1973 NCAA Division II football season

The 1973 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. The season began in September and concluded with the Division II Championship on December 15 at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento, California. This was the first season for Division II (and Division III) football, which were formerly in the College Division in 1972 and prior.

1973 NCAA Division II football season
Regular seasonSeptember –
November 1973
PlayoffsDecember 1–15
National ChampionshipCamellia Bowl
Hughes Stadium
Sacramento, California
ChampionLouisiana Tech

Louisiana Tech won their first Division II championship, defeating Western Kentucky 34–0 in the Camellia Bowl championship game.[1][2]

Conference realignment

Membership changes
School1972 Conference1973 Conference
AkronIndependentD-II Independent
Eastern MichiganIndependentD-II Independent
Illinois StateIndependentD-II Independent
Nevada–RenoIndependentD-II Independent

Conference standings
1973 Big Sky Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 5 Boise State $^ 6 –0 –010 –3 –0
Montana State 5 –1 –07 –4 –0
Idaho 3 –2 –04 –7 –0
Northern Arizona 2 –3 –04 –6 –0
Montana 2 –4 –04 –6 –0
Weber State 2 –4 –03 –8 –0
Idaho State 0 –6 –02 –9 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from NCAA College Division AP Poll
1973 California Collegiate Athletic Association football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 8 AP / #9 UPI Cal Poly $ 4 –0 –09 –1 –0
UC Riverside 3 –1 –08 –2 –0
Cal State Fullerton 1 –3 –07 –4 –0
Cal Poly Pomona 1 –3 –04 –6 –1
Cal State Northridge 1 –3 –02 –9 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from College Division poll
1973 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Virginia Union $ 9 –0 –09 –1 –0
Livingstone 5 –2 –07 –2 –1
Norfolk State 5 –3 –05 –5 –0
Johnson C. Smith 3 –2 –07 –4 –0
Virginia State 3 –2 –05 –5 –0
Elizabeth City State 4 –4 –14 –5 –1
Fayetteville State 4 –4 –05 –5 –0
Winston-Salem State 2 –5 –13 –7 –1
Hampton 1 –5 –11 –7 –2
Shaw 1 –5 –11 –6 –1
Saint Paul's (VA) 1 –6 –01 –9 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1973 Eastern Football Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Central Connecticut State $ 3 –0 –09 –1 –0
Southern Connecticut State 2 –1 –06 –4 –0
Montclair State 1 –2 –06 –4 –0
Glassboro State 0 –3 –04 –6 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1973 Far Western Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
UC Davis + 4 –1 –07 –3 –0
Chico State + 4 –1 –07 –3 –0
San Francisco State 3 –2 –07 –2 –1
Cal State Hayward 3 –2 –03 –7 –0
Humboldt State 1 –4 –02 –6 –2
Sacramento State 0 –5 –01 –9 –0
  • + – Conference co-champions
1973 Indiana Collegiate Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Butler $ 5 –1 –05 –5 –0
DePauw 4 –2 –06 –3 –0
Evansville 3 –2 –05 –5 –0
Indiana Central 3 –3 –07 –3 –0
Valparaiso 3 –3 –06 –5 –0
Saint Joseph's (IN) 1 –4 –03 –7 –0
Wabash 0 –4 –05 –5 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1973 Gulf South Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. T–17 Troy State $ 6 –1 –07 –2 –1
No. 4 Jacksonville State 5 –2 –07 –2 –0
Delta State 6 –3 –08 –3 –0
Livingston 4 –3 –16 –3 –1
Northwestern State 3 –4 –05 –6 –0
Mississippi College 3 –4 –04 –6 –0
Southeastern Louisiana 3 –4 –04 –6 –0
Florence State 3 –6 –04 –6 –0
Nicholls State 2 –7 –02 –9 –0
Tennessee–Martin 1 –5 –12 –8 –1
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from NAIA Division I poll
1973 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
North Carolina Central $ 5 –1 –07 –4 –0
South Carolina State 4 –1 –17 –3 –1
Howard 4 –2 –08 –2 –0
Morgan State 4 –2 –06 –3 –0
Maryland Eastern Shore 2 –4 –04 –5 –0
North Carolina A&T 1 –4 –14 –6 –1
Delaware State 0 –6 –00 –11 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1973 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
SE Missouri State $ 5 –1 –06 –4 –0
NW Missouri State 4 –2 –06 –4 –0
Lincoln (MO) 3 –3 –05 –6 –0
SW Missouri State 3 –3 –03 –7 –0
Missouri–Rolla 2 –3 –13 –6 –2
NE Missouri State 2 –3 –12 –7 –2
Central Missouri State 1 –5 –02 –8 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1973 North Central Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
North Dakota State + 6 –1 –08 –2 –0
South Dakota +^ 6 –1 –08 –3 –0
Mankato State 4 –3 –07 –4 –0
North Dakota 4 –3 –06 –4 –0
Augustana (SD) 3 –3 –16 –3 –1
South Dakota State 2 –4 –15 –5 –1
Northern Iowa 2 –5 –05 –5 –0
Morningside 0 –7 –00 –9 –0
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
1973 Northern Intercollegiate Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Moorhead State $ 5 –1 –07 –3 –0
Michigan Tech 4 –2 –05 –4 –1
St. Cloud State 4 –2 –04 –6 –0
Bemidji State 2 –4 –05 –4 –0
Southwest State (MN) 2 –4 –04 –6 –0
Minnesota Morris 2 –4 –03 –6 –0
Winona State 2 –4 –03 –7 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1973 Ohio Valley Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 3 Western Kentucky $^ 7 –0 –012 –1 –0
Murray State 5 –2 –07 –3 –0
Eastern Kentucky 4 –3 –07 –4 –0
Morehead State 4 –3 –06 –5 –0
East Tennessee State 3 –4 –04 –7 –0
Middle Tennessee 3 –4 –04 –7 –0
Tennessee Tech 1 –6 –02 –8 –1
Austin Peay 1 –6 –02 –8 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from Associated Press poll
1973 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
East Division
West Chester xy 4 –0 –05 –5 –0
East Stroudsburg 5 –1 –06 –1 –1
Millersville 4 –2 –07 –2 –0
Cheyney 3 –2 –05 –4 –0
Bloomsburg 2 –4 –04 –5 –0
Kutztown 1 –5 –02 –7 –0
Mansfield 0 –5 –01 –7 –0
West Division
No. T–20 Slippery Rock xy$ 5 –0 –08 –2 –0
Clarion 3 –2 –05 –4 –0
Edinboro 3 –2 –04 –4 –1
Lock Haven 2 –3 –02 –7 –0
California (PA) 1 –4 –03 –6 –0
Shippensburg 1 –4 –02 –7 –0
Indiana (PA) * 0 –0 –04 –5 –0
Championship: Slippery Rock 28, West Chester 14
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • * – Ineligible for conference title
Rankings from NAIA Division I poll
1973 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Division I
Bethune–Cookman x 5 –0 –09 –2 –0
Florida A&M 4 –1 –05 –6 –0
No. 16 Albany State 3 –2 –06 –3 –1
Alabama A&M 3 –2 –05 –5 –0
Tuskegee 2 –3 –07 –4 –0
Morris Brown 1 –4 –01 –8 –1
Alabama State 0 –5 –03 –8 –0
Division II
No. 7 Fisk x 5 –0 –09 –0 –0
Fort Valley State 4 –1 –07 –1 –1
Clark (GA) 4 –1 –04 –3 –1
Morehouse 3 –2 –04 –3 –1
Savannah State 2 –3 –03 –6 –0
Lane 1 –4 –03 –6 –0
Miles 1 –4 –01 –8 –0
Knoxville 0 –5 –00 –8 –0
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from NAIA Division II poll
1973 Southland Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 2 Louisiana Tech $^ 5 –0 –012 –1 –0
Arkansas State 3 –2 –07 –3 –0
Lamar 3 –2 –05 –5 –0
McNeese State 2 –3 –07 –3 –1
Texas–Arlington 2 –3 –04 –6 –0
SW Louisiana 0 –5 –00 –10 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AP Poll
1973 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 5/7 Grambling +^ 5 –1 –010 –3 –0
No. 10 Jackson State + 5 –1 –09 –2 –0
No. T–20 Alcorn A&M 3 –2 –17 –2 –1
Southern 3 –3 –06 –4 –0
Texas Southern 2 –3 –15 –5 –1
Mississippi Valley State 2 –4 –03 –5 –0
Prairie View A&M 0 –6 –02 –6 –1
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA Division I poll and AP small college poll
1973 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Northern Division
Fairmont State xy$ 3 –0 –06 –3 –1
West Liberty State 2 –1 –13 –5 –1
Salem 2 –2 –06 –4 –0
Shepherd 1 –2 –06 –4 –0
West Virginia Wesleyan 0 –3 –12 –6 –1
Southern Division
No. 2 Glenville State xy^ 4 –0 –010 –2 –0
Bluefield State 3 –1 –04 –5 –0
West Virginia State 2 –2 –05 –5 –0
West Virginia Tech 1 –3 –04 –5 –0
Concord 0 –4 –00 –9 –0
Championship: Fairmont State 21, Glenville State 7
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • ^ – NAIA Division II playoff participant
    Conference standings based on power ratings
Rankings from NAIA Division II poll
1973 Yankee Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Connecticut $ 5 –0 –18 –2 –1
Rhode Island 4 –1 –16 –2 –2
UMass 4 –2 –06 –5 –0
New Hampshire 2 –3 –04 –5 –0
Boston University 2 –3 –03 –7 –0
Maine 2 –4 –03 –7 –0
Vermont 1 –5 –03 –6 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
1973 NCAA Division II independents football records
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 1 Tennessee State   –  10 –0 –0
No. 9 Hawaii   –  9 –2 –0
Nebraska–Omaha   –  7 –2 –1
Trinity (TX)   –  8 –3 –0
UNLV   –  8 –3 –0
No. 13 Delaware ^   –  8 –4 –0
Western Carolina   –  6 –3 –1
Central Michigan   –  7 –4 –0
Nevada   –  7 –4 –0
Western Illinois   –  7 –4 –0
Milwaukee   –  6 –4 –1
Eastern Michigan   –  6 –4 –0
American International   –  5 –4 –0
Akron   –  6 –5 –0
Central State (OH)   –  6 –5 –0
Wayne State (MI)   –  5 –5 –0
Drexel   –  4 –4 –0
Bucknell   –  3 –4 –2
Northeast Louisiana   –  3 –5 –2
Santa Clara   –  4 –6 –0
Youngstown State   –  4 –6 –0
Arkansas–Pine Bluff   –  3 –5 –1
Chattanooga   –  4 –7 –0
Indiana State   –  4 –7 –0
Northeastern   –  3 –6 –0
Northern Michigan   –  2 –7 –1
Eastern Illinois   –  2 –9 –0
Portland State   –  1 –10 –0
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from Associated Press poll

Conference summaries
See also: List of NCAA Division II football seasons
ConferenceChampion
Big Sky ConferenceBoise State
Eastern Football ConferenceCentral Connecticut State
Far Western Football ConferenceUC Davis and Cal State Chico
Gulf South ConferenceTroy State
Mid-Eastern Athletic ConferenceNorth Carolina Central
Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic AssociationSoutheast Missouri State
North Central ConferenceNorth Dakota State and South Dakota
Ohio Valley ConferenceWestern Kentucky
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceBethune-Cookman
Southland ConferenceLouisiana Tech
Southwestern Athletic ConferenceGrambling and Jackson State
Yankee ConferenceConnecticut

Postseason
1973 NCAA Division II Football Championship
Teams8
Finals Site
Champion
Runner-up
Semifinalists
Winning coach

The 1973 NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs were the first single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division II college football. The inaugural edition had only eight teams; of the four quarterfinal games, three were played on campus and a fourth was in Atlantic City, New Jersey,[3] the final edition of the Boardwalk Bowl. The semifinals were held at the Grantland Rice Bowl in Baton Rouge, Louisiana,[4] and the Pioneer Bowl in Wichita Falls, Texas.[5][6]

The championship game was the Camellia Bowl, held at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento, California. The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs defeated the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 34–0 to win their first national title.[2][7]

Playoff bracket
First round
Atlantic City, NJ
& 3 campus sites

December 1 		Semifinals
Grantland Rice Bowl
Pioneer Bowl

December 8 		Championship
Camellia Bowl
Hughes Stadium
Sacramento, CA
December 15
         
Grambling 17
Delaware 8
Grambling 20
Western Kentucky 28
Western Kentucky * 25
Lehigh 16
Western Kentucky 0
Louisiana Tech 34
Louisiana Tech * 18
Western Illinois 13
Louisiana Tech 38
Boise State 34
Boise State * 53
South Dakota 10

* Denotes host institution

Rankings
Main article: 1973 NCAA College Division football rankings

United Press International (UPI) and the Associated Press (AP) continued to rank teams in their College Division or "small college" polls, which had started in 1958 and 1960, respectively. In 1973, UPI published their final poll at the end of the regular season, while the AP waited until postseason games had been completed. Both wire services named the Tennessee State Tigers as the number one team; Tennessee State did not compete in the playoffs "because five of its starters would not be eligible to play."[8] The players in question had sat out their freshmen year ("redshirt") and then played four seasons;[8] under NCAA rules at the time, such players were not eligible for postseason play as fifth-year seniors. During the regular season, the Tigers were undefeated (10–0) and had outscored their opponents 333–87.

See also

References
  1. "All-Time Conference Champions" (PDF). NCAA. NCAA.org. pp. 15–28. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  2. "Western Kentucky (Louisiana Tech) champs after 34–0 romp". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. December 16, 1973. p. 20.
  3. "Boise St. smears South Dakota". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. December 2, 1973. p. 19.
  4. "Western Kentucky triumphs". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. December 9, 1973. p. 19.
  5. "Boise in semis". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. December 8, 1973. p. 17.
  6. "Late TD tops Boise". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. December 9, 1973. p. 19.
  7. "1973 NCAA Division II National Football Championship Bracket" (PDF). NCAA. NCAA.org. p. 13. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  8. Finocchiaro, Ray (November 15, 1973). "5 Ineligible So Tennessee State Quits Playoff". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. Retrieved February 28, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  9. "College Football Small College Poll". The Republic. Columbus, Indiana. United Press International. November 28, 1973. Retrieved July 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com open access.
  10. "Tennessee St. Picked No. 1 In Grid Poll". The Northwest Arkansas Times. Fayetteville, Arkansas. Associated Press. December 19, 1973. Retrieved July 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com open access.
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