Discover the total number of Division 2 football teams in the USA, along with insights into conferences and scholarship opportunities. Find reliable information and resources at CAUHOI2025.UK.COM. Explore the landscape of NCAA Division 2 football.
1. Exploring NCAA Division 2 Football Programs
There are 162 Division 2 football programs across the United States, organized into 17 conferences. These conferences include the CIAA, G-MAC, GAC, GLIAC, GLVC, GNAC, Gulf South, Independent, LSC, MEC, MIAA, NE-10, NSIC, PSAC, RMAC, SAC and SIAC conferences.
This article delves into the specifics of Division 2 football, offering a comprehensive overview for student-athletes, parents, and fans. We’ll cover the number of teams, the conferences they belong to, scholarship opportunities, and the balance between athletics and academics in Division 2 programs. For more detailed information and guidance, visit CauHoi2025.UK.COM, your reliable source for college sports insights.
1.1. Understanding Division 2 Football
NCAA Division 2 football represents an intermediate level of collegiate athletics, bridging the gap between the high-profile Division 1 and the non-scholarship Division 3. Division 2 provides a competitive environment where student-athletes can excel in football while maintaining a focus on academics and a balanced college experience.
1.2. Key Features of Division 2 Football
- Athletic Competitiveness: While slightly less intense than Division 1, Division 2 football still showcases formidable athletic talent.
- Scholarship Opportunities: Division 2 schools offer athletic scholarships, but unlike Division 1, these are not always full-ride scholarships.
- Balanced Approach: Division 2 aims to strike a balance between athletic commitment, academic pursuits, and a fulfilling social life for student-athletes.
2. Division 2 Football Landscape
The Division 2 football landscape is diverse, with teams spread across various regions of the United States. These teams are organized into conferences that facilitate regular competition and foster regional rivalries.
2.1. List of Division 2 Conferences
Here’s a list of the 17 conferences that house Division 2 football programs:
- Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)
- Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC)
- Great American Conference (GAC)
- Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC)
- Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC)
- Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC)
- Gulf South Conference
- Independent
- Lone Star Conference (LSC)
- Mountain East Conference (MEC)
- Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA)
- Northeast-10 Conference (NE-10)
- Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC)
- Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC)
- Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC)
- South Atlantic Conference (SAC)
- Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC)
Each conference has its unique geographic footprint and competitive dynamics, contributing to the rich tapestry of Division 2 football.
2.2. Geographical Distribution
Division 2 football teams can be found in almost every region of the United States, from the Northeast to the West Coast. This broad distribution allows student-athletes to find programs that align with their geographic preferences and academic interests.
3. Scholarship Opportunities in Division 2 Football
One of the defining characteristics of Division 2 football is its approach to athletic scholarships. Unlike Division 1, where full-ride scholarships are more common, Division 2 schools have greater flexibility in how they allocate scholarship funds.
3.1. Scholarship Allocation
Coaches in Division 2 have the discretion to divide scholarship money among athletes based on their needs and the team’s priorities. This means that some athletes may receive full scholarships, while others may receive partial scholarships to cover tuition, room, board, or other expenses.
3.2. Factors Influencing Scholarship Amounts
Several factors can influence the amount of scholarship money an athlete receives, including:
- Position: Athletes in high-demand positions, such as quarterback or offensive lineman, may be offered larger scholarships.
- Talent Level: Athletes who demonstrate exceptional talent and potential may be rewarded with more substantial financial assistance.
- Team Needs: Coaches may allocate more scholarship money to athletes who fill specific needs on the team.
3.3. Navigating the Scholarship Process
Understanding the scholarship landscape in Division 2 is essential for student-athletes and their families. It’s crucial to communicate with coaches, attend recruitment events, and showcase your athletic abilities to maximize your chances of receiving financial aid.
4. Division 2 Football Teams List
Below is a comprehensive list of Division 2 football teams, detailing their location, type (public or private), conference affiliation, and NCAA division.
| School | City and State | Type | Conference | Division |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams State University | Alamosa, Colorado | Public | Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Albany State University | Albany, Georgia | Public | Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Allen University | Columbia, South Carolina | Private | Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| American International College | Springfield, Massachusetts | Private | Northeast-10 Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Anderson University – South Carolina | Anderson, South Carolina | Private | South Atlantic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Angelo State University | San Angelo, Texas | Public | Lone Star Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Arkansas Tech University | Russellville, Arkansas | Public | Great American Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Ashland University | Ashland, Ohio | Private | Great Midwest Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Assumption University | Worcester, Massachusetts | Private | Northeast-10 Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Augustana University – South Dakota | Sioux Falls, South Dakota | Private | Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Barton College | Wilson, North Carolina | Private | Conference Carolinas | NCAA D2 |
| Bemidji State University | Bemidji, Minnesota | Public | Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Benedict College | Columbia, South Carolina | Private | Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Bentley University | Waltham, Massachusetts | Private | Northeast-10 Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Black Hills State University | Spearfish, South Dakota | Public | Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania | Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania | Public | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Bluefield State University | Bluefield, West Virginia | Public | Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association | NCAA D2 |
| Bowie State University | Bowie, Maryland | Public | Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association | NCAA D2 |
| Caldwell University | Caldwell, New Jersey | Private | Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference | NCAA D2 |
| California University of Pennsylvania | California, Pennsylvania | Public | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Carson-Newman University | Jefferson City, Tennessee | Private | South Atlantic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Catawba College | Salisbury, North Carolina | Private | South Atlantic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Central State University | Wilberforce, Ohio | Public | Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Central Washington University | Ellensburg, Washington | Public | Great Northwest Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Chadron State College | Chadron, Nebraska | Public | Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Chowan University | Murfreesboro, North Carolina | Private | Gulf South Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Clarion University of Pennsylvania | Clarion, Pennsylvania | Public | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Clark Atlanta University | Atlanta, Georgia | Private | Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction, Colorado | Public | Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Colorado School of Mines | Golden, Colorado | Public | Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Colorado State University – Pueblo | Pueblo, Colorado | Public | Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Concord University | Athens, West Virginia | Public | Mountain East Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Concordia University, St. Paul – Minnesota | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Davenport University | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Private | Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Delta State University | Cleveland, Mississippi | Public | Gulf South Conference | NCAA D2 |
| East Central University | Ada, Oklahoma | Public | Great American Conference | NCAA D2 |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania | Public | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Eastern New Mexico University | Portales, New Mexico | Public | Lone Star Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Edinboro University | Edinboro, Pennsylvania | Public | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Edward Waters University | Jacksonville, Florida | Private | Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Elizabeth City State University | Elizabeth City, North Carolina | Public | Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association | NCAA D2 |
| Emory & Henry College | Emory, Virginia | Private | South Atlantic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Emporia State University | Emporia, Kansas | Public | Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association | NCAA D2 |
| Erskine College | Due West, South Carolina | Private | Gulf South Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Fairmont State University | Fairmont, West Virginia | Public | Mountain East Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Fayetteville State University | Fayetteville, North Carolina | Public | Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association | NCAA D2 |
| Ferris State University | Big Rapids, Michigan | Public | Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Fort Hays State University | Hays, Kansas | Public | Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association | NCAA D2 |
| Fort Lewis College | Durango, Colorado | Public | Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Fort Valley State University | Fort Valley, Georgia | Public | Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Franklin Pierce University | Rindge, New Hampshire | Private | Northeast-10 Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Frostburg State University | Frostburg, Maryland | Public | Mountain East Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Gannon University | Erie, Pennsylvania | Private | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Glenville State University | Glenville, West Virginia | Public | Mountain East Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Grand Valley State University | Allendale, Michigan | Public | Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Harding University | Searcy, Arkansas | Private | Great American Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Henderson State University | Arkadelphia, Arkansas | Public | Great American Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Hillsdale College | Hillsdale, Michigan | Private | Great Midwest Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania | Indiana, Pennsylvania | Public | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Johnson C. Smith University | Charlotte, North Carolina | Private | Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association | NCAA D2 |
| Kentucky State University | Frankfort, Kentucky | Public | Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Kentucky Wesleyan College | Owensboro, Kentucky | Private | Great Midwest Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | Kutztown, Pennsylvania | Public | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Lake Erie College | Painesville, Ohio | Private | Great Midwest Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Lane College | Jackson, Tennessee | Private | Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Lenoir-Rhyne University | Hickory, North Carolina | Private | South Atlantic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Limestone University | Gaffney, South Carolina | Private | South Atlantic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Lincoln University – Missouri | Jefferson City, Missouri | Public | Great Lakes Valley Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Lincoln University Pennsylvania | Lincoln University, Pennsylvania | Public | Eastern College Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Livingstone College | Salisbury, North Carolina | Private | Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association | NCAA D2 |
| Lock Haven University | Lock Haven, Pennsylvania | Public | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Mars Hill University | Mars Hill, North Carolina | Private | South Atlantic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| McKendree University | Lebanon, Illinois | Private | Great Lakes Valley Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Michigan Technological University | Houghton, Michigan | Public | Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Midwestern State University | Wichita Falls, Texas | Public | Lone Star Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Miles College | Fairfield, Alabama | Private | Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania | Millersville, Pennsylvania | Public | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Minnesota State University – Mankato | Mankato, Minnesota | Public | Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Minnesota State University – Moorhead | Moorhead, Minnesota | Public | Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Minot State University | Minot, North Dakota | Public | Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Mississippi College | Clinton, Mississippi | Private | Gulf South Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Missouri Southern State University | Joplin, Missouri | Public | Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association | NCAA D2 |
| Missouri University of Science & Technology | Rolla, Missouri | Public | Great Lakes Valley Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Missouri Western State University | Saint Joseph, Missouri | Public | Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association | NCAA D2 |
| Morehouse College | Atlanta, Georgia | Private | Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| New Mexico Highlands University | Las Vegas, New Mexico | Public | Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Newberry College | Newberry, South Carolina | Private | South Atlantic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| North Greenville University | Tigerville, South Carolina | Private | Conference Carolinas | NCAA D2 |
| Northeastern State University | Tahlequah, Oklahoma | Public | Independent | NCAA D2 |
| Northern Michigan University | Marquette, Michigan | Public | Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Northern State University | Aberdeen, South Dakota | Public | Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Northwest Missouri State University | Maryville, Missouri | Public | Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association | NCAA D2 |
| Northwestern Oklahoma State University | Alva, Oklahoma | Public | Great American Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Northwood University – Michigan | Midland, Michigan | Private | Great Midwest Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Ohio Dominican University | Columbus, Ohio | Private | Great Midwest Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Oklahoma Baptist University | Shawnee, Oklahoma | Private | Great American Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia, Arkansas | Private | Great American Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Pace University | New York, New York | Private | Northeast-10 Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Pittsburg State University | Pittsburg, Kansas | Public | Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association | NCAA D2 |
| Post University | Waterbury, Connecticut | Private | Northeast-10 Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Quincy University | Quincy, Illinois | Private | Great Lakes Valley Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Roosevelt University | Chicago, Illinois | Private | Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Saginaw Valley State University | University Center, Michigan | Public | Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Saint Anselm College | Manchester, New Hampshire | Private | Northeast-10 Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Savannah State University | Savannah, Georgia | Public | Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Seton Hill University | Greensburg, Pennsylvania | Private | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Shaw University | Raleigh, North Carolina | Private | Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association | NCAA D2 |
| Shepherd University | Shepherdstown, West Virginia | Public | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania | Shippensburg, Pennsylvania | Public | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Shorter University | Rome, Georgia | Private | Independent | NCAA D2 |
| Slippery Rock University | Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania | Public | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| South Dakota Mines | Rapid City, South Dakota | Public | Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Southeastern Oklahoma State University | Durant, Oklahoma | Public | Great American Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Southern Arkansas University | Magnolia, Arkansas | Public | Great American Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Southern Connecticut State University | New Haven, Connecticut | Public | Northeast-10 Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Southern Nazarene University | Bethany, Oklahoma | Private | Great American Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Southwest Baptist University | Bolivar, Missouri | Private | Great Lakes Valley Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Southwest Minnesota State University | Marshall, Minnesota | Public | Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference | NCAA D2 |
| Southwestern Oklahoma State University | Weatherford, Oklahoma |
