The NAIA began sponsoring a college football championship playoff system in 1956. In 1970, football was divided into two divisions, Division I and Division II, with a championship gamed played in each division. In 1997, football was again consolidated into one division.

NAIA Consolidated Champions (1956-1969 and 1997-present)

  • 1956 Montana State & St. Joseph’s (Indiana) (co-champions)
  • 1957 Pittsburg State (Kansas)
  • 1958 Northeastern State (Oklahoma)
  • 1959 Texas A&I
  • 1960 Lenoir-Rhyne (North Carolina)
  • 1961 Pittsburg State (Kansas)
  • 1962 Central State (Oklahoma)
  • 1963 St. John’s (Minnesota)
  • 1964 Concordia (Minnesota) & Sam Houston State (Texas) (co-champions)
  • 1965 St. John’s (Minnesota)
  • 1966 Waynesburg (Pennsylvania)
  • 1967 Fairmont State (West Virginia)
  • 1968 Troy State (Alabama)
  • 1969 Texas A&I
  • 1970-1996 (see NAIA Division I Champions and NAIA Division II Champions)
  • 1997 Sioux Falls (South Dakota)
  • 1998 Azusa Pacific (California)
  • 1999 Northwestern Oklahoma State
  • 2000 Georgetown (Kentucky)
  • 2001 Georgetown (Kentucky)
  • 2002 Carroll (Montana)

NAIA Division I Champions (1970-1996)

  • 1970 Texas A&I
  • 1971 Livingston (Alabama)
  • 1972 East Texas State
  • 1973 Abilene Christian (Texas)
  • 1974 Texas A&I
  • 1975 Texas A&I
  • 1976 Texas A&I
  • 1977 Abilene Christian (Texas)
  • 1978 Angelo State (Texas)
  • 1979 Texas A&I
  • 1980 Elon (North Carolina)
  • 1981 Elon (North Carolina)
  • 1982 Central State (Oklahoma)
  • 1983 Carson-Newman (Tennessee)
  • 1984 Carson-Newman (Tennessee) & Central Arkansas (co-champions)
  • 1985 Hillsdale (Michigan) & Central Arkansas (co-champions)
  • 1986 Carson-Newman (Tennessee)
  • 1987 Cameron (Oklahoma)
  • 1988 Carson-Newman (Tennessee)
  • 1989 Carson-Newman (Tennessee)
  • 1990 Central State (Ohio)
  • 1991 Central Arkansas
  • 1992 Central State (Ohio)
  • 1993 East Central (Oklahoma)
  • 1994 Northeastern State (Oklahoma)
  • 1995 Central State (Ohio)
  • 1996 Southwestern Oklahoma

NAIA Division II Football Champions (1970-1996)

  • 1970 Westminster (Pennsylvania)
  • 1971 California Lutheran
  • 1972 Missouri Southern
  • 1973 Northwestern (Iowa)
  • 1974 Texas Lutheran
  • 1975 Texas Lutheran
  • 1976 Westminster (Pennsylvania)
  • 1977 Westminster (Pennsylvania)
  • 1978 Concordia (Minnesota)
  • 1979 Findlay (Ohio)
  • 1980 Pacific Lutheran (Washington)
  • 1981 Austin College (Texas) & Condordia (Minnesota) (co-champions)
  • 1982 Linfield (Oregon)
  • 1983 Northwestern (Iowa)
  • 1984 Linfield (Oregon)
  • 1985 Wisconsin-La Crosse
  • 1986 Linfield (Oregon)
  • 1987 Pacific Lutheran (Washington) & vacated (co-champion)
  • 1988 Westminster (Pennsylvania)
  • 1989 Westminster (Pennsylvania)
  • 1990 Peru State (Nebraska)
  • 1991 Georgetown (Kentucky)
  • 1992 Findlay (Ohio)
  • 1993 Pacific Lutheran (Washington)
  • 1994 Westminster (Pennsylvania)
  • 1995 Central Washington & Findley (Ohio) (co-champions)
  • 1996 Sioux Falls (South Dakota)