2008 NCAA Division II football season

Conference and program changes

• Following the demise of the North Central Conference, the nine NCC football members were dispersed as follows: four to the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), two to the Great Northwest Conference (GNAC), one to the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA), and two to the Great West Conference in FCS.

Brevard, Central State, Dixie State, and Seton Hill completed their transitions to Division II and became eligible for the postseason.

Regional realignment

The geographic names of the four super regions gave way to numerical names. The Northeast Region, with the addition of the CIAA, became Super Region 1; the Southeast Region minus the CIAA became Super Region 2. The Northwest Region, with the addition of the RMAC and loss of the defunct NCC, became Super Region 3, while the Southwest Region, minus the RMAC and with the addition of the GNAC (sponsoring football again after a two-year hiatus) became Super Region 4.

Conference standings

Super Region 1

Super Region 2

Super Region 3

Super Region 4

Conference summaries

Postseason

The 2008 NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs involved 24 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division II college football.

The tournament began on November 15, 2008, and concluded on December 13, 2008, with the 2008 NCAA Division II National Football Championship game at Braly Municipal Stadium near the campus of the University of North Alabama in Florence, Alabama.

In the championship game the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs defeated the Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats, 21–14.

(team names) all entered the tournament for the first time in their school's history.

Participants

Bids by conference

Playoff format

The first-round games were conducted on the campus of one of the competing institutions as determined by the NCAA Division II Football Committee. Two teams in each super regional earned first-round byes. The first-round winners advanced to face a bye team in their super regional. Second-round winners met in the quarterfinals and quarterfinal winners advanced to play in the semifinals.

First-round, second-round, quarterfinal and semifinal games were played on the campus of one of the competing institutions as determined by the NCAA Division II Football Committee. The home team at the championship was determined by the Division II Football Committee and the Shoals National Championship Committee.

National television coverage

The championship game was played at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama and broadcast live on ESPN2 on December 16.

The semifinal games were broadcast on ESPN2 (North Alabama vs. Northwest Mo., 4pm EST) and ESPN Classic (California (PA) vs. Minnesota-Duluth, 12pm EST) on December 6.

The Superregional championship (quarterfinal) games were broadcast on ESPN2 and ESPN Classic on November 29.

Tournament Notes

Final standings

Bracket and standings

Super Regional 1

November 15 November 22 November 29 | RD1-seed1=6 | RD1-team1=**** | RD1-score1= 14 | RD1-seed2=3 | RD1-team2= | RD1-score2= 7 | RD1-seed3=5 | RD1-team3= | RD1-score3= 32 | RD1-seed4=4 | RD1-team4=**** | RD1-score4= 52 | RD2-seed1=2 | RD2-team1=** ** | RD2-score1=48 | RD2-seed2=6 | RD2-team2=Seton Hill | RD2-score2=7 | RD2-seed3=1 | RD2-team3=**** | RD2-score3=28 | RD2-seed4=4 | RD2-team4=West Chester | RD2-score4=21 | RD3-seed1=2 | RD3-team1=California (PA) | RD3-score1=27 | RD3-seed2=1 | RD3-team2=Bloomsburg | RD3-score2=24

Super Regional 3

November 15 November 22 November 29 | RD1-seed1=6 | RD1-team1= | RD1-score1= 17 | RD1-seed2=3 | RD1-team2=**** | RD1-score2= 23 | RD1-seed3=5 | RD1-team3= | RD1-score3=16 | RD1-seed4=4 | RD1-team4=**** | RD1-score4=27 | RD2-seed1=2 | RD2-team1=Minnesota–Duluth | RD2-score1=20 | RD2-seed2=3 | RD2-team2=Chadron State | RD2-score2=10 | RD2-seed3=1 | RD2-team3=Grand Valley State | RD2-score3=40 | RD2-seed4=4 | RD2-team4=Ashland | RD2-score4=7 | RD3-seed1=2 | RD3-team1=Minnesota–Duluth 2OT | RD3-score1=19 | RD3-seed2=1 | RD3-team2=Grand Valley State | RD3-score2=13

Super Regional 2

November 15 November 22 November 29 | RD1-seed1=6 | RD1-team1= | RD1-score1=20 | RD1-seed2=3 | RD1-team2=**** | RD1-score2=24 | RD1-seed3=5 | RD1-team3= | RD1-score3=22 | RD1-seed4=4 | RD1-team4=**** | RD1-score4=34 | RD2-seed1=2 | RD2-team1=North Alabama | RD2-score1=37 | RD2-seed2=3 | RD2-team2=Valdosta State | RD2-score2=10 | RD2-seed3=1 | RD2-team3=**** | RD2-score3=27 | RD2-seed4=4 | RD2-team4=Tusculum | RD2-score4=19 | RD3-seed1=2 | RD3-team1=North Alabama | RD3-score1=55 | RD3-seed2=1 | RD3-team2=Delta State | RD3-score2=34

Super Regional 4

November 15 November 22 November 29 | RD1-seed1=6 | RD1-team1= | RD1-score1=21 | RD1-seed2=3 | RD1-team2=**** | RD1-score2=33 | RD1-seed3=5 | RD1-team3= | RD1-score3=42 | RD1-seed4=4 | RD1-team4=West Texas A&M | RD1-score4=49 | RD2-seed1=2 | RD2-team1=**** | RD2-score1=38 | RD2-seed2=3 | RD2-team2=Pittsburg State | RD2-score2=35 | RD2-seed3=1 | RD2-team3=Abilene Christian | RD2-score3=93 | RD2-seed4=4 | RD2-team4=West Texas A&M | RD2-score4=68 | RD3-seed1=2 | RD3-team1=Northwest Missouri State | RD3-score1=45 | RD3-seed2=1 | RD3-team2=Abilene Christian | RD3-score2=36

Semifinals and championship

December 6 December 13 | score-width= | team-width= | RD1-seed1=SR1 Champion | RD1-team1=California (PA) | RD1-score1=7 | RD1-seed2=SR3 Champion | RD1-team2=Minnesota–Duluth | RD1-score2=45 | RD1-seed3=SR2 Champion | RD1-team3=North Alabama | RD1-score3=7 | RD1-seed4=SR4 Champion | RD1-team4=Northwest Missouri State | RD1-score4=41 | RD2-seed1=SR3 Champion | RD2-team1=Minnesota–Duluth | RD2-score1=21 | RD2-seed2=SR4 Champion | RD2-team2=Northwest Missouri State | RD2-score2=14

Individual game results

Round 1

Seton Hill vs. American International

S. Connecticut vs. West Chester

Wayne State vs. Chadron State

Wayne State quarterback Silas Fluellen completed 17 of 40 passes for 236 yards and a touchdown, but could not overcome the 243 yards and three touchdowns by Chadron State quarterback Joe McLain who left the game with an injury as the Eagles defeated the Wildcats, 23–17. Wayne State had four turnovers inside the 10-yard line in the game.

Minnesota State vs. Ashland

In its first ever home playoff game the Ashland University Eagles defeated the Minnesota State-Mankato Mavericks, 27–16. Quarterback Billy Cundiff threw a 66-yard scoring completion to Joe Horn with 11:56 remaining in the fourth quarter as the Eagles took the lead for good. Previously, Ashland was 0–3 in the school's playoff history.

Carson-Newman vs. Valdosta State

Albany State vs. Tusculum

The Tusculum College Pioneers only led the final 3:31 of the game against the Albany State Rams, but scored on three fourth quarter drives to win 34–22. Senior quarterback Corey Russell finished the game with 87 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 15 carries and was 23-of-38 passing for 274 yards and three touchdowns for the Pioneers. Tusculum maintained its streak of no games lost at home in two seasons.

Nebraska-Omaha vs Pittsburg State

C. Washington vs. West Texas

Round 2

West Chester vs. Bloomsburg

California (PA) vs. Seton Hill

Chadron State vs. Minnesota Duluth

Ashland vs. Grand Valley State

The Grand Valley State, the top seed in Super Region 3, defeated Ashland University, 40–7. The Lakers scored on their first two possessions and built a 24–0 halftime lead. Ashland's only score came on the first play of the fourth quarter as quarterback Billy Cundiff hit Christian Livingston with an 8-yard touchdown pass. Grand Valley answered on the next offensive play with a 62-yard touchdown run. The Lakers' defense ended with eight sacks and nine tackles for lost yardage.

Valdosta State vs. North Alabama

Tusculum vs. Delta State

Delta State compiled 529 yards of offense as QB while Garrett DeWitt threw for 344 yards and backup quarterback Blake Barnes rushed for two touchdowns as the Statesmen defeated Tusculum, 27–19. The Statesmen defense held allowed 425 (310 in the air) but forced Tusculum into three turnovers. The win advanced Delta State to the Division II playoff quarterfinals for the third straight year.

Pittsburg State vs. Northwest Mo.

West Texas vs. Abilene Christian

West Texas was led by quarterback Keith Null (42-of-63, 595 yards, seven touchdowns), and Charly Martin who had 14 catches for 323 yards and five TDs as the Buffs compiled 721 total yards of offense.

The Wildcats will play Northwest Missouri State in the national quarterfinals, a rematch of ACU's 44–27 victory on Aug. 30.

Super Regional finals

California (PA) vs. Bloomsburg

Vulcans. The Vulcans then ran out the clock.

Minnesota Duluth vs. Grand Valley

North Alabama vs. Delta State

The Lions avenged their only loss this season, defeating Delta State, 55–34. While defense gave up 541 yards in total offense to the Statesmen, they also forced six turnovers total and scored twice on defense (interception returns for touchdowns by Darron Dampier and Michael Johnson). Wide receiver Joemal Campbell caught two touchdown passes and blocked a punt for the Lions.

Northwest Mo. vs. Abilene Christian

Semifinals

California (PA) vs. Minnesota Duluth

North Alabama vs. Northwest Mo.

Championship

Main article: 2008 NCAA Division II National Football Championship game

Minnesota Duluth finished the season with a 15–0 record. Northwest Missouri ended the season with a 13–2 record and suffered its fourth consecutive loss in the Division II championship game.

References

References

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