  | - | 2
Sacramento State | 0  | - | 5  | - | 0 |  |  | 1  | - | 9  | - | 0

* \+ - Conference co-champions

1973 Gulf South Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |  | L |  | T |  |  | W |  | L |  | T
No. T–17 Troy State $  | 6  | - | 1  | - | 0 |  |  | 7  | - | 2  | - | 1
No. 4 Jacksonville State | 5  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 7  | - | 2  | - | 0
Delta State | 6  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 8  | - | 3  | - | 0
Livingston | 4  | - | 3  | - | 1 |  |  | 6  | - | 3  | - | 1
Northwestern State | 3  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 5  | - | 6  | - | 0
Mississippi College | 3  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 4  | - | 6  | - | 0
Southeastern Louisiana | 3  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 4  | - | 6  | - | 0
Florence State | 3  | - | 6  | - | 0 |  |  | 4  | - | 6  | - | 0
Nicholls State | 2  | - | 7  | - | 0 |  |  | 2  | - | 9  | - | 0
Tennessee–Martin | 1  | - | 5  | - | 1 |  |  | 2  | - | 8  | - | 1

* $ - Conference champion

Rankings from NAIA Division I poll
1973 Indiana Collegiate Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |  | L |  | T |  |  | W |  | L |  | T
Butler $  | 5  | - | 1  | - | 0 |  |  | 5  | - | 5  | - | 0
DePauw | 4  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 6  | - | 3  | - | 0
Evansville | 3  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 5  | - | 5  | - | 0
Indiana Central | 3  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 7  | - | 3  | - | 0
Valparaiso | 3  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 6  | - | 5  | - | 0
Saint Joseph's (IN) | 1  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 3  | - | 7  | - | 0
Wabash | 0  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 5  | - | 5  | - | 0

* $ - Conference champion

1973 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |  | L |  | T |  |  | W |  | L |  | T
North Carolina Central $  | 5  | - | 1  | - | 0 |  |  | 7  | - | 4  | - | 0
South Carolina State | 4  | - | 1  | - | 1 |  |  | 7  | - | 3  | - | 1
Howard | 4  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 8  | - | 2  | - | 0
Morgan State | 4  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 6  | - | 3  | - | 0
Maryland Eastern Shore | 2  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 4  | - | 5  | - | 0
North Carolina A&T | 1  | - | 4  | - | 1 |  |  | 4  | - | 6  | - | 1
Delaware State | 0  | - | 6  | - | 0 |  |  | 0  | - | 11  | - | 0

* $ - Conference champion

1973 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |  | L |  | T |  |  | W |  | L |  | T
SE Missouri State $  | 5  | - | 1  | - | 0 |  |  | 6  | - | 4  | - | 0
NW Missouri State | 4  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 6  | - | 4  | - | 0
Lincoln (MO) | 3  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 5  | - | 6  | - | 0
SW Missouri State | 3  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 3  | - | 7  | - | 0
Missouri–Rolla | 2  | - | 3  | - | 1 |  |  | 3  | - | 6  | - | 2
NE Missouri State | 2  | - | 3  | - | 1 |  |  | 2  | - | 7  | - | 2
Central Missouri State | 1  | - | 5  | - | 0 |  |  | 2  | - | 8  | - | 0

* $ - Conference champion

1973 North Central Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |  | L |  | T |  |  | W |  | L |  | T
No. 14 North Dakota State \+  | 6  | - | 1  | - | 0 |  |  | 8  | - | 2  | - | 0
No. 11 South Dakota +^  | 6  | - | 1  | - | 0 |  |  | 8  | - | 3  | - | 0
Mankato State | 4  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 7  | - | 4  | - | 0
North Dakota | 4  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 6  | - | 4  | - | 0
Augustana (SD) | 3  | - | 3  | - | 1 |  |  | 6  | - | 3  | - | 1
South Dakota State | 2  | - | 4  | - | 1 |  |  | 5  | - | 5  | - | 1
Northern Iowa | 2  | - | 5  | - | 0 |  |  | 5  | - | 5  | - | 0
Morningside | 0  | - | 7  | - | 0 |  |  | 0  | - | 9  | - | 0

* \+ - Conference co-champions
* ^ - NCAA Division II playoff participant

Rankings from AP small college poll
1973 Northern Intercollegiate Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |  | L |  | T |  |  | W |  | L |  | T
Moorhead State $  | 5  | - | 1  | - | 0 |  |  | 7  | - | 3  | - | 0
Michigan Tech | 4  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 5  | - | 4  | - | 1
St. Cloud State | 4  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 4  | - | 6  | - | 0
Bemidji State | 2  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 5  | - | 4  | - | 0
Southwest State (MN) | 2  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 4  | - | 6  | - | 0
Minnesota Morris | 2  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 3  | - | 6  | - | 0
Winona State | 2  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 3  | - | 7  | - | 0

* $ - Conference champion

1973 Ohio Valley Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |  | L |  | T |  |  | W |  | L |  | T
No. 3 Western Kentucky $^  | 7  | - | 0  | - | 0 |  |  | 12  | - | 1  | - | 0
Murray State | 5  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 7  | - | 3  | - | 0
Eastern Kentucky | 4  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 7  | - | 4  | - | 0
Morehead State | 4  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 6  | - | 5  | - | 0
East Tennessee State | 3  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 4  | - | 7  | - | 0
Middle Tennessee | 3  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 4  | - | 7  | - | 0
Tennessee Tech | 1  | - | 6  | - | 0 |  |  | 2  | - | 8  | - | 1
Austin Peay | 1  | - | 6  | - | 0 |  |  | 2  | - | 8  | - | 0

* $ - Conference champion
* ^ - NCAA Division II playoff participant

Rankings from AP small college poll
1973 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |  | L |  | T |  |  | W |  | L |  | T
East Division
West Chester xy  | 4  | - | 0  | - | 0 |  |  | 5  | - | 5  | - | 0
East Stroudsburg | 5  | - | 1  | - | 0 |  |  | 6  | - | 1  | - | 1
Millersville | 4  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 7  | - | 2  | - | 0
Cheyney | 3  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 5  | - | 4  | - | 0
Bloomsburg | 2  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 4  | - | 5  | - | 0
Kutztown | 1  | - | 5  | - | 0 |  |  | 2  | - | 7  | - | 0
Mansfield | 0  | - | 5  | - | 0 |  |  | 1  | - | 7  | - | 0
West Division
No. T–20 Slippery Rock xy$  | 5  | - | 0  | - | 0 |  |  | 8  | - | 2  | - | 0
Clarion | 3  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 5  | - | 4  | - | 0
Edinboro | 3  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 4  | - | 4  | - | 1
Lock Haven | 2  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 2  | - | 7  | - | 0
California (PA) | 1  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 3  | - | 6  | - | 0
Shippensburg | 1  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 2  | - | 7  | - | 0
Indiana (PA) *  | 0  | - | 0  | - | 0 |  |  | 4  | - | 5  | - | 0
Championship: Slippery Rock 28, West Chester 14

* $ - Conference champion
* x - Division champion/co-champions
* y - Championship game participant
* * – Ineligible for conference title

Rankings from NAIA Division I poll
1973 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |  | L |  | T |  |  | W |  | L |  | T
Division I
Bethune–Cookman x  | 5  | - | 0  | - | 0 |  |  | 9  | - | 2  | - | 0
Florida A&M | 4  | - | 1  | - | 0 |  |  | 5  | - | 6  | - | 0
No. 16 Albany State | 3  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 6  | - | 3  | - | 1
Alabama A&M | 3  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 5  | - | 5  | - | 0
Tuskegee | 2  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 7  | - | 4  | - | 0
Morris Brown | 1  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 1  | - | 8  | - | 1
Alabama State | 0  | - | 5  | - | 0 |  |  | 3  | - | 8  | - | 0
Division II
No. 7 Fisk x  | 5  | - | 0  | - | 0 |  |  | 9  | - | 0  | - | 0
Fort Valley State | 4  | - | 1  | - | 0 |  |  | 7  | - | 1  | - | 1
Clark (GA) | 4  | - | 1  | - | 0 |  |  | 4  | - | 3  | - | 1
Morehouse | 3  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 4  | - | 3  | - | 1
Savannah State | 2  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 3  | - | 6  | - | 0
Lane | 1  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 3  | - | 6  | - | 0
Miles | 1  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 1  | - | 8  | - | 0
Knoxville | 0  | - | 5  | - | 0 |  |  | 0  | - | 8  | - | 0

* x - Division champion/co-champions

Rankings from NAIA Division II poll
1973 Southland Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |  | L |  | T |  |  | W |  | L |  | T
No. 2 Louisiana Tech $^  | 5  | - | 0  | - | 0 |  |  | 12  | - | 1  | - | 0
Arkansas State | 3  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 7  | - | 3  | - | 0
Lamar | 3  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 5  | - | 5  | - | 0
McNeese State | 2  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 7  | - | 3  | - | 1
UT Arlington | 2  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 4  | - | 6  | - | 0
SW Louisiana | 0  | - | 5  | - | 0 |  |  | 0  | - | 10  | - | 0

* $ - Conference champion
* ^ - NCAA Division II playoff participant

Rankings from AP small college poll
1973 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |  | L |  | T |  |  | W |  | L |  | T
No. 5/7 Grambling +^  | 5  | - | 1  | - | 0 |  |  | 10  | - | 3  | - | 0
No. 10 Jackson State \+  | 5  | - | 1  | - | 0 |  |  | 9  | - | 2  | - | 0
No. T–20 Alcorn A&M | 3  | - | 2  | - | 1 |  |  | 7  | - | 2  | - | 1
Southern | 3  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 6  | - | 4  | - | 0
Texas Southern | 2  | - | 3  | - | 1 |  |  | 5  | - | 5  | - | 1
Mississippi Valley State | 2  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 3  | - | 5  | - | 0
Prairie View A&M | 0  | - | 6  | - | 0 |  |  | 2  | - | 6  | - | 1

* \+ - Conference co-champions
* ^ - NCAA Division II playoff participant

Rankings from NAIA Division I poll and AP small college poll
1973 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |  | L |  | T |  |  | W |  | L |  | T
Northern Division
Fairmont State xy$  | 3  | - | 0  | - | 0 |  |  | 6  | - | 3  | - | 1
West Liberty State | 2  | - | 1  | - | 1 |  |  | 3  | - | 5  | - | 1
Salem | 2  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 6  | - | 4  | - | 0
Shepherd | 1  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 6  | - | 4  | - | 0
West Virginia Wesleyan | 0  | - | 3  | - | 1 |  |  | 2  | - | 6  | - | 1
Southern Division
No. 2 Glenville State xy^  | 4  | - | 0  | - | 0 |  |  | 10  | - | 2  | - | 0
Bluefield State | 3  | - | 1  | - | 0 |  |  | 4  | - | 5  | - | 0
West Virginia State | 2  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 5  | - | 5  | - | 0
West Virginia Tech | 1  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 4  | - | 5  | - | 0
Concord | 0  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 0  | - | 9  | - | 0
Championship: Fairmont State 21, Glenville State 7

* $ - Conference champion
* x - Division champion/co-champions
* y - Championship game participant
* ^ – NAIA Division II playoff participant
Conference standings based on power ratings

Rankings from NAIA Division II poll
1973 Yankee Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |  | L |  | T |  |  | W |  | L |  | T
Connecticut $  | 5  | - | 0  | - | 1 |  |  | 8  | - | 2  | - | 1
Rhode Island | 4  | - | 1  | - | 1 |  |  | 6  | - | 2  | - | 2
UMass | 4  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 6  | - | 5  | - | 0
New Hampshire | 2  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 4  | - | 5  | - | 0
Boston University | 2  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 3  | - | 7  | - | 0
Maine | 2  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 3  | - | 7  | - | 0
Vermont | 1  | - | 5  | - | 0 |  |  | 3  | - | 6  | - | 0

* $ - Conference champion

1973 NCAA Division II independents football records |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |  | L |  | T |  |  | W |  | L |  | T
No. 1 Tennessee State |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 10  | - | 0  | - | 0
No. 9 Hawaii |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 9  | - | 2  | - | 0
Nebraska–Omaha |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 2  | - | 1
Trinity (TX) |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 8  | - | 3  | - | 0
UNLV |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 8  | - | 3  | - | 0
No. 13 Delaware ^  |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 8  | - | 4  | - | 0
Western Carolina |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 3  | - | 1
Central Michigan |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 4  | - | 0
Nevada |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 4  | - | 0
Western Illinois |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 4  | - | 0
Milwaukee |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 4  | - | 1
Eastern Michigan |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 4  | - | 0
American International |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 4  | - | 0
Akron |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 5  | - | 0
Central State (OH) |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 5  | - | 0
Ball State |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 5  | - | 1
Wayne State (MI) |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 5  | - | 0
Drexel |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 4  | - | 0
Bucknell |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 3  | - | 4  | - | 2
Northeast Louisiana |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 3  | - | 5  | - | 2
Santa Clara |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 6  | - | 0
Youngstown State |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 6  | - | 0
Arkansas–Pine Bluff |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 3  | - | 5  | - | 1
Chattanooga |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 7  | - | 0
Indiana State |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 7  | - | 0
Northeastern |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 3  | - | 6  | - | 0
Kentucky State |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 3  | - | 8  | - | 0
Northern Michigan |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 2  | - | 7  | - | 1
Eastern Illinois |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 2  | - | 9  | - | 0
Portland State |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 1  | - | 10  | - | 0

* ^ - NCAA Division II playoff participant

Rankings from AP small college poll

## Conference summaries

[edit]

See also: List of NCAA Division II football seasons

Conference | Champion

|

Big Sky Conference | Boise State
California Collegiate Athletic Association | Cal Poly
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Virginia Union
Eastern Football Conference | Central Connecticut State
Far Western Football Conference | UC Davis and Cal State Chico
Gulf South Conference | Troy State
Indiana Collegiate Conference | Butler
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference | North Carolina Central
Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Southeast Missouri State
North Central Conference | North Dakota State and South Dakota
Ohio Valley Conference | Western Kentucky
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Bethune-Cookman
Southland Conference | Louisiana Tech
Southwestern Athletic Conference | Grambling and Jackson State
Yankee Conference | Connecticut

## Postseason

[edit]

1973 NCAA Division II Football Championship

Teams| 8
Finals Site|

* Hughes Stadium
* Sacramento, California

Champion|

* Louisiana Tech
* (1st title, 1st title game)

Runner-up|

* Western Kentucky
* (1st title game)

Semifinalists|

* Grambling
* Boise State

Winning coach|

* Maxie Lambright
* 1st championship

The 1973 NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs were the first single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division II college football. The inaugural edition had only eight teams; of the four quarterfinal games, three were played on campus and a fourth was in Atlantic City, New Jersey,[4] the final edition of the Boardwalk Bowl. The semifinals were held at the Grantland Rice Bowl in Baton Rouge, Louisiana,[5] and the Pioneer Bowl in Wichita Falls, Texas.[6][7]

The championship game was the Camellia Bowl, held at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento, California. The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs defeated the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 34–0 to win their first national title.[2][8]

### Playoff bracket

[edit]

| First round
Atlantic City, NJ
& 3 campus sites

December 1 | | | Semifinals
Grantland Rice Bowl
Pioneer Bowl

December 8 | | | Championship
Camellia Bowl
Hughes Stadium
Sacramento, CA
December 15 |

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

|  |  |  | | |  |  |  | | |  |  |  |
| Grambling | 17 | | |
| Delaware | 8 |
| | Grambling | 20 |
|  |
| | | Western Kentucky | 28 |
| Western Kentucky * | 25 |

| Lehigh | 16 |
| | Western Kentucky | 0 |
|  |
| | | Louisiana Tech | 34 |
| Louisiana Tech * | 18 | |

| Western Illinois | 13 |
| | Louisiana Tech | 38 |
|  |
| | | Boise State | 34 |
| Boise State * | 53 |

| South Dakota | 10 |

* Denotes host institution

## Rankings

[edit]

Main article: 1973 small college football rankings

United Press International (UPI) and the Associated Press (AP) continued to rank teams in their College Division or "small college" polls, which had started in 1958 and 1960, respectively. In 1973, UPI published their final poll at the end of the regular season, while the AP waited until postseason games had been completed. Both wire services named the Tennessee State Tigers as the number one team; Tennessee State did not compete in the playoffs "because five of its starters would not be eligible to play."[9] The players in question had sat out their freshmen year ("redshirt") and then played four seasons;[9] under NCAA rules at the time, such players were not eligible for postseason play as fifth-year seniors. During the regular season, the Tigers were undefeated (10–0) and had outscored their opponents 333–87.

United Press International (coaches) final poll
Published on November 28[10]

| Rank  | School  | Record  | No. 1
votes  | Total
points

|
|
|
|

1 | Tennessee State | 10–0 | 27 | 314
2 | Western Kentucky | 10–0 | 3 | 275
3 | Louisiana Tech | 9–1 | 1 | 224
4 | Abilene Christian | 9–1 |  | 176
5 | Wittenberg | 9–0 |  | 169
6 | Elon | 11–0 |  | 151
7 | Grambling State | 9–2 |  | 96
8 | Boise State | 9–2 |  | 91
9 | Cal Poly | 9–1 |  | 90
10 | Delaware | 8–3 |  | 41
11 | Jacksonville State | 7–2 |  | 32
12 | Langston | 10–0 |  | 24
13 | Hawaii | 8–2 |  | 23
14 | C.W. Post | 10–1 |  | 15
15 | South Dakota | 8–2 |  | 11

Associated Press (writers) final poll
Published on December 19[11]

| Rank  | School  | Record  | No. 1
votes  | Total
points

|
|
|
|

1 | Tennessee State | 10–0 | 17 | 708
2 | Louisiana Tech | 12–1D2 | 21 | 706
3 | Western Kentucky | 12–1D2 |  | 459
4 | Wittenberg | 12–0D3 | 1 | 407
T5 | Boise State | 10–3D2 |  | 390
T5 | Abilene Christian | 11–1N1 |  | 390
7 | Grambling State | 10–3D2 |  | 372
8 | Cal Poly | 9–1 |  | 264
9 | Hawaii | 8–2 |  | 233
10 | Elon | 12–1N1 |  | 223
11 | South Dakota | 8–3D2 |  | 221
12 | Jacksonville State | 7–2 |  | 220
13 | Delaware | 8–3 |  | 152
14 | North Dakota State | 8–2 |  | 111
15 | Langston | 11–1N1 |  | 95

^N1 Record includes NAIA Division I playoff games
^D2 Record includes NCAA Division II playoff games
^D3 Record includes NCAA Division III playoff games

## See also

[edit]

* 1973 NCAA Division I football season
* 1973 NCAA Division III football season
* 1973 NAIA Division I football season
* 1973 NAIA Division II football season

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "All-Time Conference Champions" (PDF). NCAA. NCAA.org. pp. 15–28. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
2. ^ a b "Western Kentucky (Louisiana Tech) champs after 34–0 romp". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. December 16, 1973. p. 20.
3. ^ "NCAA Statistics". Retrieved January 12, 2025.
4. ^ "Boise St. smears South Dakota". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. December 2, 1973. p. 19.
5. ^ "Western Kentucky triumphs". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. December 9, 1973. p. 19.
6. ^ "Boise in semis". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. December 8, 1973. p. 17.
7. ^ "Late TD tops Boise". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. December 9, 1973. p. 19.
8. ^ "1973 NCAA Division II National Football Championship Bracket" (PDF). NCAA. NCAA.org. p. 13. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
9. ^ a b Finocchiaro, Ray (November 15, 1973). "5 Ineligible So Tennessee State Quits Playoff". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. Retrieved February 28, 2017 - via newspapers.com.
10. ^ "College Football Small College Poll". The Republic. Columbus, Indiana. United Press International. November 28, 1973. Retrieved July 30, 2021 - via Newspapers.com .
11. ^ "Tennessee St. Picked No. 1 In Grid Poll". The Northwest Arkansas Times. Fayetteville, Arkansas. Associated Press. December 19, 1973. Retrieved July 30, 2021 - via Newspapers.com .

* v
* t
* e

NCAA Division II football

Seasons|

* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

Playoffs|

* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

Championship games|

| Bowl era|

* East: Tangerine Bowl (1964–1967), Boardwalk Bowl (1968–1972)
* Mideast: Grantland Rice Bowl (1964–1972)
* Midwest: Pecan Bowl (1964–1970), Pioneer Bowl (1971–1972)
* West: Camellia Bowl (1964–1967)

|

Playoff era|

* 1973
* 2008
* 2009
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Records & statistics|

* Harlon Hill Trophy winners
* Playoff appearances
* Programs
* Win-loss records

* v
* t
* e

NCAA football seasons

Pre-NCAA|

* 1869
* 1870
* 1871
* 1872
* 1873
* 1874
* 1875
* 1876
* 1877
* 1878
* 1879
* 1880
* 1881
* 1882
* 1883
* 1884
* 1885
* 1886
* 1887
* 1888
* 1889
* 1890
* 1891
* 1892
* 1893
* 1894
* 1895
* 1896
* 1897
* 1898
* 1899
* 1900
* 1901
* 1902
* 1903
* 1904
* 1905

NCAA pre-divisional|

* 1906
* 1907
* 1908
* 1909
* 1910
* 1911
* 1912
* 1913
* 1914
* 1915
* 1916
* 1917
* 1918
* 1919
* 1920
* 1921
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1925
* 1926
* 1927
* 1928
* 1929
* 1930
* 1931
* 1932
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939
* 1940
* 1941
* 1942
* 1943
* 1944
* 1945
* 1946
* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961

NCAA University Division|

* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972

NCAA Division I|

* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977

NCAA Division I-A/FBS|

* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

NCAA Division I-AA/FCS|

* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

NCAA College Division|

* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972

NCAA Division II|

* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

NCAA Division III|

* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Conf.]: Conference record
*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[T]: Ties
*[No.]: Number