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2026 NCAA Division II football season

American college football season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2026 NCAA Division II football season, part of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level, began on August 27 and will end on December 19 with the Division II championship at the McKinney Independent School District Stadium in McKinney, Texas.

Total No. of teams160
Regular seasonAugust 27 – November 14, 2026
PlayoffsNovember 21 – December 19, 2026
National ChampionshipMcKinney Independent School District Stadium
McKinney, TX
December 19, 2026
Quick facts Total No. of teams, Regular season ...
2026 NCAA Division II football season
Total No. of teams160
Regular seasonAugust 27 – November 14, 2026
PlayoffsNovember 21 – December 19, 2026
National ChampionshipMcKinney Independent School District Stadium
McKinney, TX
December 19, 2026
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Conference changes and new programs

More information School, Former conference ...
SchoolFormer conferenceNew conferenceRef
West Florida ArgonautsGulf SouthUAC (FCS)[1]
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Headlines

  • April 2 – After falling below the minimum required number of football-sponsoring members, the Gulf South Conference lost automatic qualification status for the NCAA Division II football championship, beginning in the fall of 2026. A request for a waiver for the requirement was denied by the NCAA Division II Championship Committee.[2][3]
  • August 29 – Shortly after scoring a touchdown for William Jewell in the first quarter of the Cardinals' game against Fort Lewis, running back MicahJo Barnett had a medical emergency on the sideline and was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The game was suspended with William Jewell leading 7–0.[4]

Rankings

Main article: 2026 NCAA Division II football rankings

Conference standings

Super Region 1

More information Conf., Overall ...
2026 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Fayetteville State 1–0  1–0 
Virginia State 0–0  1–0 
Bowie State 0–0  0–0 
Lincoln (PA) 0–0  0–0 
Bluefield State 0–0  0–1 
Elizabeth City State 0–0  0–1 
Johnson C. Smith 0–0  0–1 
Livingstone 0–0  0–1 
Virginia Union 0–0  0–1 
Winston-Salem State 0–0  0–1 
Shaw 0–1  0–1 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • y – Championship game participant
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
As of August 28, 2026
Rankings from AFCA poll
2026 Mountain East Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Concord 0–0  1–0 
West Virginia State 0–0  1–0 
West Virginia Wesleyan 0–0  1–0 
Wheeling 0–0  1–0 
No. 14 Frostburg State 0–0  0–0 
Charleston (WV) 0–0  0–1 
Fairmont State 0–0  0–1 
Glenville State 0–0  0–1 
West Liberty 0–0  0–1 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
As of August 27, 2026
Rankings from AFCA poll
2026 Northeast-10 Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
American International 0–0  1–0 
Assumption 0–0  0–0 
Bentley 0–0  0–0 
Franklin Pierce 0–0  0–0 
Pace 0–0  0–0 
Saint Anselm 0–0  0–0 
Southern Connecticut 0–0  0–0 
Post 0–0  0–1 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA poll
2026 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
East Stroudsburg 0–0  1–0 
Bloomsburg 0–0  0–0 
No. 3 Kutztown 0–0  0–0 
Millersville 0–0  0–0 
Shepherd 0–0  0–0 
West Chester 0–0  0–0 
Shippensburg 0–0  0–1 
West Division
Lock Haven 0–0  1–0 
No. 18 Slippery Rock 0–0  1–0 
California (PA) 0–0  0–0 
Clarion 0–0  0–0 
Edinboro 0–0  0–0 
No. 22 IUP 0–0  0–0 
Gannon 0–0  0–1 
Seton Hill 0–0  0–1 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
As of August 27, 2026
Rankings from AFCA poll
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Super Region 2

More information Conf., Overall ...
2026 Conference Carolinas football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Erskine 0–0  1–0 
Shorter 0–0  1–0 
UNC Pembroke 0–0  1–0 
North Greenville 0–0  0–0 
Barton 0–0  0–1 
Chowan 0–0  0–1 
Ferrum* 0–0  0–1 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • y – Championship game participant
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
  • * – Ferrum ineligible for postseason play due to transition from NCAA Division III
Rankings from AFCA poll
2026 Gulf South Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 23 Valdosta State 0–0  1–0 
West Alabama 0–0  1–0 
Delta State 0–0  0–1 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA poll
2026 South Atlantic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Carson–Newman 0–0  1–0 
No. 21 Lenoir–Rhyne 0–0  1–0 
Tusculum 0–0  1–0 
Catawba 0–0  0–0 
Mars Hill 0–0  0–0 
Newberry 0–0  0–0 
Anderson (SC) 0–0  0–1 
Emory & Henry 0–0  0–1 
UVA Wise 0–0  0–1 
Wingate 0–0  0–1 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
As of August 27, 2026
Rankings from AFCA poll
2026 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Kentucky State 1–0  1–0 
Allen 0–0  1–0 
Benedict 0–0  1–0 
Edward Waters 0–0  1–0 
Fort Valley State 0–0  1–0 
Albany State 0–0  0–1 
Clark Atlanta 0–0  0–1 
Lane 0–0  0–1 
Miles 0–0  0–1 
Morehouse 0–0  0–1 
Savannah State 0–0  0–1 
Tuskegee 0–0  0–1 
Central State (OH) 0–1  0–1 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • y – Championship game participant
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA poll
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Super Region 3

More information Conf., Overall ...
2026 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 1 Ferris State 0–0  1–0 
No. 7 Grand Valley State 0–0  1–0 
Saginaw Valley State 0–0  1–0 
Michigan Tech 0–0  1–0 
Davenport 0–0  0–0 
Roosevelt 0–0  0–0 
Wayne State (MI) 0–0  0–0 
Northern Michigan 0–0  0–1 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA poll
2026 Great Lakes Valley Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 9 Indianapolis 0–0  1–0 
Lincoln (MO) 0–0  1–0 
Southwest Baptist 0–0  1–0 
Upper Iowa 0–0  1–0 
Missouri S&T 0–0  0–0 
William Jewell 0–0  0–0 
McKendree 0–0  0–1 
Quincy 0–0  0–1 
Truman 0–0  0–1 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
  • # – Albanese Candy Bowl participant
Rankings from AFCA poll
2026 Great Midwest Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Ohio Dominican 0–0  1–0 
Walsh 0–0  1–0 
No. 12 Ashland 0–0  0–0 
No. 15 Findlay 0–0  0–0 
Hillsdale 0–0  0–0 
Lake Erie 0–0  0–0 
Northwood 0–0  0–0 
Kentucky Wesleyan 0–0  0–1 
Thomas More 0–0  0–1 
Tiffin 0–0  0–1 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
  • # – Albanese Candy Bowl participant
Rankings from AFCA poll
2026 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
North
Mary 0–0  1–0 
MSU Moorhead 0–0  1–0 
Northern State 0–0  1–0 
Bemidji State 0–0  0–1 
Jamestown 0–0  0–1 
No. 19 Minnesota Duluth 0–0  0–1 
Minot State 0–0  0–1 
South
No. 16 Augustana (SD) 0–0  1–0 
Concordia–St. Paul 0–0  1–0 
No. 4 Minnesota State 0–0  1–0 
SW Minnesota State 0–0  1–0 
Wayne State (NE) 0–0  1–0 
Sioux Falls 0–0  0–1 
Winona State 0–0  0–1 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA poll
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Super Region 4

More information Conf., Overall ...
2026 Great American Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Arkansas–Monticello 0–0  0–0 
Arkansas Tech 0–0  0–0 
East Central 0–0  0–0 
No. 2 Harding 0–0  0–0 
Henderson State 0–0  0–0 
NW Oklahoma State 0–0  0–0 
Oklahoma Baptist 0–0  0–0 
No. 20 Ouachita Baptist 0–0  0–0 
SE Oklahoma State 0–0  0–0 
Southern Arkansas 0–0  0–0 
Southern Nazarene 0–0  0–0 
SW Oklahoma State 0–0  0–0 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA poll
2026 Lone Star Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Midwestern State 0–0  1–0 
No. 17 Western Oregon 0–0  1–0 
Western New Mexico 0–0  1–1 
No. 6 Central Washington 0–0  0–0 
Eastern New Mexico 0–0  0–1 
Sul Ross 0–0  0–1 
Texas A&M–Kingsville 0–0  0–1 
UT Permian Basin 0–0  0–1 
Angelo State 0–0  0–2 
West Texas A&M 0–0  0–2 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
  • # – Heritage Bowl participant
Rankings from AFCA poll
2026 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Central Oklahoma 0–0  1–0 
Emporia State 0–0  1–0 
No. 25 Fort Hays State 0–0  1–0 
No. 8 NW Missouri State 0–0  1–0 
Washburn 0–0  1–0 
Central Missouri 0–0  0–1 
Missouri Southern 0–0  0–1 
Missouri Western 0–0  0–1 
Nebraska–Kearney 0–0  0–1 
No. 10 Pittsburg State 0–0  0–1 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2026 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Black Hills State 0–0  1–0 
No. 5 CSU Pueblo 0–0  1–0 
New Mexico Highlands 0–0  1–0 
South Dakota Mines 0–0  1–0 
No. 11 Western Colorado 0–0  1–0 
Fort Lewis 0–0  0–0 
Adams State 0–0  0–1 
Chadron State 0–0  0–1 
Colorado Mesa 0–0  0–1 
Colorado Mines 0–0  0–1 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA poll
2026 NCAA Division II independents football records
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 24 Northeastern State –  1–0 
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Postseason

See also: List of NCAA Division II Football Championship appearances by team
More information Automatic bids, Super Region ...
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Bracket

Host team indicated either by higher seed or * where applicable.

Super Region 1

First Round
November 21, 2026
Campus sites 		Second Round
November 28, 2026
Campus sites 		Quarterfinals
December 5, 2026
Campus sites
         
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Super Region 2

First Round
November 21, 2026
Campus sites 		Second Round
November 28, 2026
Campus sites 		Quarterfinals
December 5, 2026
Campus sites
         
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Super Region 3

First Round
November 21, 2026
Campus sites 		Second Round
November 28, 2026
Campus sites 		Quarterfinals
December 5, 2026
Campus sites
         
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Super Region 4

First Round
November 21, 2026
Campus sites 		Second Round
November 28, 2026
Campus sites 		Quarterfinals
December 5, 2026
Campus sites
         
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Semifinals & Championship

Teams are re-seeded prior to semifinals.

Semifinals
December 12, 2026
Hosted by higher seeded team 		Championship
December 19, 2026
McKinney, Texas
      
 
 
 
 
 
 

Coaching changes

Preseason and in-season

This is restricted to coaching changes that took place on or after May 1, 2026, and will include any changes announced after a team's last regularly scheduled games but before its playoff games.

More information School, Outgoing coach ...
School Outgoing coach Date Reason Replacement Previous position
Jamestown Brian Mistro June 8, 2026 Resigned (became school's athletic director)[5] Tom Dosch Jamestown associate head coach and special teams coordinator (2025)
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See also

References

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