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1973 NCAA Division II football season

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The 1973 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. The season began in September and concluded with the Division II Championship on December 15 at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento, California. This was the first season for Division II (and Division III) football, which were formerly in the College Division in 1972 and prior.

Louisiana Tech won their first Division II championship, defeating Western Kentucky 34–0 in the Camellia Bowl championship game.[1][2]

Conference realignment

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Membership changes

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School1972 Conference1973 Conference
AkronIndependentD-II Independent
Ball StateIndependentD-II Independent
Eastern MichiganIndependentD-II Independent
Illinois StateIndependentD-II Independent
Nevada–RenoIndependentD-II Independent

Conference standings

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1973 Big Sky Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 5 Boise State $^6–0–010–3–0
Montana State5–1–07–4–0
Idaho3–2–04–7–0
Northern Arizona2–3–04–6–0
Montana2–4–04–6–0
Weber State2–4–03–8–0
Idaho State0–6–02–9–0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
  • Idaho was classified as Division I.[3] All the other teams were classified as Division II.
Rankings from AP small college poll
1973 California Collegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 8/9 Cal Poly $4–0–09–1–0
UC Riverside3–1–08–2–0
Cal State Fullerton1–3–07–4–0
Cal Poly Pomona1–3–04–6–1
Cal State Northridge1–3–02–9–0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP/UPI small college polls
1973 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Virginia Union $9–0–09–1–0
Livingstone5–2–07–2–1
Norfolk State5–3–05–5–0
Johnson C. Smith3–2–07–4–0
Virginia State3–2–05–5–0
Elizabeth City State4–4–14–5–1
Fayetteville State4–4–05–5–0
Winston-Salem State2–5–13–7–1
Hampton1–5–11–7–2
Shaw1–5–11–6–1
Saint Paul's (VA)1–6–01–9–0
  • $ – Conference champion
1973 Eastern Football Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Central Connecticut State $3–0–09–1–0
Southern Connecticut State2–1–06–4–0
Montclair State1–2–06–4–0
Glassboro State0–3–04–6–0
  • $ – Conference champion
1973 Far Western Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
UC Davis +4–1–07–3–0
Chico State +4–1–07–3–0
San Francisco State3–2–07–2–1
Cal State Hayward3–2–03–7–0
Humboldt State1–4–02–6–2
Sacramento State0–5–01–9–0
  • + – Conference co-champions
1973 Gulf South Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. T–17 Troy State $6–1–07–2–1
No. 4 Jacksonville State5–2–07–2–0
Delta State6–3–08–3–0
Livingston4–3–16–3–1
Northwestern State3–4–05–6–0
Mississippi College3–4–04–6–0
Southeastern Louisiana3–4–04–6–0
Florence State3–6–04–6–0
Nicholls State2–7–02–9–0
Tennessee–Martin1–5–12–8–1
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from NAIA Division I poll
1973 Indiana Collegiate Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Butler $5–1–05–5–0
DePauw4–2–06–3–0
Evansville3–2–05–5–0
Indiana Central3–3–07–3–0
Valparaiso3–3–06–5–0
Saint Joseph's (IN)1–4–03–7–0
Wabash0–4–05–5–0
  • $ – Conference champion
1973 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
North Carolina Central $5–1–07–4–0
South Carolina State4–1–17–3–1
Howard4–2–08–2–0
Morgan State4–2–06–3–0
Maryland Eastern Shore2–4–04–5–0
North Carolina A&T1–4–14–6–1
Delaware State0–6–00–11–0
  • $ – Conference champion
1973 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
SE Missouri State $5–1–06–4–0
NW Missouri State4–2–06–4–0
Lincoln (MO)3–3–05–6–0
SW Missouri State3–3–03–7–0
Missouri–Rolla2–3–13–6–2
NE Missouri State2–3–12–7–2
Central Missouri State1–5–02–8–0
  • $ – Conference champion
1973 North Central Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 14 North Dakota State +6–1–08–2–0
No. 11 South Dakota +^6–1–08–3–0
Mankato State4–3–07–4–0
North Dakota4–3–06–4–0
Augustana (SD)3–3–16–3–1
South Dakota State2–4–15–5–1
Northern Iowa2–5–05–5–0
Morningside0–7–00–9–0
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AP small college poll
1973 Northern Intercollegiate Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Moorhead State $5–1–07–3–0
Michigan Tech4–2–05–4–1
St. Cloud State4–2–04–6–0
Bemidji State2–4–05–4–0
Southwest State (MN)2–4–04–6–0
Minnesota Morris2–4–03–6–0
Winona State2–4–03–7–0
  • $ – Conference champion
1973 Ohio Valley Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 3 Western Kentucky $^7–0–012–1–0
Murray State5–2–07–3–0
Eastern Kentucky4–3–07–4–0
Morehead State4–3–06–5–0
East Tennessee State3–4–04–7–0
Middle Tennessee3–4–04–7–0
Tennessee Tech1–6–02–8–1
Austin Peay1–6–02–8–0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AP small college poll
1973 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
East Division
West Chester xy4–0–05–5–0
East Stroudsburg5–1–06–1–1
Millersville4–2–07–2–0
Cheyney3–2–05–4–0
Bloomsburg2–4–04–5–0
Kutztown1–5–02–7–0
Mansfield0–5–01–7–0
West Division
No. T–20 Slippery Rock xy$5–0–08–2–0
Clarion3–2–05–4–0
Edinboro3–2–04–4–1
Lock Haven2–3–02–7–0
California (PA)1–4–03–6–0
Shippensburg1–4–02–7–0
Indiana (PA) *0–0–04–5–0
Championship: Slippery Rock 28, West Chester 14
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • * – Ineligible for conference title
Rankings from NAIA Division I poll
1973 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Division I
Bethune–Cookman x5–0–09–2–0
Florida A&M4–1–05–6–0
No. 16 Albany State3–2–06–3–1
Alabama A&M3–2–05–5–0
Tuskegee2–3–07–4–0
Morris Brown1–4–01–8–1
Alabama State0–5–03–8–0
Division II
No. 7 Fisk x5–0–09–0–0
Fort Valley State4–1–07–1–1
Clark (GA)4–1–04–3–1
Morehouse3–2–04–3–1
Savannah State2–3–03–6–0
Lane1–4–03–6–0
Miles1–4–01–8–0
Knoxville0–5–00–8–0
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from NAIA Division II poll
1973 Southland Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 2 Louisiana Tech $^5–0–012–1–0
Arkansas State3–2–07–3–0
Lamar3–2–05–5–0
McNeese State2–3–07–3–1
UT Arlington2–3–04–6–0
SW Louisiana0–5–00–10–0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AP small college poll
1973 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 5/7 Grambling +^5–1–010–3–0
No. 10 Jackson State +5–1–09–2–0
No. T–20 Alcorn A&M3–2–17–2–1
Southern3–3–06–4–0
Texas Southern2–3–15–5–1
Mississippi Valley State2–4–03–5–0
Prairie View A&M0–6–02–6–1
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA Division I poll and AP small college poll
1973 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Northern Division
Fairmont State xy$3–0–06–3–1
West Liberty State2–1–13–5–1
Salem2–2–06–4–0
Shepherd1–2–06–4–0
West Virginia Wesleyan0–3–12–6–1
Southern Division
No. 2 Glenville State xy^4–0–010–2–0
Bluefield State3–1–04–5–0
West Virginia State2–2–05–5–0
West Virginia Tech1–3–04–5–0
Concord0–4–00–9–0
Championship: Fairmont State 21, Glenville State 7
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • ^ – NAIA Division II playoff participant
    Conference standings based on power ratings
Rankings from NAIA Division II poll
1973 Yankee Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Connecticut $5–0–18–2–1
Rhode Island4–1–16–2–2
UMass4–2–06–5–0
New Hampshire2–3–04–5–0
Boston University2–3–03–7–0
Maine2–4–03–7–0
Vermont1–5–03–6–0
  • $ – Conference champion
1973 NCAA Division II independents football records
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 1 Tennessee State – 10–0–0
No. 9 Hawaii – 9–2–0
Nebraska–Omaha – 7–2–1
Trinity (TX) – 8–3–0
UNLV – 8–3–0
No. 13 Delaware ^ – 8–4–0
Western Carolina – 6–3–1
Central Michigan – 7–4–0
Nevada – 7–4–0
Western Illinois – 7–4–0
Milwaukee – 6–4–1
Eastern Michigan – 6–4–0
American International – 5–4–0
Akron – 6–5–0
Central State (OH) – 6–5–0
Ball State – 5–5–1
Wayne State (MI) – 5–5–0
Drexel – 4–4–0
Bucknell – 3–4–2
Northeast Louisiana – 3–5–2
Santa Clara – 4–6–0
Youngstown State – 4–6–0
Arkansas–Pine Bluff – 3–5–1
Chattanooga – 4–7–0
Indiana State – 4–7–0
Northeastern – 3–6–0
Kentucky State – 3–8–0
Northern Michigan – 2–7–1
Illinois College – 2–7–0
Eastern Illinois – 2–9–0
Portland State – 1–10–0
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AP small college poll

Conference summaries

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ConferenceChampion
Big Sky ConferenceBoise State
California Collegiate Athletic AssociationCal Poly
Central Intercollegiate Athletic AssociationVirginia Union
Eastern Football ConferenceCentral Connecticut State
Far Western Football ConferenceUC Davis and Cal State Chico
Gulf South ConferenceTroy State
Indiana Collegiate ConferenceButler
Mid-Eastern Athletic ConferenceNorth Carolina Central
Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic AssociationSoutheast Missouri State
North Central ConferenceNorth Dakota State and South Dakota
Ohio Valley ConferenceWestern Kentucky
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceBethune-Cookman
Southland ConferenceLouisiana Tech
Southwestern Athletic ConferenceGrambling and Jackson State
Yankee ConferenceConnecticut

Postseason

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1973 NCAA Division II Football Championship
Teams8
Finals Site
Champion
Runner-up
Semifinalists
Winning coach

The 1973 NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs were the first single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division II college football. The inaugural edition had only eight teams; of the four quarterfinal games, three were played on campus and a fourth was in Atlantic City, New Jersey,[4] the final edition of the Boardwalk Bowl. The semifinals were held at the Grantland Rice Bowl in Baton Rouge, Louisiana,[5] and the Pioneer Bowl in Wichita Falls, Texas.[6][7]

The championship game was the Camellia Bowl, held at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento, California. The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs defeated the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 34–0 to win their first national title.[2][8]

Playoff bracket

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First round
Atlantic City, NJ
& 3 campus sites

December 1 		Semifinals
Grantland Rice Bowl
Pioneer Bowl

December 8 		Championship
Camellia Bowl
Hughes Stadium
Sacramento, CA
December 15
         
Grambling 17
Delaware 8
Grambling 20
Western Kentucky 28
Western Kentucky * 25
Lehigh 16
Western Kentucky 0
Louisiana Tech 34
Louisiana Tech * 18
Western Illinois 13
Louisiana Tech 38
Boise State 34
Boise State * 53
South Dakota 10

* Denotes host institution

Rankings

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United Press International (UPI) and the Associated Press (AP) continued to rank teams in their College Division or "small college" polls, which had started in 1958 and 1960, respectively. In 1973, UPI published their final poll at the end of the regular season, while the AP waited until postseason games had been completed. Both wire services named the Tennessee State Tigers as the number one team; Tennessee State did not compete in the playoffs "because five of its starters would not be eligible to play."[9] The players in question had sat out their freshmen year ("redshirt") and then played four seasons;[9] under NCAA rules at the time, such players were not eligible for postseason play as fifth-year seniors. During the regular season, the Tigers were undefeated (10–0) and had outscored their opponents 333–87.

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "All-Time Conference Champions" (PDF). NCAA. NCAA.org. pp. 15–28. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Western Kentucky (Louisiana Tech) champs after 34–0 romp". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. December 16, 1973. p. 20.
  3. ↑ "NCAA Statistics". Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Boise St. smears South Dakota". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. December 2, 1973. p. 19.
  5. ↑ "Western Kentucky triumphs". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. December 9, 1973. p. 19.
  6. ↑ "Boise in semis". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. December 8, 1973. p. 17.
  7. ↑ "Late TD tops Boise". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. December 9, 1973. p. 19.
  8. ↑ "1973 NCAA Division II National Football Championship Bracket" (PDF). NCAA. NCAA.org. p. 13. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  9. 1 2 Finocchiaro, Ray (November 15, 1973). "5 Ineligible So Tennessee State Quits Playoff". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. Retrieved February 28, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "College Football Small College Poll". The Republic. Columbus, Indiana. United Press International. November 28, 1973. Retrieved July 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  11. ↑ "Tennessee St. Picked No. 1 In Grid Poll". The Northwest Arkansas Times. Fayetteville, Arkansas. Associated Press. December 19, 1973. Retrieved July 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
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