1987 NCAA Division II football season


The 1987 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 in August 1987, and concluded with the NCAA Division II Football Championship on December 12, 1987, at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama, hosted by the University of North Alabama. The Troy State Trojans defeated the Portland State Vikings, 31–17, to win their second Division II national title.
The Harlon Hill Trophy was awarded to Johnny Bailey, running back from Texas A&I.

Conference changes and new programs

School1986 Conference1987 Conference
Central State IndependentNAIA Independent
Howard PayneLone StarNAIA Independent
Towson StateIndependentI-AA Independent

Conference standings

Conference summaries

Conference Champions

Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association – Winston-Salem State
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Northern Michigan
Gulf South Conference – Troy State
Lone Star Conference – Angelo State and Texas A&I
Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association – Central Missouri State and Southeast Missouri State
North Central Conference – Minnesota State–Mankato
Northern California Athletic Conference – UC Davis
Northern Intercollegiate Conference – Minnesota–Morris
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference – Indiana
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference – Colorado Mesa
South Atlantic Conference – Gardner–Webb
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Alabama A&M and Tuskegee
Western Football League – Portland State

Postseason

The 1987 NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs were the 15th 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 first time.

Playoff bracket