1989 NCAA Division II football season


The 1989 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 in August 1989, and concluded with the Division II Football Championship on December 10, 1989, at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama, hosted by the University of North Alabama. The Mississippi College Choctaws defeated the Jacksonville State Gamecocks, 3–0, to win their first Division II national title. However, their championship was later revoked by the NCAA.
The Harlon Hill Trophy was awarded to Johnny Bailey, running back from Texas A&I, for the third consecutive year.

Conference changes and new programs

  • One program departed Division II for Division I-AA prior to the season.
School1988 Conference1989 Conference
Cal LutheranWestern-
LibertyIndependentI-AA Independent
Missouri SouthernCentral States MIAA
[Missouri Western Football Conference (United States)|Western Griffons football|Missouri Western]Central States MIAA
Pittsburg StateCentral States MIAA
WashburnCentral States MIAA

Conference summaries

Conference Champions

Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association – Bowie State
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Grand Valley State
Gulf South Conference – Jacksonville State
Heartland Collegiate Conference – Butler
Lone Star Conference – Texas A&I
Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association – Pittsburg State
North Central Conference – Saint Cloud State
Northern California Athletic Conference – UC Davis
Northern Intercollegiate Conference – Minnesota State–Moorhead
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference – Millersville and West Chester, Edinboro
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference – Adams State
South Atlantic Conference – Carson-Newman
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Alabama A&M
Western Football League – Portland State

Postseason

The 1989 NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs were the 17th 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 fourth time.