2015 NCAA Division II football season

2015 NCAA Division II football season
Regular season	September 4 – November 14, 2015
Playoffs	November 21 – December 19, 2015
National Championship	Children's Mercy Park, Kansas City, KS December 19, 2015
Champion	Northwest Missouri State
Harlon Hill Trophy	Jason Vander Laan, Ferris State

The 2015 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, began on September 4, 2015 and ended with the NCAA Division II Football Championship on December 19, 2015 at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas. Northwest Missouri State won its second national title in three seasons and fifth overall, defeating Shepherd, 34–7.

Conference changes and new programs

School	Former conference	New conference
McMurry War Hawks	Lone Star	American Southwest (D-III)
Oklahoma Baptist Bison	CSFL (NAIA)	Great American
Paine Lions	SIAC	Dropped program

Northwestern Oklahoma State and Virginia–Wise completed their transitions to Division II and became eligible for the postseason.

Conference standings

Super Region 1

2015 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Northern Bowie State xy^   7 – 0     9 – 3   Virginia Union ^   6 – 1     8 – 2   Chowan   4 – 3     6 – 4   Virginia State   4 – 3     6 – 4   Elizabeth City State   2 – 5     4 – 5   Lincoln (PA)   1 – 6     3 – 7   Southern Winston-Salem St. xy$   5 – 2     6 – 5   Livingstone   4 – 3     5 – 3   Johnson C. Smith   3 – 4     4 – 6   Fayetteville State   4 – 3     4 – 6   Shaw   1 – 6     1 – 9   St. Augustine's   1 – 6     1 – 9   Championship: Winston–Salem St. 17, Bowie St. 14 $ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll	2015 Mountain East Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 2 Shepherd $^   10 – 0     13 – 1   No. 20 Charleston (WV) ^   9 – 1     10 – 2   Glenville State   6 – 4     7 – 4   Fairmont State   6 – 4     6 – 4   Concord   5 – 5     5 – 5   Notre Dame (OH)   5 – 5     5 – 6   West Liberty   5 – 5     5 – 6   West Virginia State   5 – 5     5 – 6   West Virginia Wesleyan   2 – 8     2 – 8   Urbana   1 – 9     2 – 9   Virginia–Wise   1 – 9     1 – 10   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA poll	2015 Northeast-10 Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 17 Assumption y$^   8 – 1     11 – 2   New Haven y   7 – 2     7 – 4   Merrimack   6 – 3     6 – 5   LIU Post   5 – 4     7 – 4   Stonehill   5 – 4     7 – 4   Bentley   5 – 4     5 – 6   American International   4 – 5     4 – 7   Southern Connecticut   3 – 6     4 – 7   Saint Anselm   2 – 7     3 – 8   Pace   0 – 9     1 – 10   Championship: Assumption 17, New Haven 14 $ – Conference champion y – Championship game participant ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA poll
2015 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   East West Chester xy   6 – 1     7 – 4   Shippensburg   5 – 2     8 – 3   Bloomsburg   5 – 2     7 – 4   Kutztown   5 – 2     7 – 4   East Stroudsburg   4 – 3     6 – 5   Lock Haven   2 – 5     2 – 9   Millersville   1 – 6     2 – 9   Cheyney   0 – 7     0 – 11   West No. 7 Slippery Rock xy$^   6 – 1     11 – 1   No. 19 IUP x^   6 – 1     9 – 2   California (PA)   5 – 2     8 – 3   Clarion   4 – 3     7 – 4   Gannon   3 – 4     6 – 5   Mercyhurst   2 – 5     5 – 6   Seton Hill   2 – 5     3 – 8   Edinboro   0 – 7     0 – 11   Championship: Slippery Rock 61, West Chester 12 $ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA poll

Super Region 2

2015 Gulf South Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 3 West Georgia +^   6 – 1     12 – 2   No. 15 North Alabama +^   6 – 1     9 – 3   No. 14 Valdosta State ^   5 – 2     9 – 3   Florida Tech   5 – 2     7 – 4   West Alabama   3 – 4     7 – 4   Delta State   2 – 5     6 – 5   Shorter   1 – 6     2 – 8   Mississippi College #   0 – 7     2 – 8   + – Conference co-champions ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Provisional Division II member Rankings from AFCA Poll	2015 South Atlantic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 25 Catawba $^   6 – 1     9 – 3   No. 21 Carson–Newman ^   5 – 2     9 – 3   Mars Hill   5 – 2     6 – 5   Newberry ^   4 – 3     7 – 5   Wingate   3 – 4     6 – 5   Lenoir–Rhyne   3 – 4     5 – 5   Tusculum   2 – 5     4 – 7   Brevard   0 – 7     0 – 11   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll	2015 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   East Albany State xy   4 – 0     6 – 4   Fort Valley State   3 – 1     5 – 4   Morehouse   2 – 2     5 – 5   Clark Atlanta   1 – 3     1 – 8   Benedict   0 – 4     0 – 10   West Miles xy$   5 – 0     7 – 5   No. 11 Tuskegee ^   4 – 1     10 – 3   Central State (OH)   2 – 3     5 – 5   Kentucky State   2 – 3     3 – 7   Stillman   1 – 4     3 – 6   Lane   1 – 4     3 – 7   Championship: Miles 20, Albany State 7 $ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll
2015 NCAA Division II Super Region 2 independents football records Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   North Greenville   –     7 – 3   UNC Pembroke   –     6 – 4   Limestone   –     2 – 8   Rankings from AFCA Poll

Super Region 3

2015 Great American Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 12 Henderson St. $^   10 – 1     11 – 2   SW Oklahoma State #   8 – 3     8 – 4   Arkansas Tech #   8 – 3     9 – 3   Harding   7 – 4     7 – 4   Ouachita Baptist   7 – 4     7 – 4   Southern Arkansas   7 – 4     7 – 4   SE Oklahoma State   6 – 5     6 – 5   East Central   6 – 5     6 – 5   NW Oklahoma State   3 – 8     3 – 8   Oklahoma Baptist @   2 – 9     2 – 9   Arkansas–Monticello   1 – 10     1 – 10   Southern Nazarene   1 – 10     1 – 10   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – bowl participant (Arkansas Tech - C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl, SWOSU - Live United Texarkana Bowl @ – Provisional Division II member Rankings from AFCA Poll	2015 Great Northwest Athletic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 16 Humboldt State $^   6 – 0     10 – 2   Western Oregon   5 – 1     7 – 4   Azusa Pacific   3 – 3     6 – 4   Central Washington   3 – 3     5 – 5   South Dakota Mines   2 – 4     6 – 5   Dixie State   2 – 4     3 – 7   Simon Fraser   0 – 6     0 – 9   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll	2015 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 1 NW Missouri State $^   11 – 0     15 – 0   No. 8 Emporia State ^   9 – 2     11 – 3   Central Missouri   8 – 3     8 – 3   Fort Hays State #   8 – 3     8 – 4   Central Oklahoma #   6 – 5     7 – 5   Missouri Western   6 – 5     6 – 5   Pittsburg State   6 – 5     6 – 5   Washburn   5 – 6     5 – 6   Lindenwood   3 – 8     3 – 8   Northeastern State   3 – 8     3 – 8   Missouri Southern   1 – 10     1 – 10   Nebraska–Kearney   0 – 11     0 – 11   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – bowl participant (Fort Hays State - Mineral Water Bowl, Central Oklahoma - Live United Texarkana Bowl) Rankings from AFCA Poll
2015 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   North Minnesota–Duluth #   8 – 3     9 – 3   Bemidji State   7 – 4     7 – 4   Northern State   6 – 5     6 – 5   St. Cloud State   6 – 5     6 – 5   MSU Moorhead   6 – 5     6 – 5   Minot State   1 – 10     1 – 10   Mary   1 – 10     1 – 10   Minnesota–Crookston   1 – 10     1 – 10   South No. 13 Minnesota State $^   10 – 1     10 – 2   No. 24 Augustana (SD) ^   9 – 2     9 – 3   No. 22 Sioux Falls ^   9 – 2     9 – 3   SW Minnesota State   8 – 3     8 – 3   Upper Iowa   6 – 5     6 – 5   Winona State   5 – 6     5 – 6   Wayne State (NE)   4 – 7     4 – 7   Concordia–St. Paul   1 – 10     1 – 10   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Mineral Water Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll

Super Region 4

2015 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 6 Ferris State +^   10 – 0     11 – 1   No. 10 Ashland +^   10 – 0     10 – 1   No. 4 Grand Valley State ^   8 – 2     12 – 3   Ohio Dominican   7 – 3     8 – 3   Michigan Tech   7 – 3     7 – 3   Findlay   5 – 5     6 – 5   Wayne State (MI)   5 – 5     6 – 5   Hillsdale   5 – 5     5 – 6   Northwood   5 – 5     5 – 6   Northern Michigan   4 – 6     5 – 6   Tiffin   4 – 6     5 – 6   Walsh   2 – 8     2 – 8   Lake Erie   2 – 8     2 – 9   Saginaw Valley State   1 – 9     1 – 10   Malone   0 – 10     0 – 10   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA poll	2015 Great Lakes Valley Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 18 Indianapolis $^   8 – 0     10 – 2   McKendree   6 – 2     8 – 2   Missouri S&T   5 – 3     5 – 5   Truman State   4 – 4     5 – 6   William Jewell   4 – 4     4 – 7   Saint Joseph's (IN)   3 – 5     4 – 6   Southwest Baptist   3 – 5     4 – 6   Quincy   3 – 5     3 – 7   Lincoln (MO)   0 – 8     1 – 10   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll	2015 Lone Star Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 23 Texas A&M–Commerce $^   6 – 0     8 – 4   No. 9 Midwestern State ^   5 – 1     10 – 2   Angelo State   3 – 3     7 – 4   West Texas A&M   3 – 3     6 – 4   Eastern New Mexico #   3 – 3     6 – 6   Tarleton State   1 – 5     3 – 7   Texas A&M–Kingsville   0 – 6     2 – 9   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA poll
2015 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 5 CSU Pueblo $^   9 – 0     12 – 2   Colorado Mesa   8 – 1     9 – 2   Colorado Mines   6 – 3     8 – 3   Fort Lewis   6 – 3     7 – 4   Chadron State   4 – 5     5 – 6   Western State   4 – 5     4 – 7   Western New Mexico   3 – 6     4 – 7   Adams State   3 – 6     3 – 8   New Mexico Highlands   2 – 7     2 – 9   Black Hills State   0 – 9     0 – 11   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll	2015 NCAA Division II Super Region 4 independents football records Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Alderson Broaddus   –     7 – 4   OK Panhandle State   –     5 – 5   Kentucky Wesleyan   –     5 – 6   Rankings from AFCA Poll

Postseason

The 2015 NCAA Division II Football Championship Postseason involved 28 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division II college football. Miles College, the SIAC champion, was not eligible to postseason due to its participation to the 2015 Turkey Day Classic against Alabama State (FCS).

Playoff bracket

	First round November 21, 2015					Second round November 28, 2015					Quarterfinals December 5, 2015					Semifinals December 12, 2015					Championship December 19, 2015
						1	Shepherd*	17
						5	IUP	13
	4	Charleston (WV)*	21
	5	IUP	47
											1	Shepherd*	28
											2	Slippery Rock	16
	2	Slippery Rock*	40
	7	Virginia Union	21
						2	Slippery Rock*	41
						3	Assumption	39
	3	Assumption*	51
	6	Bowie State	29
																1	Shepherd*	34
																6	Grand Valley State	32
						1	Midwestern State*	17
						4	CSU Pueblo	26
	4	CSU Pueblo*	27
	5	Indianapolis	14
											4	CSU Pueblo*	7
											6	Grand Valley State	31
	2	Ferris State*	48
	7	Texas A&M–Commerce	30
						2	Ferris State*	34
						6	Grand Valley State	38
	3	Ashland*	28
	6	Grand Valley State	45
																					1	Shepherd	7
																					1	NW Missouri State	34
						1	West Georgia*	27
						4	Valdosta State	20
	4	Valdosta State*	61
	5	Carson–Newman	59
											1	West Georgia*	35
											6	Tuskegee	6
	2	North Alabama*	50
	7	Newberry	7
						2	North Alabama*	31
						6	Tuskegee	35
	3	Catawba*	16
	6	Tuskegee	26
																1	West Georgia	23
																1	NW Missouri State*	38
						1	NW Missouri State*	54
						4	Humboldt State	7
	4	Humboldt State*	45
	5	Augustana (SD)	31
											1	NW Missouri State*	38
											7	Emporia State	17
	2	Minnesota State*	49
	7	Emporia State	51
						7	Emporia State	29
						3	Henderson State*	3
	3	Henderson State*	23
	6	Sioux Falls	16

* Home team    † Overtime    Winner

See also

• 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season
• 2015 NCAA Division I FCS football season
• 2015 NCAA Division III football season
• 2015 NAIA football season