Wikiwand AI

2017 NCAA Division III football season

American college football season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2017 NCAA Division III football season was the portion of the 2017 college football season organized by the NCAA at the Division III level in the United States. Under Division III rules, teams were eligible to begin play on August 31, 2017.[1] The season ended with the NCAA Division III Football Championship, also known as the Stagg Bowl, on December 15, 2017, at Salem Football Stadium in Salem, Virginia. Mount Union earned their 13th national title, defeating defending national champions Mary Hardin–Baylor.

RegularseasonAugust 31 – November 11, 2017
PlayoffsNovember 18 – December 15, 2017
Salem Football Stadium
Salem, VA
ChampionMount Union
Quick facts Regular season, Playoffs ...
2017 NCAA Division III football season
Regular seasonAugust 31 – November 11, 2017
PlayoffsNovember 18 – December 15, 2017
Salem Football Stadium
Salem, VA
ChampionMount Union
Gagliardi TrophyBrett Kasper (QB), Wisconsin–Oshkosh
Close

Conference and program changes

The 2017 season saw several significant changes to the landscape of Division III football:

  • The New England Football Conference, a football-only league that had operated since 1965, became the football league of the all-sports Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC), operating as Commonwealth Coast Football (CCC Football). The football league remains a separate entity from the overall conference.[2]
  • The New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference began sponsoring football.
  • The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, which had sponsored football since its creation in 1962 as the College Athletic Conference, ended sponsorship of football at the end of the 2016 season. The league had lost most of its membership when seven schools left in 2012 to form the Southern Athletic Association.
  • The New England Small College Athletic Conference eliminated its members' annual pre-season scrimmages in favor of a 9th regular season game and ensuring all conference members play one another each season.[3] Conference members remain ineligible for postseason tournament play.
  • The Empire 8 and Liberty League announced on July 5 the creation of the New York State Bowl Game, which will feature the top two teams from each conference who failed to make the DIII tournament. It will be held immediately for the 2017 season, on November 18.[4]
  • Maranatha Baptist University announced that it would be dropping its football program on February 17. The school cited the resignation of coach Nate Spate, small roster numbers, and the struggle of filling a schedule as an independent all as factors in the decision.[5]
More information School, 2016 conference ...
School2016 conference2017 conference
Alfred StateIndependentECFC[6]
AustinSCACSAA[7]
BeckerECFCCCC Football[8]
BrevardSAC (D-II)USA South[9]
CatholicODACNEWMAC[10]
ChicagoSAA & UAAMWC[11]
Coast GuardNEFCNEWMAC[12]
CurryNEFCCCC Football[2]
DeanUSCAAECFC[6]
EndicottNEFCCCC Football[2]
Maine MaritimeNEFCNEWMAC[12]
Maranatha BaptistIndependentDropped program
Merchant MarineLiberty LeagueNEWMAC[12]
MITNEFCNEWMAC[12]
NicholsNEFCCCC Football[2]
NorwichECFCNEWMAC[12]
Salve ReginaNEFCCCC Football[2]
SpringfieldLiberty LeagueNEWMAC[12]
SouthwesternSCACASC[13]
Texas LutheranSCACASC[13]
Trinity (TX)SCACSAA[7]
Washington (MO)SAA & UAAUAA only[14]
Western New EnglandNEFCCCC Football[2]
WPILiberty LeagueNEWMAC[12]
Close

A full list of Division III teams can be viewed on the D3football website.[15]

Conference standings

More information Conf., Overall ...
2017 American Southwest Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 2 Mary Hardin–Baylor $^ 9–0  14–1 
No. 11 Hardin–Simmons ^ 8–1  9–2 
East Texas Baptist 6–3  7–3 
Southwestern (TX) 6–3  6–4 
Texas Lutheran 6–3  6–4 
Sul Ross 4–5  5–5 
Louisiana College 2–7  3–7 
McMurry # 2–7  2–8 
Belhaven # 1–8  2–8 
Howard Payne 1–8  1–9 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
  • # – Provisional NCAA Division III member
Rankings from D3football.com
2017 Centennial Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Franklin & Marshall + 8–1  10–1 
No. 20 Johns Hopkins +^ 8–1  9–2 
Muhlenberg 6–3  8–3 
Susquehanna 6–3  8–3 
Ursinus 5–4  6–4 
Dickinson 3–6  3–7 
Gettysburg 3–6  3–7 
Juniata 2–7  3–7 
McDaniel 2–7  3–7 
Moravian 2–7  2–8 
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
Rankings from D3football.com
2017 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 8 North Central (IL) +^ 7–1  10–2 
No. 17 Illinois Wesleyan +^ 7–1  9–2 
No. 22 Wheaton (IL) 6–2  8–2 
Carthage 5–3  7–3 
Millikin 5–3  7–3 
North Park 2–6  3–7 
Elmhurst 2–6  2–8 
Augustana (IL) 1–7  1–9 
Carroll (WI) 1–7  1–9 
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
Rankings from D3football.com
2017 Commonwealth Coast Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Western New England $^ 5–0  8–3 
Curry 4–1  8–3 
Salve Regina 3–2  6–3 
Endicott 2–3  3–7 
Becker 1–4  1–9 
Nichols 0–5  2–8 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
2017 Eastern Collegiate Football Conference standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 25 Husson $^ 7–0  10–2 
Maritime 6–1  9–2 
Castleton 5–2  6–4 
Mount Ida 3–4  4–6 
Gallaudet 3–4  3–7 
Dean # 2–5  4–6 
Alfred State # 1–6  1–9 
Anna Maria 1–6  1–9 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
  • # – Provisional Division III member
Rankings from D3football.com
2017 Empire 8 Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 5 Brockport $^ 7–0  13–1 
Alfred 5–2  8–3 
Cortland 5–2  7–4 
Buffalo State 3–4  6–5 
Morrisville State 2–5  4–6 
Hartwick 2–5  3–7 
Utica 2–5  3–7 
St. John Fisher 2–5  2–8 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2017 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 24 Franklin (IN) $^ 8–0  8–3 
Rose–Hulman 7–1  8–2 
Manchester 5–3  6–4 
Mount St. Joseph 5–3  6–4 
Bluffton 4–4  4–6 
Hanover 4–4  4–6 
Defiance 2–6  2–8 
Anderson (IN) 1–7  1–9 
Earlham 0–8  0–10 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
Rankings from D3football.com
2017 Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 10 Wartburg $^ 8–0  12–1 
Central (IA) 6–2  7–3 
Luther 5–3  6–4 
Dubuque 4–4  6–4 
Simpson (IA) 4–4  5–5 
Loras 3–5  4–6 
Coe 2–6  4–6 
Buena Vista 2–6  2–7 
Nebraska Wesleyan 2–6  2–8 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
Rankings from D3football.com
2017 Liberty League football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Ithaca + 4–1  8–3 
RPI +^ 4–1  8–3 
Hobart 3–2  7–3 
Union (NY) 3–2  7–4 
St. Lawrence 1–4  2–8 
Rochester (NY) 0–5  2–7 
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
2017 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Framingham State + 7–1  10–1 
Plymouth State +^ 7–1  9–2 
Western Connecticut 5–3  7–3 
Worcester State 5–3  6–4 
UMass Dartmouth 4–4  4–6 
Westfield State 3–5  3–7 
Fitchburg State 2–6  3–7 
Bridgewater State 2–6  2–8 
Massachusetts Maritime 1–7  2–8 
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
2017 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 19 Trine $^ 6–0  11–1 
Hope 5–1  8–2 
Adrian 4–2  5–5 
Olivet 3–3  5–5 
Albion 2–4  4–6 
Alma 1–5  4–6 
Kalamazoo 0–6  1–9 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
Rankings from D3football.com
2017 Middle Atlantic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 7 Delaware Valley $^ 9–0  12–1 
Albright 7–2  8–3 
Widener 7–2  7–4 
Stevenson 6–3  6–5 
Lebanon Valley 5–4  5–5 
King's 4–5  5–5 
Lycoming 4–5  5–6 
FDU Florham 2–7  3–7 
Misericordia 1–8  1–9 
Wilkes 0–9  0–10 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
Rankings from D3football.com
2017 Midwest Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
North
St. Norbert xy 5–0  7–3 
Chicago 3–2  6–4 
Macalester 3–2  5–5 
Ripon 3–2  5–5 
Lawrence 1–4  2–8 
Beloit 0–5  1–9 
South
Monmouth (IL) xy$^ 5–0  9–2 
Lake Forest 4–1  8–2 
Illinois College 3–2  5–5 
Cornell (IA) 2–3  4–6 
Knox 1–4  5–5 
Grinnell 0–5  1–9 
Championship: Monmouth 9, St. Norbert 6
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
2017 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 4 St. Thomas (MN) $^ 8–0  11–2 
No. 14 Saint John's (MN) ^ 7–1  9–2 
No. 21 Concordia–Moorhead 6–2  8–2 
Bethel (MN) 5–3  5–5 
Gustavus Adolphus 4–4  5–5 
St. Olaf 3–5  4–6 
Augsburg 2–6  4–6 
Hamline 1–7  2–8 
Carleton 0–8  0–10 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
Rankings from D3football.com
2017 New England Small College Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Trinity (CT) $ 8–1  8–1 
Amherst 7–2  7–2 
Middlebury 7–2  7–2 
Wesleyan 6–3  6–3 
Williams 6–3  6–3 
Tufts 5–4  5–4 
Hamilton 3–6  3–6 
Bates 2–7  2–7 
Colby 1–8  1–8 
Bowdoin 0–9  0–9 
  • $ – Conference champion
2017 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Springfield $^ 7–0  10–1 
WPI 6–1  9–2 
MIT 5–2  7–3 
Merchant Marine 4–3  6–4 
Catholic University 3–4  5–5 
Coast Guard 1–6  3–7 
Maine Maritime 1–6  1–8 
Norwich 1–6  1–9 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
2017 New Jersey Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 12 Wesley $^ 9–0  10–2 
No. 9 Frostburg State ^ 8–1  11–2 
Salisbury 7–2  7–4 
Montclair State 5–4  5–5 
Christopher Newport 4–5  5–5 
Kean 4–5  4–6 
TCNJ 4–5  4–6 
Rowan 3–6  4–6 
Southern Virginia 1–8  2–8 
William Paterson 0–9  0–10 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
Rankings from D3football.com
2017 North Coast Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 18 Wittenberg $^ 9–0  10–1 
DePauw 7–2  8–2 
Wabash 7–2  8–2 
Denison 6–3  7–3 
Wooster 5–4  6–4 
Ohio Wesleyan 5–4  5–5 
Oberlin 3–6  4–6 
Allegheny 2–7  3–7 
Hiram 1–8  2–8 
Kenyon 0–9  0–10 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
Rankings from D3football.com
2017 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Lakeland $^ 6–0  8–3 
Benedictine (IL) 5–1  7–3 
Aurora 4–2  5–5 
Wisconsin Lutheran 3–3  3–7 
Concordia (IL) 1–5  3–6 
Concordia (WI) 1–5  2–8 
Rockford 1–5  1–8 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
2017 Northwest Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 6 Linfield $^ 7–0  9–2 
Whitworth 5–2  8–2 
George Fox 5–2  7–3 
Pacific (OR) 4–3  4–4 
Pacific Lutheran 4–3  4–4 
Puget Sound 2–5  3–6 
Lewis & Clark 1–6  2–7 
Willamette 0–7  0–9 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
Rankings from D3football.com
2017 Ohio Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 1 Mount Union $^ 9–0  15–0 
Heidelberg 6–3  7–3 
Ohio Northern 6–3  7–3 
John Carroll 6–3  6–4 
Baldwin Wallace 5–4  6–4 
Marietta 5–4  6–4 
Otterbein 5–4  6–4 
Muskingum 1–8  2–8 
Wilmington (OH) 1–8  2–8 
Capital 1–8  1–9 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
Rankings from D3football.com
2017 Old Dominion Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Washington and Lee $^ 5–1  8–3 
Randolph–Macon 4–2  7–3 
Hampden–Sydney 4–2  6–4 
Shenandoah 3–3  6–4 
Guilford 3–3  5–5 
Bridgewater 1–5  4–6 
Emory & Henry 1–5  3–7 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
2017 Presidents' Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 13 Case Western Reserve +^ 8–0  11–1 
No. 16 Washington & Jefferson +^ 8–0  11–1 
Westminster (PA) 6–2  7–3 
Carnegie Mellon 5–3  7–4 
Thomas More 5–3  6–4 
Grove City 4–4  4–6 
Geneva 2–6  3–7 
Bethany (WV) 2–6  2–8 
Waynesburg 2–6  2–8 
Saint Vincent 1–7  2–8 
Thiel 1–7  1–9 
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
Rankings from D3football.com
2017 Southern Athletic Association football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 15 Berry $^ 8–0  11–1 
Centre 7–1  9–1 
Hendrix 6–2  8–2 
Trinity (TX) 5–3  6–4 
Rhodes 3–5  4–6 
Birmingham–Southern 2–6  3–7 
Millsaps 2–6  3–7 
Sewanee 2–6  3–7 
Austin 1–7  3–7 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
Rankings from D3football.com
2017 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Chapman $^ 6–0  6–3 
Redlands 5–1  7–2 
Cal Lutheran 3–3  5–3 
Pomona–Pitzer 3–3  4–4 
Claremont–Mudd–Scripps 2–4  4–5 
La Verne 2–4  3–5 
Whittier 0–6  0–8 
Occidental * –  0–3 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
  • * – Occidental canceled six games, and their remaining conference games were not counted in the standings.
2017 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Eureka $^ 8–1  8–3 
MacMurray 7–2  8–2 
St. Scholastica 7–2  7–3 
Northwestern (MN) 6–3  6–4 
Westminster (MO) 6–3  6–4 
Martin Luther 4–5  5–5 
Greenville 4–5  4–6 
Iowa Wesleyan # 2–7  2–8 
Minnesota–Morris 1–8  1–9 
Crown 0–9  0–10 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
  • # – Provisional NCAA Division III member
2017 USA South Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Huntingdon $^ 7–0  9–2 
Ferrum 5–2  8–2 
Averett 5–2  6–4 
Maryville (TN) 3–4  5–5 
LaGrange 3–4  4–6 
North Carolina Wesleyan 3–4  3–7 
Methodist 2–5  2–8 
Greensboro 0–7  1–9 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
2017 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 3 Wisconsin–Oshkosh $^ 7–0  12–1 
No. 23 Wisconsin–Whitewater 6–1  7–3 
No. 24 Wisconsin–La Crosse 5–2  8–2 
Wisconsin–Platteville 4–3  7–3 
Wisconsin–Stout 3–4  5–4 
Wisconsin–River Falls 2–5  4–6 
Wisconsin–Stevens Point 1–6  4–6 
Wisconsin–Eau Claire 0–7  1–9 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
Rankings from D3football.com
2017 NCAA Division III independents football records
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Brevard # –  4–6 
Finlandia –  3–3 
Washington University –  3–6 
  • # – Provisional Division III member
Close

Preseason

Overseas exhibition games

Because Division III football teams do not award scholarships, they are permitted by NCAA rules to occasionally travel outside the United States to tour and play exhibition matches. Several teams took off-season trips in late spring 2017 and played primarily non-college club teams, with the exception of Illinois Wesleyan, who played a Japanese college team.[16] All of the games were won by the Division III schools, which are displayed in bold.

More information Date, Location ...
Date Location NCAA DIII Team Hosting Team Score
May 20, 2017 Milngavie, Scotland, UK CMS East Kilbride Pirates
(BAFA Premier)		 73–6
May 21, 2017 Ferrara, Italy Southwestern Ferrara Aquile
(IFL)		 94–0
May 21, 2017 Shanghai, China Puget Sound Shanghai Titans
(AFCL)		 84–6
May 27, 2017 Barcelona, Spain John Carroll Senior Spanish League All-Stars
(LNFA)		 91–7
May 27, 2017 Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK Centre Belfast Trojans
(IAFL)		 47–0
June 3, 2017 Landsberg, Germany Rose-Hulman Landsberg X-Press
(Regionalliga South)		 82–0
June 4, 2017 Tokyo, Japan Illinois Wesleyan Waseda
(KCFA)		 33–6
Close


Postseason

Twenty-five conferences met the requirements for an automatic ("Pool A") bid to the playoffs. Besides the NESCAC, which does not participate in the playoffs, two conferences had no Pool A bid. The American Southwest, which had fallen below the required seven members in 2013 and lost its Pool A bid after the two-year grace period, was in the second year of the two-year waiting period, having attained seven members in 2016; the NEWMAC, having just begun football sponsorship, was in the first year of the waiting period. Despite losing three members, the Liberty League retained its Pool A bid, but entered the grace period.

Schools not in Pool A conferences were eligible for Pool B. The number of Pool B bids was determined by calculating the ratio of Pool A conferences to schools in those conferences and applying that ratio to the number of Pool B schools. The 25 Pool A conferences contained 215 schools, an average of 8.6 teams per conference. Eighteen schools were in Pool B, enough for two bids.

The remaining five playoff spots were at-large ("Pool C") teams.

Playoff bracket

See also: NCAA Division III Football Championship
First round
November 18, 2017 		Second round
November 25, 2017 		Quarterfinals
December 2, 2017 		Semifinals
December 9, 2017 		Championship
Stagg Bowl
December 15, 2017
Salem Football Stadium
Salem, Virginia
Wisconsin-Oshkosh* 63
Lakeland 0 Wisconsin–Oshkosh* 42
North Central (IL)* 17 North Central 21
St. John's (MN) 7 Wisconsin-Oshkosh 41
Wartburg* 35† Wartburg 27
Franklin 34 Wartburg* 49
Trine* 63 Trine 7
Monmouth (IL) 24 Wisconsin-Oshkosh 40
Mount Union* 21 Mount Union 43
Washington & Lee 0 Mount Union* 45
Illinois Wesleyan* 0 Case Western Reserve 16
Case Western Reserve 28 Mount Union 70
Washington & Jefferson 31 Frostburg State 37
Johns Hopkins 28 Washington & Jefferson 23
Wittenberg 7 Frostburg State 46
Frostburg State 35 Mount Union 12
Mary Hardin-Baylor 50 Mary Hardin-Baylor 0
Chapman 6 Mary Hardin-Baylor 24
Linfield 27 Linfield 0
Hardin-Simmons 13 Mary Hardin-Baylor 24
St. Thomas (MN) 47 St. Thomas (MN) 10
Eureka 8 St. Thomas (MN) 29
Berry 34 Berry 13
Huntingdon 20 Mary Hardin-Baylor 24
Delaware Valley 35 Brockport 0
Western New England 0 Delaware Valley 37
Springfield 21 Husson 15
Husson 23 Delaware Valley 28
Brockport 66 Brockport 31
Plymouth State 0 Brockport 49
Wesley 45 Wesley 28
Rensselaer 27

* Home team    † Overtime    Winner

Bowl games

More information Date, Bowl ...
Date Bowl Location Home team Away team Score
Nov. 17, 2017 ECAC Chapman Bowl Delaware Stadium
Newark, DE		 Merchant Marine Buffalo State 35–20
Nov. 18, 2017 Centennial-MAC Bowl Series Shadek Stadium
Lancaster, PA		 Franklin & Marshall Widener 21–7
Centennial-MAC Bowl Series Shirk Stadium
Reading, PA		 Albright Susquehanna 28–9
ECAC Bushnell Bowl Delaware Stadium
Newark, DE		 Muhlenberg Carnegie Mellon 36–6
ECAC Whitelaw Bowl Delaware Stadium
Newark, DE		 Salisbury Ithaca 27–17
New England Bowl Series Bowditch Field
Framingham, MA		 Framingham State Curry 48–14
New England Bowl Series Alumni Stadium
Worcester, MA		 WPI SUNY Maritime 17–3
New York Bowl Frank Bailey Field
Schenectady, NY		 Union (NY) SUNY Cortland 35–28
Nov. 19, 2017 ECAC Lynah Bowl Delaware Stadium
Newark, DE		 Stevenson Alfred 29–16
Close

See also

References

Related Articles

Timelines

Top Qs

Fact Checks