|
Record |
Ranking^ |
|
|
Year |
Champions |
Conference |
Overall |
STATS^^ |
Coaches |
Playoff finish |
Head coach
|
1985
|
Northern Iowa |
5–0 |
11–2 |
4 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal 33–41 vs. Georgia Southern |
Darrell Mudra
|
1986
|
Eastern Illinois |
5–1 |
11–2 |
3 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 21–28 vs. Eastern Kentucky |
Al Molde
|
1987
|
Northern Iowa |
6–0 |
10–4 |
4 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal 41–44OT vs. Louisiana-Monroe |
Darrell Mudra
|
1988
|
Western Illinois |
6–0 |
10–2 |
3 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 32–35 vs. Western Kentucky |
Bruce Craddock
|
1989
|
Missouri State |
5–1 |
10–3 |
9 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 22–55 vs Stephen F. Austin |
Jesse Branch
|
1990
|
Missouri State |
5–1 |
9–3 |
6 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA First Round 35–41 vs. Idaho |
Jesse Branch
|
Northern Iowa |
5–1 |
8–4 |
11 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA First Round 3–20 vs. Boise State |
Terry Allen
|
1991
|
Northern Iowa |
5–1 |
11–2 |
4 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 13–41 vs. Marshall |
Terry Allen
|
1992
|
Northern Iowa |
5–1 |
12–2 |
3 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal 7–19 vs. Youngstown State |
Terry Allen
|
1993
|
Northern Iowa |
5–1 |
8–4 |
13 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA First Round 21–272OT at Boston University |
Terry Allen
|
1994
|
Northern Iowa |
6–0 |
8–4 |
11 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA First Round 21–23 at Montana |
Terry Allen
|
1995
|
Eastern Illinois |
5–1 |
10-2 |
14 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA First Round 29–34 at Stephen F. Austin |
Bob Spoo
|
Northern Iowa |
5–1 |
8–5 |
13 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 24–41 at Marshall |
Terry Allen
|
1996
|
Northern Iowa |
5–0 |
12–2 |
3 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal 14–31 at Marshall |
Terry Allen
|
1997
|
Western Illinois |
6–0 |
11–2 |
6 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 12–14 vs. McNeese State |
Randy Ball
|
1998
|
Western Illinois |
5–1 |
11–3 |
4 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal 14–42 at Georgia Southern |
Randy Ball
|
1999
|
Illinois State |
6–0 |
11–3 |
3 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal 17–31 at Georgia Southern |
Todd Berry
|
2000
|
Western Illinois |
5–1 |
9–3 |
12 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA First Round 7–37 vs. Lehigh |
Don Patterson
|
2001
|
Northern Iowa |
6–1 |
11–3 |
4 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA 0–38 at Montana |
Mark Farley
|
2002
|
Western Illinois |
6–1 |
11–2 |
5 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA 28–31 vs. Western Kentucky |
Don Patterson
|
Western Kentucky |
6–1 |
12–3 |
1 |
– |
National Champion 34–14 vs. McNeese State |
Jack Harbaugh
|
2003
|
Northern Iowa |
6–1 |
10–3 |
5 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 7–37 at Delaware |
Mark Farley
|
Southern Illinois |
6–1 |
10–2 |
9 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA First Round 7–48 at Delaware |
Jerry Kill
|
2004
|
Southern Illinois |
7–0 |
10–2 |
9 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA First Round 31–35 vs. Eastern Washington |
Jerry Kill
|
2005
|
Northern Iowa |
5–2 |
11–4 |
2 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA Runner-up 16–21 vs. Appalachian State |
Mark Farley
|
Southern Illinois |
5–2 |
9–4 |
7 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 24–38 at Appalachian State |
Jerry Kill
|
Youngstown State |
5–2 |
8–3 |
14 |
– |
None |
Jon Heacock
|
2006
|
Youngstown State |
6–1 |
11–3 |
4 |
– |
NCAA FCS Semifinal 24–49 at Appalachian State |
Jon Heacock
|
2007
|
Northern Iowa |
6–0 |
12–1 |
4 |
5 |
NCAA FCS Quarterfinal 27–39 vs. Delaware |
Mark Farley
|
2008
|
Northern Iowa |
7–1 |
12–3 |
4 |
4 |
NCAA FCS Semifinal 20–21 vs. Richmond |
Mark Farley
|
Southern Illinois |
7–1 |
9–3 |
11 |
10 |
NCAA FCS First Round 20–29 vs. New Hampshire |
Dale Lennon
|
2009
|
Southern Illinois |
8–0 |
11–2 |
6 |
6 |
NCAA FCS Quarterfinal 3–24 at William & Mary |
Dale Lennon
|
2010
|
Northern Iowa |
6–2 |
7–5 |
19 |
18 |
NCAA FCS First Round 7–14 vs. Lehigh |
Mark Farley
|
2011
|
North Dakota State |
7–1 |
14–1 |
1 |
1 |
National Champion 17–6 vs. Sam Houston |
Craig Bohl
|
2012
|
North Dakota State |
7–1 |
14–1 |
1 |
1 |
National Champion 39–13 vs. Sam Houston |
Craig Bohl
|
2013
|
North Dakota State |
8–0 |
15–0 |
1 |
1 |
National Champion 35–7 vs. Towson |
Craig Bohl
|
2014
|
Illinois State |
7–1 |
13–2 |
2 |
2 |
NCAA FCS Runner-up 27–29 vs. North Dakota State |
Brock Spack
|
North Dakota State |
7–1 |
15–1 |
1 |
1 |
National Champion 29–27 vs. Illinois State |
Chris Klieman
|
2015
|
Illinois State |
7–1 |
10–3 |
5 |
5 |
NCAA FCS Quarterfinal 27–39 vs. Richmond |
Brock Spack
|
North Dakota State |
7–1 |
13–2 |
1 |
1 |
National Champion 37–10 vs. Jacksonville State |
Chris Klieman
|
2016
|
North Dakota State |
7–1 |
12–2 |
3 |
3 |
NCAA FCS Semifinal 17–27 vs. James Madison |
Chris Klieman
|
South Dakota State |
7–1 |
9–4 |
6 |
7 |
NCAA FCS Quarterfinal 10–36 at North Dakota State |
John Stiegelmeier
|
2017
|
North Dakota State |
7–1 |
14–1 |
1 |
1 |
National Champion 17–13 vs. James Madison |
Chris Klieman
|
2018
|
North Dakota State |
8–0 |
15–0 |
1 |
1 |
National Champion 38–24 vs. Eastern Washington |
Chris Klieman
|
2019
|
North Dakota State |
8–0 |
16–0 |
1 |
1 |
National Champion 28–20 vs. James Madison |
Matt Entz
|
2020^^^
|
Missouri State |
5–1 |
5–5 |
13 |
13 |
NCAA FCS First Round 10–44 vs. North Dakota |
Bobby Petrino
|
South Dakota State |
5–1 |
8–2 |
2 |
2 |
NCAA FCS Runner-up 21–23 vs. Sam Houston |
John Stiegelmeier
|
North Dakota |
4–1 |
5–2 |
6 |
6 |
NCAA FCS Quarterfinal 21–34 at James Madison |
Bubba Schweigert
|
2021
|
North Dakota State |
7–1 |
14–1 |
1 |
1 |
National Champion 38–10 vs. Montana State |
Matt Entz
|
2022
|
South Dakota State |
8–0 |
14–1 |
1 |
1 |
National Champion 45–21 vs. North Dakota State |
John Stiegelmeier
|
2023
|
South Dakota State |
8–0 |
15–0 |
1 |
1 |
National Champion 23–3 vs. Montana |
Jimmy Rogers
|
2024
|
North Dakota State |
7–1 |
10–2 |
|
|
|
Tim Polasek
|
South Dakota State |
7–1 |
10–2 |
|
|
|
Jimmy Rogers
|
South Dakota |
7–1 |
9–2 |
|
|
|
Bob Nielson
|