1983 NAIA Division I football season

American college football season

1983 NAIA Division I football season

Regular season| August–November 1983
Postseason| December 3–17, 1983
National Championship| Ralph Stocker Stadium
Grand Junction, CO
Champions| Carson–Newman

* ← 1982
* NAIA Division I football season
* 1984 →

The 1983 NAIA Division I football season was the 28th season of college football sponsored by the NAIA, was the 14th season of play of the NAIA's top division for football.

The season was played from August to November 1983 and culminated in the 1983 NAIA Champion Bowl, played this year on December 17, 1983 at Ralph Stocker Stadium in Grand Junction, Colorado on the campus of Mesa College—now known as Colorado Mesa University.[1]

Carson–Newman defeated Mesa in the Champion Bowl, 36–28, to win their first NAIA national title.[2]

## Conference changes

[edit]

* This is the final season that the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association is officially recognized as an NAIA football conference.[3]

## Conference standings

[edit]

1983 Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
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Team | W |   | L |   | T |  |  | W |   | L |   | T
No. 1 Central Arkansas $^  | 6  | – | 0  | – | 0 |  |  | 11  | – | 1  | – | 0
Arkansas Tech | 4  | – | 1  | – | 1 |  |  | 4  | – | 5  | – | 1
Southern Arkansas | 4  | – | 2  | – | 0 |  |  | 5  | – | 5  | – | 0
No. 16 Arkansas–Monticello | 3  | – | 2  | – | 1 |  |  | 6  | – | 2  | – | 1
Ouachita Baptist | 1  | – | 4  | – | 1 |  |  | 2  | – | 7  | – | 1
Henderson State | 1  | – | 5  | – | 0 |  |  | 3  | – | 7  | – | 0
Harding | 0  | – | 5  | – | 1 |  |  | 3  | – | 6  | – | 1

* $ – Conference champion
* ^ – NAIA Division I playoff participant

Rankings from NAIA Division I poll
1983 Central States Intercollegiate Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |   | L |   | T |  |  | W |   | L |   | T
No. 9 Washburn $  | 6  | – | 1  | – | 0 |  |  | 8  | – | 2  | – | 0
No. 10 Missouri Southern | 5  | – | 2  | – | 0 |  |  | 9  | – | 2  | – | 0
No. 17 Fort Hays State | 4  | – | 3  | – | 0 |  |  | 8  | – | 3  | – | 0
Pittsburg State | 4  | – | 3  | – | 0 |  |  | 6  | – | 4  | – | 0
Kearney State | 4  | – | 3  | – | 0 |  |  | 5  | – | 5  | – | 0
Missouri Western | 3  | – | 4  | – | 0 |  |  | 5  | – | 6  | – | 0
Emporia State | 1  | – | 6  | – | 0 |  |  | 2  | – | 8  | – | 0
Wayne State (NE) | 1  | – | 6  | – | 0 |  |  | 1  | – | 9  | – | 0

* $ – Conference champion

Rankings from NAIA Division I poll
1983 Evergreen Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
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Team | W |   | L |   | T |  |  | W |   | L |   | T
Puget Sound $  | 6  | – | 1  | – | 0 |  |  | 6  | – | 4  | – | 0
Southern Oregon | 5  | – | 2  | – | 0 |  |  | 9  | – | 2  | – | 0
No. 14 Central Washington | 5  | – | 2  | – | 0 |  |  | 8  | – | 2  | – | 0
Simon Fraser | 4  | – | 3  | – | 0 |  |  | 4  | – | 6  | – | 0
Eastern Oregon | 3  | – | 4  | – | 0 |  |  | 5  | – | 5  | – | 0
Oregon Tech | 2  | – | 5  | – | 0 |  |  | 4  | – | 6  | – | 0
Western Oregon | 2  | – | 5  | – | 0 |  |  | 3  | – | 7  | – | 0
Western Washington | 1  | – | 6  | – | 0 |  |  | 1  | – | 9  | – | 0

* $ – Conference champion

Rankings from NAIA Division I poll
1983 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |   | L |   | T |  |  | W |   | L |   | T
No. 7 Saginaw Valley State $^  | 6  | – | 0  | – | 0 |  |  | 9  | – | 3  | – | 0
No. 8 Hillsdale | 4  | – | 2  | – | 0 |  |  | 8  | – | 2  | – | 0
Wayne State (MI) | 4  | – | 2  | – | 0 |  |  | 7  | – | 3  | – | 0
Northwood | 3  | – | 3  | – | 0 |  |  | 4  | – | 4  | – | 0
Grand Valley State | 3  | – | 3  | – | 0 |  |  | 4  | – | 6  | – | 0
Michigan Tech | 1  | – | 5  | – | 0 |  |  | 3  | – | 7  | – | 0
Ferris State | 0  | – | 6  | – | 0 |  |  | 0  | – | 9  | – | 0

* $ – Conference champion
* ^ – NAIA Division I playoff participant

Rankings from NAIA Division I poll
1983 Northern Intercollegiate Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
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Team | W |   | L |   | T |  |  | W |   | L |   | T
No. 20 Winona State $  | 5  | – | 1  | – | 0 |  |  | 7  | – | 4  | – | 0
Moorhead State | 4  | – | 2  | – | 0 |  |  | 6  | – | 3  | – | 0
Minnesota Duluth | 4  | – | 2  | – | 0 |  |  | 6  | – | 4  | – | 0
Minnesota Morris | 2  | – | 3  | – | 1 |  |  | 4  | – | 4  | – | 2
Northern State | 1  | – | 3  | – | 2 |  |  | 4  | – | 4  | – | 2
Southwest State (MN) | 1  | – | 3  | – | 2 |  |  | 3  | – | 6  | – | 2
Bemidji State | 1  | – | 4  | – | 1 |  |  | 4  | – | 6  | – | 1

* $ – Conference champion

Rankings from NAIA Division I poll
1983 Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |   | L |   | T |  |  | W |   | L |   | T
No. 4 Northeastern State $^  | 4  | – | 0  | – | 0 |  |  | 8  | – | 2  | – | 0
No. 13 East Central | 2  | – | 2  | – | 0 |  |  | 7  | – | 3  | – | 0
NW Oklahoma State | 2  | – | 2  | – | 0 |  |  | 4  | – | 6  | – | 0
SW Oklahoma State | 2  | – | 2  | – | 0 |  |  | 3  | – | 6  | – | 0
SE Oklahoma State | 0  | – | 4  | – | 0 |  |  | 1  | – | 9  | – | 0

* $ – Conference champion
* ^ – NAIA Division I playoff participant

Rankings from NAIA Division I poll
1983 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |   | L |   | T |  |  | W |   | L |   | T
No. 3 Mesa $^  | 7  | – | 0  | – | 1 |  |  | 11  | – | 1  | – | 1
Southern Colorado | 6  | – | 1  | – | 1 |  |  | 6  | – | 3  | – | 1
Western New Mexico | 4  | – | 3  | – | 1 |  |  | 5  | – | 4  | – | 1
Southern Utah | 4  | – | 4  | – | 0 |  |  | 5  | – | 5  | – | 0
Adams State | 4  | – | 4  | – | 0 |  |  | 4  | – | 6  | – | 0
Fort Lewis | 4  | – | 4  | – | 0 |  |  | 4  | – | 6  | – | 0
Colorado Mines | 3  | – | 5  | – | 0 |  |  | 4  | – | 5  | – | 0
Western State (CO) | 2  | – | 5  | – | 1 |  |  | 2  | – | 6  | – | 1
New Mexico Highlands | 0  | – | 8  | – | 0 |  |  | 1  | – | 9  | – | 0

* $ – Conference champion
* ^ – NAIA Division I playoff participant

1983 South Atlantic Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |   | L |   | T |  |  | W |   | L |   | T
No. 12 Carson–Newman $^  | 6  | – | 1  | – | 0 |  |  | 10  | – | 3  | – | 0
Presbyterian | 4  | – | 2  | – | 1 |  |  | 5  | – | 5  | – | 1
No. 18 Elon | 4  | – | 3  | – | 0 |  |  | 7  | – | 3  | – | 0
Gardner–Webb | 4  | – | 3  | – | 0 |  |  | 5  | – | 6  | – | 0
Mars Hill | 3  | – | 3  | – | 1 |  |  | 4  | – | 7  | – | 1
Newberry | 3  | – | 4  | – | 0 |  |  | 6  | – | 5  | – | 0
Lenoir–Rhyne | 2  | – | 5  | – | 0 |  |  | 4  | – | 6  | – | 0
Catawba | 0  | – | 7  | – | 0 |  |  | 0  | – | 9  | – | 1

* $ – Conference champion
* ^ – NAIA Division I playoff participant

Rankings from NAIA Division I poll
1983 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |   | L |   | T |  |  | W |   | L |   | T
No. 5 Shepherd $^  | 8  | – | 0  | – | 0 |  |  | 9  | – | 2  | – | 0
Glenville State | 6  | – | 2  | – | 0 |  |  | 6  | – | 2  | – | 1
Concord | 5  | – | 3  | – | 0 |  |  | 5  | – | 5  | – | 0
West Virginia Tech | 4  | – | 3  | – | 1 |  |  | 5  | – | 4  | – | 1
West Liberty State | 3  | – | 3  | – | 2 |  |  | 4  | – | 4  | – | 2
Fairmont State | 2  | – | 5  | – | 1 |  |  | 2  | – | 7  | – | 1
Salem | 2  | – | 6  | – | 0 |  |  | 3  | – | 7  | – | 0
West Virginia State | 2  | – | 6  | – | 0 |  |  | 3  | – | 7  | – | 0
West Virginia Wesleyan | 2  | – | 6  | – | 0 |  |  | 2  | – | 8  | – | 0

* $ – Conference champion
* ^ – NAIA Division I playoff participant

Rankings from NAIA Division I poll
1983 Wisconsin State University Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |   | L |   | T |  |  | W |   | L |   | T
No. 11 Wisconsin–Eau Claire $  | 7  | – | 1  | – | 0 |  |  | 8  | – | 2  | – | 0
Wisconsin–La Crosse ^  | 6  | – | 1  | – | 1 |  |  | 9  | – | 3  | – | 1
Wisconsin–River Falls | 6  | – | 2  | – | 0 |  |  | 8  | – | 2  | – | 0
Wisconsin–Whitewater | 6  | – | 2  | – | 0 |  |  | 6  | – | 5  | – | 0
Wisconsin–Oshkosh | 3  | – | 4  | – | 1 |  |  | 5  | – | 4  | – | 1
Wisconsin–Platteville | 3  | – | 5  | – | 0 |  |  | 4  | – | 6  | – | 0
Wisconsin–Stevens Point | 2  | – | 6  | – | 0 |  |  | 4  | – | 6  | – | 0
Wisconsin–Stout | 2  | – | 6  | – | 0 |  |  | 2  | – | 9  | – | 0
Wisconsin–Superior | 0  | – | 8  | – | 0 |  |  | 1  | – | 10  | – | 0

* $ – Conference champion
* ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant

Rankings from NAIA Division I poll
1983 NAIA Division I independents football records |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |   | L |   | T |  |  | W |   | L |   | T
No. 2 Central State (OK) ^  |   |  | – |  |   |  |  | 8  | – | 1  | – | 1
No. 6 Eastern New Mexico ^  |   |  | – |  |   |  |  | 8  | – | 2  | – | 1
Guilford |   |  | – |  |   |  |  | 5  | – | 4  | – | 1
Wofford |   |  | – |  |   |  |  | 6  | – | 5  | – | 0
Langston |   |  | – |  |   |  |  | 4  | – | 6  | – | 0
Cameron |   |  | – |  |   |  |  | 3  | – | 6  | – | 0
Kentucky State |   |  | – |  |   |  |  | 2  | – | 7  | – | 2
Liberty Baptist |   |  | – |  |   |  |  | 2  | – | 9  | – | 0

* ^ – NAIA Division I playoff participant

Rankings from NAIA Division I poll

## Conference champions

[edit]

Conference  | Champion  | Record

|
|

Arkansas Intercollegiate | Central Arkansas | 6–0
Central States | Washburn | 6–1
Evergreen | Puget Sound | 6–1
NIC | Winona State | 5–1
Oklahoma | Northeastern State | 4–0
RMAC | Mesa | 7–0–1
South Atlantic | Carson–Newman | 6–1
WSUC | Wisconsin–Eau Claire | 7–1
WVIAC | Shepherd | 8–0

## Postseason

[edit]

| Quarterfinals
December 3, 1983
Campus sites | | | Semifinals
December 10, 1983
Campus sites | | | 1983 Champion Bowl
December 17, 1983
Grand Junction, CO |

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

|  |  |  | | |  |  |  | | |  |  |  |
| Saginaw Valley State | 14 | | |
| Central State (OK)* | 13 |
| | Saginaw Valley State | 7 |
|  |
| | | Carson–Newman* | 41 |
| Shepherd | 21 |

| Carson–Newman* | 42 |
| | Carson–Newman | 36 |
|  |
| | | Mesa* | 28 |
| Northeastern State | 7 | |

| Central Arkansas* | 18 |
| | Central Arkansas | 17 |
|  |
| | | Mesa* | 34 |
| Eastern New Mexico | 9 |

| Mesa* | 35 |

## See also

[edit]

* 1983 NAIA Division II football season
* 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season
* 1983 NCAA Division I-AA football season
* 1983 NCAA Division II football season
* 1983 NCAA Division III football season

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "NAIA Championship History" (PDF). NAIA. pp. 4–11\. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 15, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
2. ^ "1983 Division I NAIA Football Playoffs". JonFMorse.com. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
3. ^ "NAIA Football Regular Season Records" (PDF). NAIA. p. 20. Retrieved December 11, 2021.

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