1997 NCAA Division II football season

The 1997 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 6, 1997, and concluded with the NCAA Division II Football Championship on December 13, 1997, at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama, hosted by the University of North Alabama.

1997 NCAA Division II football season
Regular season	September 6 – November 15, 1997
Playoffs	November 22 – December 13, 1997
National Championship	Braly Municipal Stadium Florence, AL
Champion	Northern Colorado
Harlon Hill Trophy	Irvin Singler, Bloomsburg

Northern Colorado defeated New Haven in the championship game, 51–0, to win their second Division II national title.

The Harlon Hill Trophy was awarded to Irvin Sigler, running back from Bloomsburg.

Conference changes and new programs

Team	1996 conference	1997 conference
Chico State	NCAC	dropped program
East Central	Oklahoma Intercollegiate (NAIA)	Lone Star
Elon	South Atlantic	Independent
Harding	Independent (NAIA)	Lone Star
Humboldt State	NCAC	Columbia (NAIA)
Mississippi College	Independent	American Southwest (D-III)
Norfolk State	Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association	NCAA Division I-AA independent
Northeastern State	Oklahoma Intercollegiate (NAIA)	Lone Star
Ouachita Baptist	Independent (NAIA)	Lone Star
Sonoma State	NCAC	dropped program
Southeastern Oklahoma State	Oklahoma Intercollegiate (NAIA)	Lone Star
Southwestern Oklahoma State	Oklahoma Intercollegiate (NAIA)	Lone Star

Conference standings

1997 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Virginia State +   5 – 2     8 – 2   Livingstone +   5 – 2     8 – 3   Virginia Union +   5 – 2     7 – 4   Winston-Salem State   4 – 3     6 – 4   North Carolina Central   4 – 3     4 – 7   Fayetteville State   3 – 4     4 – 7   Bowie State   2 – 5     4 – 6   Elizabeth City State   1 – 6     2 – 8   Johnson C. Smith   1 – 6     2 – 8   + – Conference co-champions Livingstone forfeited conference wins over Virginia Union and Bowie State.	1997 Columbia Football Association standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 13 Western Oregon $^   4 – 1     7 – 3   Central Washington   3 – 2     5 – 4   Southern Oregon   3 – 2     5 – 4   Western Washington   3 – 2     5 – 5   Simon Fraser   1 – 4     2 – 7   Humboldt State   1 – 4     2 – 8   $ – Conference champion ^ – NAIA playoff participant Rankings from NAIA poll	1997 Eastern Football Conference standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Atlantic Division Albany xy$   8 – 0     11 – 1   Southern Connecticut   6 – 2     7 – 4   C. W. Post   5 – 3     6 – 4   Stony Brook   4 – 4     4 – 6   Pace   3 – 4     4 – 5   Sacred Heart   1 – 7     1 – 9   Bay State Division American International xy   8 – 0     8 – 4   Bentley   5 – 3     6 – 3   Stonehill   3 – 5     4 – 6   Merrimack   3 – 5     3 – 6   UMass Lowell   1 – 7     2 – 8   Assumption   0 – 7     0 – 9   Championship: Albany 27, American International 20 $ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant
1997 Gulf South Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 10 Southern Arkansas +^   6 – 1     9 – 2   West Georgia +   6 – 1     8 – 2   No. 13 North Alabama   6 – 2     9 – 3   Central Arkansas   5 – 3     6 – 3   Valdosta State   5 – 3     6 – 5   Arkansas Tech   4 – 4     4 – 7   Henderson State   3 – 5     4 – 6   Delta State   3 – 6     3 – 7   West Alabama   1 – 6     4 – 6   Arkansas–Monticello   0 – 8     0 – 10   + – Conference co-champions ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from NCAA Division II Football Committee poll	1997 Lone Star Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Overall No. 4 Texas A&M–Kingsville $^   9 – 0     9 – 2   No. 6 Angelo State ^   8 – 1     10 – 2   Central Oklahoma   7 – 2     9 – 2   West Texas A&M   6 – 3     7 – 4   SW Oklahoma State   5 – 4     5 – 5   Abilene Christian   5 – 4     7 – 4   Northeastern State   4 – 4     4 – 7   SE Oklahoma State   3 – 5     3 – 7   Harding   3 – 5     5 – 5   Ouachita Baptist   3 – 5     4 – 6   Texas A&M–Commerce   3 – 6     3 – 8   Eastern New Mexico   3 – 6     5 – 6   Midwestern State   3 – 6     3 – 7   Tarleton State   3 – 6     4 – 7   East Central   0 – 8     0 – 10   North Central Oklahoma x   5 – 1     9 – 2   SW Oklahoma State x   5 – 1     5 – 5   Northeastern State   4 – 2     4 – 7   Harding   3 – 3     5 – 5   Ouachita Baptist   3 – 3     4 – 6   SE Oklahoma State   1 – 5     3 – 7   East Central   0 – 6     0 – 10   South No. 4 Texas A&M–Kingsville x$^   7 – 0     9 – 2   No. 6 Angelo State ^   6 – 1     10 – 2   Abilene Christian   4 – 3     7 – 4   West Texas A&M   4 – 3     7 – 4   Eastern New Mexico   2 – 5     5 – 6   Tarleton State   2 – 5     4 – 7   Texas A&M–Commerce   3 – 5     3 – 8   Midwestern State   1 – 6     3 – 7   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from NCAA Division II Football Committee poll	1997 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 3 NW Missouri State $^   9 – 0     12 – 1   No. 8 Pittsburg State ^   8 – 1     9 – 2   Missouri Southern   6 – 3     7 – 3   Truman State   6 – 3     6 – 4   Emporia State   5 – 4     7 – 4   Central Missouri State   4 – 5     5 – 6   Missouri Western   3 – 6     5 – 6   Washburn   2 – 7     3 – 8   Missouri–Rolla   2 – 7     3 – 8   Southwest Baptist   0 – 9     0 – 10   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from NCAA Division II Football Committee poll
1997 Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Ashland +^   9 – 1     9 – 2   Grand Valley State +   9 – 1     9 – 1   Saginaw Valley State   8 – 2     9 – 2   Indianapolis   7 – 3     8 – 3   Northern Michigan   6 – 4     7 – 4   Hillsdale   4 – 6     4 – 7   Ferris State   3 – 7     3 – 7   Northwood   3 – 7     3 – 7   Wayne State (MI)   3 – 7     3 – 8   Michigan Tech   2 – 8     2 – 8   St. Francis (IL)   1 – 9     1 – 9   + – Conference co-champions ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant	1997 North Central Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 11 Northern Colorado $^   8 – 1     13 – 2   North Dakota   7 – 2     8 – 2   No. 16 North Dakota State ^   7 – 2     9 – 3   Nebraska–Omaha   6 – 3     8 – 3   St. Cloud State   5 – 4     6 – 5   South Dakota   3 – 6     5 – 6   Augustana (SD)   3 – 6     5 – 6   Mankato State   3 – 6     4 – 7   South Dakota State   3 – 6     4 – 6   Morningside   0 – 9     0 – 11   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from NCAA Division II Football Committee poll	1997 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Winona State $   6 – 0     9 – 2   Minnesota Duluth   4 – 2     4 – 6   Southwest State (MN)   3 – 3     5 – 6   Moorhead State   3 – 3     5 – 5   Northern State   3 – 3     4 – 7   Minnesota Morris   1 – 5     3 – 7   Bemidji State   1 – 5     2 – 8   $ – Conference champion
1997 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   East Division Bloomsburg x   6 – 0     8 – 2   Millersville   4 – 2     7 – 3   West Chester   4 – 2     5 – 6   Kutztown   3 – 3     6 – 4   East Stroudsburg   3 – 3     4 – 6   Mansfield   1 – 5     1 – 10   Cheyney   0 – 6     0 – 11   West Division No. 7 Slippery Rock x^   6 – 0     11 – 2   Shippensburg   4 – 2     6 – 4   IUP   4 – 2     5 – 5   Edinboro   2 – 4     4 – 6   Clarion   2 – 4     3 – 7   Lock Haven   2 – 4     3 – 8   California (PA)   1 – 5     2 – 8   x – Division champion/co-champions ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from NCAA Division II Football Committee poll	1997 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Western State (CO) $^   7 – 1     9 – 3   Chadron State   6 – 2     8 – 3   New Mexico Highlands   6 – 2     8 – 3   Nebraska–Kearney   6 – 2     7 – 4   Fort Hays State   4 – 4     5 – 6   Fort Lewis   3 – 5     4 – 7   Mesa State   2 – 6     4 – 7   Colorado Mines   1 – 7     3 – 8   Adams State   1 – 7     1 – 10   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant	1997 South Atlantic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 1 Carson–Newman $^   7 – 0     11 – 1   Catawba   5 – 2     8 – 3   Gardner–Webb   4 – 3     8 – 3   Wingate   4 – 3     8 – 3   Mars Hill   3 – 4     5 – 5   Presbyterian   3 – 4     5 – 6   Newberry   2 – 5     4 – 7   Lenoir–Rhyne   0 – 7     0 – 10   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from NCAA Division II Football Committee poll
1997 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 5 Albany State $^   6 – 0     11 – 1   Alabama A&M   4 – 2     7 – 4   Kentucky State   4 – 2     7 – 5   Fort Valley State   4 – 2     5 – 6   Tuskegee   3 – 3     7 – 4   Morris Brown   3 – 3     6 – 5   Miles   3 – 3     4 – 6   Clark Atlanta   2 – 4     4 – 7   Savannah State   1 – 5     3 – 8   Morehouse   0 – 6     3 – 8   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from NCAA Division II Football Committee poll	1997 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Shepherd +   6 – 1     9 – 1   No. 15 Glenville State +^   6 – 1     9 – 3   West Virginia Wesleyan   5 – 2     5 – 5   Concord   3 – 4     5 – 5   Fairmont State   3 – 4     5 – 6   West Virginia State   3 – 4     5 – 6   West Liberty State   2 – 5     4 – 6   West Virginia Tech   0 – 7     0 – 11   + – Conference co-champions ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from NCAA Division II Football Committee poll	1997 NCAA Division II independents football records Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 2 New Haven ^   –     12 – 2   Mercyhurst   –     6 – 3   No. 14 UC Davis ^   –     9 – 5   Elon   –     7 – 4   Western New Mexico   –     5 – 5   Saint Joseph's (IN)   –     5 – 6   Wayne State (NE)   –     3 – 7   Quincy   –     0 – 10   ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from NCAA Division II Football Committee poll

Conference summaries

See also: List of NCAA Division II football seasons

Conference Champions

Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association – Livingstone, Virginia State, and Virginia Union Eastern Collegiate Football Conference – Albany Gulf South Conference – Southern Arkansas and West Georgia Lone Star Conference – Texas A&M–Kingsville Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association – Northwest Missouri State Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference – Grand Valley State and Ashland North Central Conference – Northern Colorado Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference – Winona State Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference – Bloomsburg (East), Slippery Rock (West) Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference – Western State (CO) South Atlantic Conference – Carson-Newman Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Albany State West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Glenville State and Shepherd

Postseason

1997 NCAA Division II Football Championship
Teams	16
Finals Site	Braly Municipal Stadium Florence, AL
Champion	Northern Colorado (2nd title, title game)
Runner-up	New Haven (1st title game)
Semifinalists	Carson–Newman UC Davis
Winning coach	championship

The 1997 NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs were the 24th single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division II college football. The championship game was held at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama, for the 11th time.

Playoff bracket

	First round Campus sites				Quarterfinals Campus sites				Semifinals Campus sites				Championship Braly Municipal Stadium Florence, AL
	UC Davis	37
	Texas A&M–Kingsville†	34
					UC Davis	50
					Angelo State	33
	Angelo State	46
	Western State (CO)	20
									UC Davis	25
									New Haven	27
	New Haven	47
	Glenville State	7
					New Haven	49
					Slippery Rock	21
	Slippery Rock	30
	Ashland	20
													New Haven	0
													Northern Colorado	51
	Northwest Missouri State	39
	North Dakota State	28
					Northwest Missouri State	19
					Northern Colorado	35
	Northern Colorado	24
	Pittsburg State	16
									Northern Colorado	30
									Carson–Newman	29
	Carson–Newman	21
	North Alabama	7
					Carson–Newman	23
					Albany State	22
	Albany State	10
	Southern Arkansas	6

See also

• 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season
• 1997 NCAA Division I-AA football season
• 1997 NCAA Division III football season
• 1997 NAIA Division I football season
• 1997 NAIA Division II football season