1996 NAIA Division II football season

American college football season

1996 NAIA Division II football season

Regular season| August–November 1996
Postseason| November–December 1996
National Championship| Jim Carroll Stadium
Savannah, Tennessee
Champions| Sioux Falls

* ←1995
* NAIA Division II football season
* 1997→

The 1996 NAIA Division II football season, as part of the 1996 college football season in the United States and the 41st season of college football sponsored by the NAIA, was the 27th (and final) season of play of the NAIA division II for football.

The season was played from August to November 1996 and culminated in the 1996 NAIA Division II Football National Championship, played at Jim Carroll Stadium in Savannah, Tennessee.[1]

Sioux Falls defeated Western Washington in the championship game, 47–25, to win their first NAIA national title.

## Conference changes

[edit]

### Conference changes

[edit]

* This is the final season the NAIA officially recognizes a football champion from the Northwest Conference.[2] The NWC, and its six members from Oregon and Washington, would subsequently join the NCAA as a Division III conference.
* The South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference was renamed as the South Dakota-Iowa Intercollegiate Conference after the addition of two football programs from Iowa, Westmar University and Dordt College. This was the first time since the founding of the SDIC in 1917 that it admitted members outside of South Dakota.

### Membership changes

[edit]

Team | 1995 conference | 1996 conference

|
|

Lewis & Clark | Columbia (Mount Hood) | Northwest
Linfield | Columbia (Mount Hood) | Northwest
Pacific Lutheran | Columbia (Mount Hood) | Northwest
Puget Sound | Columbia (Mount Hood) | Northwest
Willamette | Columbia (Mount Hood) | Northwest
Whitworth | Columbia (Mount Hood) | Northwest

## Conference standings

[edit]

1996 American Southwest Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team |   | W |   | L |   |  |  |   | W |   | L |
No. 11 Hardin–Simmons +^  |   | 3  | – | 1  |   |  |  |   | 8  | – | 2  |
Sul Ross \+  |   | 3  | – | 1  |   |  |  |   | 6  | – | 4  |
No. 19 Howard Payne |   | 2  | – | 2  |   |  |  |   | 8  | – | 2  |
Austin |   | 1  | – | 3  |   |  |  |   | 3  | – | 7  |
McMurry |   | 1  | – | 3  |   |  |  |   | 3  | – | 7  |
Mississippi College *  |   | 0  | – | 0  |   |  |  |   | 4  | – | 6  |

* \+ – Conference co-champions
* ^ – NAIA Division II playoff participant
* – Ineligible for conference title

Rankings from NAIA Division II poll
1996 Columbia Football Association standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team |   | W |   | L |   |  |  |   | W |   | L |
No. 6 Western Washington $^  |   | 4  | – | 1  |   |  |  |   | 11  | – | 2  |
Simon Fraser |   | 3  | – | 2  |   |  |  |   | 6  | – | 4  |
Central Washington |   | 3  | – | 2  |   |  |  |   | 5  | – | 5  |
Eastern Oregon |   | 2  | – | 3  |   |  |  |   | 6  | – | 4  |
Western Oregon |   | 2  | – | 3  |   |  |  |   | 3  | – | 7  |
Southern Oregon |   | 1  | – | 4  |   |  |  |   | 4  | – | 6  |

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

Rankings from NAIA Division II poll
1996 Heart of America Athletic Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team |   | W |   | L |   |  |  |   | W |   | L |
No. 5 Evangel $^  |   | 9  | – | 0  |   |  |  |   | 10  | – | 1  |
No. 15 Benedictine (KS) ^  |   | 7  | – | 2  |   |  |  |   | 8  | – | 3  |
No. T–24 Graceland |   | 7  | – | 2  |   |  |  |   | 7  | – | 3  |
No. 22 Baker |   | 7  | – | 2  |   |  |  |   | 7  | – | 4  |
Culver–Stockton |   | 4  | – | 5  |   |  |  |   | 5  | – | 5  |
MidAmerica Nazarene |   | 4  | – | 5  |   |  |  |   | 5  | – | 5  |
Lindenwood |   | 3  | – | 6  |   |  |  |   | 4  | – | 6  |
William Jewell |   | 2  | – | 7  |   |  |  |   | 3  | – | 7  |
Central Methodist |   | 1  | – | 8  |   |  |  |   | 2  | – | 8  |
Missouri Valley |   | 1  | – | 8  |   |  |  |   | 1  | – | 9  |

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

Rankings from NAIA Division II poll
1996 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team |   | W |   | L |   |  |  |   | W |   | L |
No. 8 Bethany (KS) $^  |   | 8  | – | 0  |   |  |  |   | 8  | – | 2  |
Bethel (KS) |   | 7  | – | 1  |   |  |  |   | 7  | – | 3  |
No. 23 Southwestern (KS) |   | 6  | – | 2  |   |  |  |   | 7  | – | 3  |
Friends |   | 5  | – | 3  |   |  |  |   | 5  | – | 5  |
McPherson |   | 4  | – | 4  |   |  |  |   | 5  | – | 5  |
Kansas Wesleyan |   | 3  | – | 5  |   |  |  |   | 3  | – | 7  |
Sterling |   | 2  | – | 6  |   |  |  |   | 2  | – | 8  |
Ottawa |   | 1  | – | 7  |   |  |  |   | 1  | – | 8  |
Tabor |   | 0  | – | 8  |   |  |  |   | 0  | – | 10  |

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

Rankings from NAIA Division II poll
1996 Mid-South Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team |   | W |   | L |   |  |  |   | W |   | L |
No. 3 Lambuth $^  |   | 7  | – | 0  |   |  |  |   | 9  | – | 2  |
No. 18 Cumberland (TN) |   | 6  | – | 1  |   |  |  |   | 8  | – | 2  |
North Greenville |   | 4  | – | 3  |   |  |  |   | 7  | – | 3  |
Campbellsville |   | 4  | – | 3  |   |  |  |   | 6  | – | 4  |
Georgetown (KY) |   | 3  | – | 4  |   |  |  |   | 4  | – | 5  |
Bethel (TN) |   | 2  | – | 5  |   |  |  |   | 3  | – | 8  |
Cumberland (KY) |   | 1  | – | 6  |   |  |  |   | 2  | – | 7  |
Union (KY) |   | 1  | – | 6  |   |  |  |   | 1  | – | 9  |

* $ – Conference champion
* ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Union forfeited three victories including two conference wins, over North Greenville and Bethel.

Rankings from NAIA Division II poll
1996 Mid-States Football Association standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team |   | W |   | L |   |  |  |   | W |   | L |
Mideast League
No. 13 Malone x  |   | 5  | – | 1  |   |  |  |   | 8  | – | 2  |
No. 9 Westminster (PA) x^  |   | 5  | – | 1  |   |  |  |   | 9  | – | 3  |
No. 10 Geneva x^  |   | 5  | – | 1  |   |  |  |   | 7  | – | 3  |
Walsh |   | 3  | – | 3  |   |  |  |   | 6  | – | 5  |
Tiffin |   | 2  | – | 4  |   |  |  |   | 2  | – | 8  |
Tri-State |   | 1  | – | 5  |   |  |  |   | 4  | – | 6  |
Urbana |   | 0  | – | 6  |   |  |  |   | 1  | – | 9  |
Midwest League
No. 1 Findlay x^  |   | 6  | – | 0  |   |  |  |   | 12  | – | 1  |
No. 17 St. Ambrose |   | 5  | – | 1  |   |  |  |   | 9  | – | 1  |
Olivet Nazarene |   | 3  | – | 3  |   |  |  |   | 6  | – | 4  |
Iowa Wesleyan |   | 3  | – | 3  |   |  |  |   | 5  | – | 6  |
Trinity International |   | 3  | – | 3  |   |  |  |   | 3  | – | 7  |
Saint Xavier |   | 1  | – | 5  |   |  |  |   | 2  | – | 8  |
Taylor |   | 0  | – | 6  |   |  |  |   | 1  | – | 9  |

* x – League champion/co-champions
^ – NAIA playoff participant

Rankings from NAIA Division II poll
1996 Nebraska-Iowa Athletic Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team |   | W |   | L |   |  |  |   | W |   | L |
No. 12 Northwestern (IA) $^  |   | 5  | – | 1  |   |  |  |   | 10  | – | 2  |
Doane |   | 4  | – | 2  |   |  |  |   | 6  | – | 3  |
Hastings |   | 4  | – | 2  |   |  |  |   | 6  | – | 4  |
Midland |   | 4  | – | 2  |   |  |  |   | 5  | – | 5  |
Dana |   | 3  | – | 3  |   |  |  |   | 4  | – | 5  |
Nebraska Wesleyan |   | 1  | – | 5  |   |  |  |   | 2  | – | 8  |
Concordia (NE) |   | 0  | – | 6  |   |  |  |   | 2  | – | 7  |

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

Rankings from NAIA Division II poll
1996 North Dakota College Athletic Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team |   | W |   | L |   |  |  |   | W |   | L |
No. 16 Valley City State +^  |   | 5  | – | 1  |   |  |  |   | 9  | – | 2  |
No. 20 Mary +^  |   | 5  | – | 1  |   |  |  |   | 7  | – | 4  |
Minot State |   | 4  | – | 2  |   |  |  |   | 6  | – | 3  |
Minnesota–Crookston |   | 3  | – | 3  |   |  |  |   | 6  | – | 4  |
Dickinson State |   | 3  | – | 3  |   |  |  |   | 5  | – | 4  |
Jamestown |   | 1  | – | 5  |   |  |  |   | 1  | – | 8  |
Mayville State |   | 0  | – | 6  |   |  |  |   | 2  | – | 8  |

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

Rankings from NAIA Division II poll
1996 Northwest Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team |   | W |   | L |   |  |  |   | W |   | L |
No. 7 Willamette $^  |   | 5  | – | 0  |   |  |  |   | 9  | – | 2  |
No. 15 Pacific Lutheran ^  |   | 4  | – | 1  |   |  |  |   | 7  | – | 3  |
Linfield |   | 3  | – | 2  |   |  |  |   | 5  | – | 4  |
Lewis & Clark |   | 2  | – | 3  |   |  |  |   | 4  | – | 6  |
Whitworth |   | 1  | – | 4  |   |  |  |   | 1  | – | 8  |
Puget Sound |   | 0  | – | 5  |   |  |  |   | 0  | – | 9  |

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

Rankings from NAIA Division II poll
1996 South Dakota-Iowa Intercollegiate Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team |   | W |   | L |   |  |  |   | W |   | L |
No. 2 Sioux Falls $^  |   | 6  | – | 0  |   |  |  |   | 14  | – | 0  |
Westmar |   | 5  | – | 1  |   |  |  |   | 7  | – | 3  |
Dakota Wesleyan |   | 3  | – | 3  |   |  |  |   | 5  | – | 5  |
Black Hills State |   | 3  | – | 3  |   |  |  |   | 4  | – | 6  |
Huron |   | 2  | – | 4  |   |  |  |   | 5  | – | 5  |
Dakota State |   | 1  | – | 5  |   |  |  |   | 2  | – | 7  |
South Dakota Tech |   | 1  | – | 5  |   |  |  |   | 1  | – | 9  |

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

Rankings from NAIA Division II poll
1996 NAIA Division II independents football records |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team |   | W |   | L |   |  |  |   | W |   | L |
No. 4 Clinch Valley ^  |   |  | – |  |   |  |  |   | 10  | – | 1  |
No. 21 Azusa Pacific |   |  | – |  |   |  |  |   | 7  | – | 3  |
No. T–24 Peru State |   |  | – |  |   |  |  |   | 7  | – | 3  |
McKendree |   |  | – |  |   |  |  |   | 3  | – | 5  |
Sue Bennett |   |  | – |  |   |  |  |   | 0  | – | 11  |

* ^ – NAIA Division II playoff participant

Rankings from NAIA Division II poll

## Conference champions

[edit]

Conference  | Champion  | Record

|
|

Columbia | Western Washington | 4–1
Heart of America | Evangel | 9–0
Kansas | Bethany | 8–0
Mid-South | Lambuth | 7–0
Mid-States | Mideast Division: Geneva, Malone, and Westminster (PA)
Midwest Division: Findlay | 5–1
6–0
Nebraska-Iowa | Northwestern (IA) | 5–1
North Dakota | Valley City State
Mary | 5–1
Northwest | Willamette | 5–0
South Dakota-Iowa | Sioux Falls | 6–0

## Postseason

[edit]

1996 Division II NAIA Football Championship |  | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Total

|
|
|
|
|

Western Washington | 6 | 7 | 0 | 12 | 25
Sioux Falls (SD) | 7 | 20 | 14 | 6 | 47
Date| December 21, 1996
Stadium| Jim Carroll Stadium
City| Savannah, Tennessee
MOP (Offense)| Kurtis Riggs, Sioux Falls
MOP (Defense)| Travis Dumke, Sioux Falls
Attendance| 4,000
| NAIA Football National Championship

< 1995

1997 >

The 1996 NAIA Division II Football Championship Series concluded on December 21, 1996, with the championship game played at Jim Carroll Stadium in Savannah, Tennessee. The game was won by the Sioux Falls Cougars over the Western Washington Vikings by a score of 47–25.[3]

### Bracket

[edit]

| 1st Round | | | Quarterfinals | | | Semifinals | | | Championship |

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

|  |  |  | | |  |  |  | | |  |  |  | | |  |  |  |
| Bethany (KS) | 35 | | | |
| Willamette | 56 |
| | Willamette | 12 |
|  |
| | | Western Washington | 13 |
| Pacific Lutheran | 20 |

| Western Washington | 21* |
| | Western Washington | 28 |
|  |
| | | Findlay | 21 |
| Westminster (PA) | 27 | |

| Clinch Valley | 20 |
| | Westminster (PA) | 9 |
|  |
| | | Findlay (OH) | 28 |
| Geneva | 13 |

| Findlay | 38 |
| | Western Washington | 25 |
|  |
| | | Sioux Falls | 47 |
| Valley City State | 7 | | |

| Northwestern (IA) | 14 |
| | Sioux Falls | 52 |
|  |
| | | Northwestern (IA) | 21 |
| Sioux Falls | 56 |

| Mary | 19 |
| | Sioux Falls | 28 |
|  |
| | | Evangel | 21 |
| Hardin–Simmons | 23 | |

| Evangel | 45 |
| | Evangel | 28 |
|  |
| | | Lambuth | 27 |
| Benedictine (KS) | 20 |

| Lambuth | 34 |

*  * denotes OT.

## See also

[edit]

* 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season
* 1996 NCAA Division I-AA football season
* 1996 NCAA Division II football season
* 1996 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 December 6, 2015.
2. ^ "NAIA Football Regular Season Records" (PDF). NAIA. pp. 20–23. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
3. ^ "NAIA OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE - National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2015.

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*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Conf.]: Conference record
*[W]: Wins
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*[No.]: Number
*[1st]: First quarter
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*[4th]: Fourth quarter
*[MOP (Offense)]: Most outstanding player on offense
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