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2025 NAIA football season

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2025 NAIA football season
Total No. of teams94
Regular seasonAugust 28 – November 15, 2025
PostseasonNovember 22 – December 20, 2025
National ChampionshipCrowley ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium
Fort Worth, TX
December 20, 2025
ChampionGrand View
Player of the YearJackson Waring, QB, Grand View

The 2025 NAIA football season is the component of the 2025 college football season organized by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in the United States.

The regular season began on August 28 and concluded on November 15.[1]

The playoffs, known as the NAIA Football National Championship, began on November 22 and culminated with the championship game on December 20 at Crowley ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas.

Membership changes

[edit]
School Former conference New conference Ref
Concordia (MI) Cardinals Mid-States Dropped athletics [3]
Dakota State Trojans North Star Frontier [2]
Dickinson State Blue Hawks North Star Frontier [4]
Jamestown Jimmies North Star NSIC (NCAA D-II) [5]
Mayville State Comets North Star Frontier [2]
North American Stallions Sooner Dropped program [6]
Rio Grande RedStorm New program Appalachian [7]
St. Andrews Knights Appalachian School closed [8]
Simpson Red Hawks Independent Frontier [9]
Valley City State Vikings North Star Frontier [2]


Conference standings

[edit]
2025 Appalachian Athletic Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 23 Reinhardt $^   6 – 0     7 – 4  
Pikeville   4 – 2     4 – 6  
Point   4 – 2     4 – 6  
Bluefield   3 – 3     4 – 6  
Kentucky Christian   2 – 4     4 – 6  
Union Commonwealth   2 – 4     3 – 6  
Rio Grande   0 – 6     0 – 9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll
2025 Frontier Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
No. 5 Montana Tech x^   6 – 0     12 – 1  
No. 25 Dakota State   5 – 1     8 – 2  
Rocky Mountain   4 – 2     4 – 6  
Valley City State   3 – 3     6 – 4  
Mayville State   2 – 4     5 – 6  
Dickinson State   1 – 5     3 – 7  
Montana State–Northern   0 – 6     1 – 10  
West Division
No. 4 College of Idaho x^   6 – 0     11 – 2  
No. 13 Carroll (MT) ^   5 – 1     9 – 3  
No. 18 Montana Western   4 – 2     7 – 3  
Eastern Oregon   3 – 3     4 – 6  
Southern Oregon   2 – 4     3 – 7  
Arizona Christian   1 – 5     2 – 8  
Simpson (CA)   0 – 6     0 – 10  
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll
2025 Great Plains Athletic Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 9 Dordt +^   9 – 1     10 – 1  
No. 8 Morningside +^   9 – 1     9 – 3  
Concordia (NE)   7 – 3     7 – 3  
Northwestern (IA)   6 – 4     6 – 4  
Midland   6 – 4     6 – 5  
Briar Cliff   5 – 5     6 – 5  
Hastings   5 – 5     5 – 5  
Mount Marty   3 – 7     4 – 7  
Dakota Wesleyan   3 – 7     4 – 7  
Doane   2 – 8     2 – 8  
Waldorf   0 – 10     0 – 10  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NAIA playoff participant
    Marian (IN) forfeited its NAIA playoff victory over Dordt.
Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll
2025 Heart of America Athletic Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
North
No. 1 Grand View x^   6 – 0     14 – 0  
No. 12 William Penn ^   5 – 1     11 – 2  
Peru State   3 – 3     6 – 5  
St. Ambrose   3 – 3     4 – 7  
Culver–Stockton   2 – 4     5 – 6  
Graceland   1 – 5     3 – 7  
Clarke   1 – 5     2 – 9  
South
No. 3 Benedictine (KS) x^   6 – 0     12 – 2  
Baker   5 – 1     6 – 4  
MidAmerica Nazarene   4 – 2     7 – 4  
Missouri Baptist   3 – 3     4 – 6  
Central Methodist   2 – 4     3 – 8  
William Woods   1 – 5     1 – 10  
Missouri Valley   0 – 6     3 – 7  
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll
2025 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Bissell Division
No. 6 Friends x^   5 – 0     12 – 1  
No. 22 McPherson   3 – 2     9 – 2  
No. 21 Southwestern (KS)   3 – 2     8 – 3  
Kansas Wesleyan   3 – 2     7 – 4  
Saint Mary (KS)   1 – 4     3 – 8  
Sterling   0 – 5     1 – 10  
Kessinger Division
No. 19 Evangel x^   5 – 0     9 – 3  
Ottawa   4 – 1     6 – 5  
Tabor   3 – 2     5 – 6  
Bethel (KS)   1 – 4     3 – 8  
Bethany (KS)   1 – 4     3 – 8  
Avila   1 – 4     1 – 10  
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll
2025 Mid-South Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 7 Lindsey Wilson $^   5 – 1     10 – 2  
No. 11 Campbellsville ^   4 – 2     8 – 3  
No. 20 Georgetown (KY)   4 – 2     7 – 3  
Cumberland (TN)   3 – 3     7 – 4  
Bethel (TN)   3 – 3     4 – 5  
Faulkner   1 – 5     4 – 6  
Cumberlands (KY)   1 – 5     4 – 6  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll
2025 Mid-States Football Association standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Mideast League
No. 10 Indiana Wesleyan x^   5 – 0     9 – 3  
Taylor   4 – 1     7 – 4  
Siena Heights   3 – 2     5 – 5  
Defiance   2 – 3     4 – 7  
Lawrence Tech   1 – 4     2 – 8  
Madonna   0 – 5     1 – 10  
Midwest League
No. 16 Saint Francis (IN) x^   4 – 1     10 – 3  
Saint Xavier x   4 – 1     8 – 3  
No. 15 Marian (IN) ^   3 – 2     8 – 4  
Olivet Nazarene   2 – 3     6 – 4  
St. Francis (IL)   1 – 4     3 – 7  
Judson   1 – 4     1 – 10  
  • x – League champion/co-champions
    ^ – NAIA playoff participant
    Marian compiled an overall record of 10–1 in the regular season with a mark of 5–0 in conference play, winning the Mid-States Football Association's Midwest League title. The Knights advanced to the NAIA playoffs, where, after a first round bye, they defeated Dordt. However, Marian was removed from the NAIA playoffs prior to the team's quarterfinal game against Keiser due to self-reported player eligibility violation. The Vikings forfeited conference wins over Judson and Saint Xavier and the playoff victory over Dordt.
Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll
2025 Sooner Athletic Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
OUAZ +   7 – 1     8 – 1  
Louisiana Christian +   7 – 1     8 – 3  
No. 24 Texas Wesleyan +^   7 – 1     7 – 5  
Wayland Baptist   5 – 3     6 – 3  
Langston   3 – 5     3 – 7  
Nelson   3 – 5     3 – 7  
OK Panhandle State   2 – 6     3 – 7  
Arkansas Baptist   1 – 7     2 – 8  
Texas College   1 – 7     1 – 8  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll
2025 Sun Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 2 Keiser $^   7 – 0     12 – 1  
No. 14 Southeastern ^   5 – 2     9 – 3  
No. 17 St. Thomas (FL) ^   5 – 2     7 – 4  
Florida Memorial   4 – 3     4 – 6  
Webber International   3 – 4     5 – 6  
Ave Maria   2 – 5     3 – 7  
Warner   2 – 5     2 – 8  
Thomas   0 – 7     0 – 11  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll

Postseason

[edit]

Teams

[edit]
See also: List of NAIA national football championship series appearances by team

Bracket

[edit]
First Round
November 22
Campus sites		Second Round
November 29
Campus sites		Quarterfinals
December 6
Campus sites		Semifinals
December 13
Campus sites		Championship
December 20
Crowley ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium
Fort Worth, Texas
7Lindsey Wilson57
11Indiana Wesleyan31
7Lindsey Wilson7
1Grand View35
1Grand View62
16Saint Francis (IN)1316Saint Francis (IN)20
1Grand View17
18Evangel12
5Benedictine (KS)10
5Benedictine (KS)21
12Campbellsville17
5Benedictine (KS)24
4Friends18
4Friends53
13William Penn3813William Penn36
1Grand View22
20Texas Wesleyan9
2Keiser16
8College of Idaho37
9Morningside19
8College of Idaho41
3Montana Tech26
3Montana Tech31
14Carroll (MT)4214Carroll (MT)21
8College of Idaho27
17St. Thomas (FL)35
2Keiser36
6Marian (IN)26
10Dordt18
6Marian (IN)*
2Keiserw/o
2Keiser44
15Southeastern2415Southeastern16
19Reinhardt22

*– Marian was removed from the NAIA playoffs prior to the team's quarterfinal game against Keiser due to a self-reported player eligibility violation.[10]

Rankings

[edit]
Main article: 2025 NAIA football rankings

Coaching changes

[edit]

Preseason and in-season

[edit]

This is restricted to coaching changes that took place on or after May 1, 2025, and will include any changes announced after a team's last regularly scheduled games but before its playoff games.

School Outgoing coach Date Reason Replacement Previous position
Thomas Orlando Mitjans Before May 13, 2025 Resigned[citation needed] Vincent Mason[11] Webber International assistant head coach and defensive line coach (2022–2024)
Judson Quintin Demps Before May 19, 2025 Hired as defensive pass came coordinator and safeties coach for Central State (OH) Shawn Flynn[12] Colorado Springs Christian HS (CO) associate head coach and quarterbacks coach (2024)
Graceland Patrick Ross July 31, 2025 Resigned (named as team's general manager)[13] Phil Staback Graceland offensive coordinator (2024)

End of season

[edit]

This list includes coaching changes announced during the season that did not take effect until the end of the season.

School Outgoing coach Date Reason Replacement Previous position
Peru State Phil Ockinga November 17, 2025 Contract not renewed[14] Sean Wilkerson[15] Peru State defensive coordinator (2022–2025)
Langston Quinton Morgan November 18, 2025 Fired[16]
Waldorf Tyler Chapa November 20, 2025 Resigned[17] David Calloway[18] Missouri Valley associate head coach and defensive coordinator (2025)
Eastern Oregon Tim Camp November 21, 2025 Resigned[19] Solo Taylor[20] Eastern Oregon defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach (2024–2025)
Southeastern Adam Waugh December 2, 2025 Resigned[21] Jake Russell[22] Campbellsville head coach (2023–2025)
Arizona Christian Jeff Bowen December 3, 2025 Resigned[23] Drew Maddox[24] John Melvin (FL) head coach (2025)
Rocky Mountain Chris Stutzriem December 12, 2025 Hired as head coach for Bismarck State[25] Randy Bandelow[26] Carroll (MT) defensive coordinator (2022–2025)
Avila Derrick Alexander Before December 15, 2025 Resigned[citation needed] Ed Warinner[27] St. Thomas (FL) tight ends coach (2024–2025)
St. Thomas (FL) Bill Rychel December 17, 2025 Resigned (became school's athletic director) Drew Davis[28] St. Thomas (FL) quarterbacks coach (2024–2025)
Missouri Baptist Jason Burianek Before December 19, 2025 Resigned[citation needed] Marc Lillibridge[29] Missouri Baptist linebackers coach (2025)
Simpson (CA) Shawn Daniel December 19, 2025 Resigned[30] Trevor Utter[31] Simpson (CA) wide receivers coach and tight ends coach (2025)
Saint Mary (KS) Lance Hinson Before December 30, 2025 N/A Taylor Calvert[32] Saint Mary (KS) offensive coordinator (2021–2025)
Rio Grande Mark Thurston December 2025 Fired[33] Mike Bartrum[34] Marshall senior analyst/special assistant (2021–2025)
Campbellsville Jake Russell January 8, 2026 Hired as head coach for Southeastern[22] Hunter Brown[35] Campbellsville wide receivers coach (2024–2025)
Texas Wesleyan Brad Sherrod February 18, 2026 Hired as head coach for Morehouse[36]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "NAIA Football Scoreboard". NAIA.com. NAIA. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d "Frontier Conference Expands to 11 Full-time Members". Frontier Conference (Press release). May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  3. ^ Cunningham, Darren (June 14, 2024). "Concordia University Ann Arbor discontinuing athletics after 2024-25 academic year". WXYZ. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  4. ^ "Frontier Adding Dickinson State as Newest Conference Member". Frontier Conference (Press release). December 12, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  5. ^ "NSIC Extends Invitation to the University of Jamestown". Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (Press release). November 21, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  6. ^ "North American University Discontinues Stallion Football Program" (Press release). North American Stallions Athletics. February 10, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  7. ^ Dannelly, Jason (April 23, 2024). "University of Rio Grande Adding Football in Fall '25". victorysportsnetwork.co. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  8. ^ "St. Andrews University to Cease Operations — A Heartbreaking Goodbye". St. Andrews University (North Carolina). April 25, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  9. ^ "Simpson University Football Joins Frontier Conference, Ushering in a New Era of Simpson Athletics" (Press release). Simpson University Athletics. May 30, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  10. ^ Schroeder, Joe (December 4, 2025). "Marian University football removed from NAIA Playoffs over ineligible player". WXIN. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  11. ^ Thomas, Trinity (May 13, 2025). "Vincent Davis Named Second Head Coach of Thomas University Military Transition Football". Thomas University. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  12. ^ "Eagles Announce Shawn Flynn As New Head Football Coach". Judson University. May 19, 2025. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  13. ^ "Graceland Announces Football Leadership Transition: Phil Staback Promoted to Head Coach" (Press release). Graceland Yellowjackets Athletics. July 31, 2025. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  14. ^ "Peru State Announces Football Program Leadership Transition; Wilkerson Named Interim". Peru State College. November 17, 2025. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  15. ^ "Sean Wilkerson Named Head Football Coach". Peru State College. December 18, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  16. ^ Taylor, Kyle (November 18, 2025). "Langston University Announces Leadership Change for Football". Langston University. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  17. ^ Kleveland, Josiah (November 20, 2025). "Waldorf Head Football Coach Tyler Chapa Resigns". KIOW. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  18. ^ "Waldorf University Hires David S. Calloway as Head Football Coach". Waldorf University. December 11, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  19. ^ "Eastern Oregon Transitions Leadership in Football Program" (Press release). Eastern Oregon University. November 21, 2025. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  20. ^ "Mountaineer Athletics Announces Solo Taylor as the 13th Head Football Coach" (Press release). Eastern Oregon University. January 23, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  21. ^ "Waugh Steps Down as SEU Head Football Coach". Southeastern University. December 2, 2025. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  22. ^ a b "Southeastern Names Jake Russell Head Football Coach". Southeastern University. January 8, 2026. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  23. ^ Dryer, Peter (December 3, 2025). "Bowen Resigns Following Successful 10-year Tenure as Head Football Coach". Arizona Christian University. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  24. ^ Dryer, Peter (January 5, 2026). "ACU Hires Drew Maddox As Head Football Coach". Arizona Christian University. Retrieved January 5, 2026.
  25. ^ "Rocky Head Football Coach Chris Stutzriem Announces Resignation; National Search Beginning Immediately". Rocky Mountain College. December 12, 2025. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  26. ^ "Rocky Athletics Announces Randy Bandelow as the 19th Head Coach For Battlin' Bear Football". Rocky Mountain College. January 16, 2026. Retrieved January 16, 2026.
  27. ^ "Ed Warinner Named Avila Football Coach". Avila University. December 15, 2025. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  28. ^ "STU Names Drew Davis as Head Coach of Bobcat Football". St. Thomas University (FL). December 17, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  29. ^ "Marc Lillibridge Named Second MBU Football Head Coach in Program History". Missouri Baptist University. December 18, 2025. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  30. ^ "Simpson University Head Football Coach Shawn Daniel Announces Resignation". Simpson University. December 19, 2025. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  31. ^ "Simpson University Elevates Trevor Utter to Head Football Coach". Simpson University. December 19, 2025. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  32. ^ VanCleave, Hannah (December 30, 2025). "USM Names Taylor Calvert New Head Football Coach". University of Saint Mary. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  33. ^ Glandon, Aaron (December 27, 2025). "Mike Bartrum Named Head Football Coach at the University of Rio Grande". Litter Media. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  34. ^ "Rio names Bartrum new head football coach". University of Rio Grande. December 26, 2025. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  35. ^ Dossett, Sheldon (February 11, 2026). "Alumnus Hunter Brown named Head Football Coach; former All-American takes helm of Fighting Tigers". Campbellsville University. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  36. ^ "FB: Texas Wesleyan University Head Football Coach Brad Sherrod Accepts Position at Morehouse College". Texas Wesleyan University. February 18, 2026. Retrieved February 18, 2026.
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