You’re looking for a list of d2 football schools, but let’s be honest: most of the lists you find online are either hopelessly outdated or missing the tiny details that actually matter for a recruit or a die-hard fan. People think Division II is just "lower-tier" football. They're wrong.
It’s a different beast entirely. We’re talking about 161 programs as of the 2025-2026 cycle. These aren't just "small schools." Some of these stadiums, like Pittsburg State’s "Jungle" or Grand Valley State’s Lubbers Stadium, pack in crowds that would make some FCS—and even a few FBS—programs blush with envy.
If you’re trying to track down where these teams are or how the landscape has shifted recently, you’ve come to the right place.
The Current Landscape: Who is Actually Playing?
Right now, the number stands at 161. But that number is always a bit slippery. Schools like New Haven just made the jump to the Northeast Conference in the FCS, and other programs like Limestone unfortunately closed their doors recently.
Basically, the "D2 life" is about balance. The NCAA calls it "Life in the Balance," which sounds like a yoga retreat, but it really just means these athletes actually have time to pass their chemistry finals while also trying to sack a quarterback.
The Powerhouse Conferences
You can't talk about a list of d2 football schools without starting with the conferences. This is where the real regional rivalries live.
The MIAA (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association)
This is arguably the toughest neighborhood in D2. Schools like Northwest Missouri State and Pittsburg State treat football like a religion.
- Northwest Missouri State: They have six national titles. Six.
- Pittsburg State: Home of the Gorillas. Yes, Gorillas.
- Central Missouri and Emporia State: Consistently dangerous, high-flying offenses.
The GLIAC (Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference)
If the MIAA is the toughest, the GLIAC is the most top-heavy. It’s dominated by the Michigan giants.
- Ferris State: The 2024 and 2025 National Champions. They are currently the gold standard.
- Grand Valley State: The "Lakers." They have a massive fan base and a trophy case that needs its own zip code.
- Saginaw Valley State and Wayne State (MI): Rugged, physical programs that make every Saturday a grind.
The Gulf South Conference (GSC)
Historically, this conference was the king. While it has seen some teams leave for the FCS, it remains elite.
- Valdosta State: A literal NFL factory. They’ve won four titles and just lost the 2024 championship game to Ferris State.
- West Florida: They started their program in 2016 and won a national title by 2019. It’s one of the fastest rises in sports history.
- Mississippi College: Interestingly, they recently decided to drop their football program, proving how volatile this level can be.
Breaking Down the List of D2 Football Schools by Region
Instead of a giant, boring table, let's look at how these schools cluster. It helps to understand the "Super Region" system the NCAA uses for the playoffs.
Super Region One: The Northeast and Mid-Atlantic
This area is dominated by the PSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference) and the MEC (Mountain East). If you like cold weather and "three yards and a cloud of dust," this is your home.
- Slippery Rock: Probably the most famous name in D2 because the Big House in Michigan announces their scores every week.
- Kutztown and Shepherd: Both have become massive players in the national semifinals lately.
- Charleston (WV): A rising power in the Mountain East that plays in a massive 18,500-seat stadium.
Super Region Two: The South
This is where the speed is. The SIAC and CIAA (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) bring a culture and energy that is unmatched.
- Albany State and Benedict: Powerhouses in the SIAC. Benedict has been a defensive juggernaut the last few seasons.
- Virginia Union: They produced Curtis Allen, the 2025 Harlon Hill winner (the D2 Heisman).
- Wingate and Lenoir-Rhyne: These South Atlantic Conference (SAC) schools are constantly in the playoff hunt.
Super Region Three: The Mid-West
We already mentioned the MIAA and GLIAC, but don't overlook the GAC (Great American Conference).
- Harding University: They run the flexbone triple option. It’s a nightmare to defend. They won the 2023 title and were the runners-up in 2025.
- Ouachita Baptist and Henderson State: Located across the street from each other in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. The "Battle of the Ravine" is the only game where the visiting team walks across the street to the stadium.
Super Region Four: The West and South Central
This is massive, sprawling territory.
- Colorado School of Mines: Yes, it’s an engineering school. Yes, they are elite at football. They’ve made multiple recent championship appearances with a quarterback who probably knows how to build a nuclear reactor.
- CSU Pueblo: Won it all in 2014 and remains a defensive powerhouse.
- Augustana (SD) and Bemidji State: The northern contingent of the NSIC. Playing a playoff game in Bemidji in December is a special kind of frozen hell for southern teams.
Why the Playoffs Just Got More Interesting
In February 2025, the NCAA made a huge move. They expanded the playoff bracket from 28 to 32 teams.
No more byes.
Before this change, the #1 seed in each region got a week off. Now, everyone plays in the first round. This was a move to ensure that no more than 50% of the bracket was made up of automatic qualifiers from conferences. It basically means more "at-large" teams from the tough conferences (like the MIAA or GLIAC) get a shot at the trophy.
The Reality of D2 Scholarships
Here is something kinda important that gets lost in the shuffle: Division II uses a "partial-scholarship" model.
While D1 (FBS and FCS) can offer a set number of "full rides," D2 schools are given a "equivalency" limit—usually 36 scholarships for football. Coaches then split these up. One player might get a 50% scholarship, another gets 25%, and another gets a full ride.
It’s a math puzzle. You’ve gotta be good at more than just tackling; you’ve gotta be good at finding academic aid and grants to cover the rest of your tuition.
What Most People Miss About the "List"
When you're looking at a list of d2 football schools, you're often looking at a snapshot in time. The 2026 season is seeing a shift in the Carolinas.
Conference Carolinas is officially back as a football-sponsoring conference. This has pulled teams like Barton, Chowan, and North Greenville out of their previous homes (like the Gulf South or SAC) and into a new, more localized home. Even Ferrum College made the jump up from Division III to join this group.
📖 Related: Champions League Winners Top 10: What Most People Get Wrong About European Dominance
Practical Next Steps for Navigating D2 Football
If you're a recruit or a parent trying to make sense of all these names, don't just look at the wins and losses. D2 is incredibly regional.
- Check the "Super Region" map: Your path to a national title is determined by who is in your region. If you're in Super Region 3, you're going through the Michigan and Missouri juggernauts.
- Look at the "Life in the Balance" stats: Most D2 schools have smaller enrollments (87% have fewer than 8,000 students). This means smaller classes and more direct contact with professors.
- Audit the facilities: There is a massive gap in D2. Some schools have multi-million dollar indoor facilities; others share a high school stadium. Use Google Earth or visit the campus to see the real deal.
- Verify the Scholarship Math: Ask the recruiting coordinator specifically how many of their 36 "equivalencies" are actually funded. Just because the NCAA allows 36 doesn't mean the school's budget covers all of them.
The landscape of Division II is shifting faster than ever with the new playoff format and conference realignments. Whether you're rooting for a legacy power like Pittsburg State or a rising tech-heavy school like Colorado Mines, understanding the geography and the scholarship structure is the only way to truly "get" this level of the game.
To stay current, keep an eye on the NCAA's official membership database, as "reclassifying" is the new trend, with schools moving up (and occasionally down) every single summer.
Data Sources & References:
- NCAA Division II Manual (2025-26 Edition)
- D2Football.com Conference Alignment Reports
- NCAA Championship Committee Minutes (February 2025 Bracket Expansion)
- AFCA (American Football Coaches Association) D2 Rankings
Explore the specific scholarship limits for each conference as they often have stricter rules than the NCAA baseline. Determine if a school is "fully funded" before committing to a visit. Check the most recent NCAA graduation rate reports for the schools on your shortlist to ensure the "balance" is actually being maintained.