2023 Stagg Bowl


The 2023 NCAA Division III Football Championship Game, more commonly referred to as the 2023 Stagg Bowl or Stagg Bowl L, was a postseason college football game scheduled played on December 15, 2023, at Salem Football Stadium in Salem, Virginia. It determined a national champion in NCAA Division III for the 2023 [NCAA Division III football season|2023 season]. The game began at 7:00 p.m. EST, and aired on ESPNU. The game featured the two finalists of the 32-team single elimination playoff bracket, Cortland [Red Dragons football|Cortland] and North Central; Cortland won 38–37 to claim their first national championship.

Teams

The participants of the 2023 NCAA Division III Football Championship Game were the finalists of the 2023 NCAA [Division III football season#Postseason|2023 Division III Playoffs], a 32-team single elimination brackets tournament which began on November 18. The winners of each of the four 8-team regions qualified for the national semifinals.

Statistics

StatisticCortlandNorth Central
First downs2821
First downs rushing187
First downs passing914
First downs penalty10
Third down efficiency6–126–10
Fourth down efficiency2–30–2
Total plays–net yards71–50358–583
Rushing attempts–net yards37–15441–404
Yards per rush4.29.9
Yards passing349179
Pass completions–attempts26–348–17
Interceptions thrown00
Punt returns–total yards0–00–0
Kickoff returns–total yards5–1056–136
Punts–average yardage2–27.51–47
Fumbles–lost0–01–1
Penalties–yards2–106–64
Time of possession32:4327:17