2001 NCAA Division II football season
The 2001 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 August 30, 2001, and concluded with the NCAA Division II Football Championship on December 8, 2001 at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama, hosted by the University of North Alabama.
North Dakota defeated Grand Valley State in the championship game, 17–14, to win their first Division II national title.
The Harlon Hill Trophy was awarded to Dusty Bonner, quarterback from Valdosta State, his second consecutive Hill Trophy.
Conference and program changes
- The Northeast-10 Conference began sponsorship of football this season with 10 member teams from the Northeast.
- The Great Northwest Athletic Conference began its first sponsorship of football during the 2001 season.
| School | 2000 Conference | 2001 Conference |
| American International | Eastern Football Conference | Northeast 10 |
| Assumption | Eastern Football Conference | Northeast 10 |
| Bentley | Eastern Football Conference | Northeast 10 |
| Bryant | Eastern Football Conference | Northeast 10 |
| Central Washington | Central States Football League | GNAC |
| C.W. Post | Eastern Football Conference | Northeast 10 |
| Humboldt State | Central States Football League | GNAC |
| Lincoln | Central States Football League | D-II Independent |
| Pace | Eastern Football Conference | Northeast 10 |
| Saint Anselm | Eastern Football Conference | Northeast 10 |
| Southern Connecticut | Eastern Football Conference | Northeast 10 |
| Stonehill | Eastern Football Conference | Northeast 10 |
| UMass Lowell | Eastern Football Conference | Northeast 10 |
| Western Oregon | Central States Football League | GNAC |
| Western Washington | Central States Football League | GNAC |
Conference standings
Conference summaries
| Conference Champions |
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association – Virginia Union Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Grand Valley State Great Northwest Athletic Conference – Western Washington Gulf South Conference – Valdosta State Lone Star Conference – Tarleton State and Texas A&M–Kingsville Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association – Pittsburg State North Central Conference – North Dakota Northeast-10 Conference – C.W. Post Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference – Winona State Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference – Bloomsburg, Indiana Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference – Chadron State South Atlantic Conference – Catawba Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Fort Valley State, Morehouse and Tuskegee West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Glenville State |