| NAIA football national championship | |
|---|---|
| In operation | 1956–present |
| Preceded by | Small college polls & NAIA Division II Championship |
| Number of playoff teams | 20 |
| Championship trophy | Tom Osborne Trophy |
| Television partner(s) | ESPN3 |
| Most playoff championships | Texas A&M-Kingsville (7) |
| Current champion | Keiser (2023) |
| Website | NAIA Football |
The NAIA football national championship is decided by a post-season playoff system featuring the best National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) college football teams in the United States. Under sponsorship of the NAIA, the championship game has been played annually since 1956.[1]
In 1970, NAIA football was divided into two divisions based on enrollment, Division I and Division II, with a championship game played in each division. In 1997, NAIA football was again consolidated back into one division. NAIA schools are allowed to offer 24 full varsity football scholarships which can be divided up as they wish. Junior varsity scholarship players do not count towards the total.
Texas A&I (now known as Texas A&M–Kingsville) is still the most prolific program with seven NAIA championships, despite having been in NCAA Division II since 1980. Carroll College of Montana is the most successful team still playing at the NAIA level, with six national titles.
Keiser is the current champion, having defeated the Northwestern Red Raiders in the 2023 title game, 31–21.
- ^ "NAIA Football Championship History". National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved April 7, 2008.