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.
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

Conference standings

Conference summaries

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, Slippery Rock
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference – Western State
South Atlantic Conference – Carson-Newman
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Albany State
West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Glenville State and Shepherd

Postseason

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