2012 NCAA Division II football season

The 2012 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, began on September 1, 2012, and concluded with the NCAA Division II Football Championship on December 15, 2012 at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama, hosted by the University of North Alabama. The Valdosta State Blazers defeated the Winston-Salem State Rams, 35–7, to win their third Division II national title.[2]

2012 NCAA Division II football season
Regular seasonSeptember 1 – November 10, 2012
PlayoffsNovember 17 – December 15, 2012[1]
National ChampionshipBraly Municipal Stadium
Florence, AL
ChampionValdosta State
Harlon Hill TrophyZach Zulli, Shippensburg

It proved to be the final season for the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC). Shortly before the start of the 2012–13 school year, the WVIAC's nine football-playing members announced plans to break away and form a new league. Before the new conference was announced, one of the nine breakaway schools (Seton Hill) chose instead to join the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference; the remaining eight schools joined with three other football-playing schools and one non-football WVIAC member left out of the original split. The new league, officially unveiled in August 2012 as the Mountain East Conference, began play in 2013.

The Harlon Hill Trophy was awarded to Zach Zulli, quarterback from Shippensburg.

Conference changes and new programs
SchoolFormer conferenceNew conference
Azusa Pacific CougarsIndependent (NAIA)GNAC
Black Hills State Yellow JacketsIndependentRMAC
Central Oklahoma BronchosIndependentMIAA
Central State MaraudersIndependentGLVC
Indianapolis GreyhoundsGLIACGLVC
Kentucky Wesleyan PanthersGLFCGLVC
Lindenwood LionsIndependentMIAA
Malone PioneersIndependent (NAIA)GLIAC
McKendree BearcatsIndependent (NAIA)GLVC
McMurry War HawksAmerican Southwest (D-III)Independent
Minot State BeaversIndependentNSIC
Missouri S&T MinersGLFCGLVC
Nebraska–Kearney LopersRMACMIAA
Northeastern State RiverHawksIndependentMIAA
Northwestern Oklahoma State RangersCSFL (NAIA)Independent
Notre Dame FalconsIndependentGLIAC
Quincy HawksMSFA (NAIA)GLVC
Saint Joseph's PumasGLFCGLVC
Shorter HawksMid-South (NAIA)Gulf South
Sioux Falls CougarsIndependentNSIC
Southern Nazarene Crimson StormCSFL (NAIA)Independent
Southwest Baptist BearcatsIndependentMIAA
Urbana Blue KnightsGLFCGLVC
Walsh CavaliersIndependent (NAIA)GLIAC
William Jewell CardinalsIndependentGLVC

Minot State, Notre Dame (OH), Simon Fraser, Sioux Falls, and William Jewell completed their transitions to Division II and became eligible for the postseason.

Regional realignment

The GNAC, MIAA, and Great American moved from Super Region 4 to Super Region 3, while the RMAC and GLIAC moved in the opposite direction; the GLVC, newly sponsoring football, was assigned to Super Region 4.

Conference standings

Super Region 1
2012 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
North
Elizabeth City State xy  6 –1     8 –4  
Chowan  5 –2     6 –4  
Virginia Union  3 –4     5 –5  
Virginia State  3 –4     4 –6  
Bowie State  2 –5     5 –5  
Lincoln (PA)  1 –6     1 –9  
South
No. 2 Winston-Salem St. xy$^  7 –0     14 –1  
Johnson C. Smith  5 –2     6 –4  
St. Augustine's  4 –3     6 –4  
Shaw  3 –4     4 –6  
Livingstone  2 –5     2 –8  
Fayetteville State  1 –6     2 –8  
Championship: Winston-Salem State 34, Elizabeth City State 19
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2012 Northeast-10 Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 8 New Haven y$^  8 –0     10 –1  
American International y  7 –1     7 –3  
Bentley  6 –2     8 –2  
Stonehill  5 –3     5 –5  
Merrimack  4 –4     6 –4  
Assumption  3 –5     3 –7  
Southern Connecticut  2 –6     3 –8  
Saint Anselm  1 –7     2 –9  
Pace  0 –8     0 –9  
Championship: New Haven 37, American International 12
  • $ – Conference champion
  • y – Championship game participant
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2012 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
East
No. 14 Shippensburg xy^  7 –0     11 –2  
No. 17 Bloomsburg ^  6 –1     10 –2  
West Chester  4 –3     7 –4  
East Stroudsburg  4 –3     5 –5  
Kutztown  4 –3     7 –4  
LIU Post  2 –5     3 –7  
Millersville  1 –6     2 –9  
Cheyney  0 –7     1 –10  
West
No. 7 Indiana (PA) xy$^  6 –1     12 –3  
Mercyhurst x  6 –1     9 –2  
California (PA)  5 –2     8 –3  
Slippery Rock  5 –2     6 –5  
Edinboro  3 –4     4 –6  
Clarion  2 –5     4 –7  
Gannon  1 –6     3 –8  
Lock Haven  0 –7     1 –10  
Championship: Indiana (PA) 41, Shippensburg 10
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2012 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 25 Shepherd $^  7 –1     8 –3  
Charleston (WV)  6 –2     9 –2  
Concord  6 –2     7 –4  
Glenville State  6 –2     6 –5  
West Liberty  4 –4     6 –5  
Fairmont State  4 –4     4 –6  
West Virginia Wesleyan  2 –6     3 –8  
West Virginia State  1 –7     2 –9  
Seton Hill  0 –8     0 –11  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll

Super Region 2
2012 Gulf South Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 21 West Alabama $^  5 –0     9 –4  
No. 1 Valdosta State ^  4 –1     12 –2  
Shorter #  2 –3     6 –5  
North Alabama  2 –3     5 –5  
Delta State  1 –4     3 –7  
West Georgia  1 –4     3 –7  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
  • # – Provisional NCAA Division II member
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2012 South Atlantic Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 20 Lenoir–Rhyne $^  6 –1     9 –3  
No. 13 Carson–Newman ^  5 –2     9 –3  
Mars Hill  5 –2     6 –4  
Wingate  5 –2     6 –5  
Newberry  3 –4     5 –6  
Catawba  2 –5     4 –7  
Brevard  1 –6     2 –9  
Tusculum  1 –6     2 –9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2012 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
East
Fort Valley State xy^  6 –1     8 –4  
Albany State  5 –2     6 –4  
Morehouse  2 –5     3 –7  
Clark Atlanta  1 –6     2 –8  
Benedict  1 –6     1 –9  
West
No. 23 Tuskegee xy$  7 –0     10 –2  
Miles ^  6 –1     8 –2  
Stillman  4 –3     6 –5  
Lane  3 –4     5 –5  
Kentucky State  0 –7     2 –8  
Championship: Tuskegee 55, Fort Valley State 24
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2012 NCAA Division II Super Region 2 independents football records
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
UNC Pembroke   –     6 –4  
North Greenville   –     5 –6  
Rankings from AFCA Poll

Super Region 3
2012 Great American Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 11 Henderson St. $^  8 –0     10 –1  
No. 19 Harding ^  7 –1     9 –2  
Southern Arkansas  6 –2     8 –3  
Ouachita Baptist  4 –4     6 –2  
East Central  4 –4     6 –5  
Arkansas Tech  3 –5     5 –6  
SE Oklahoma State  2 –6     4 –6  
SW Oklahoma State  2 –6     3 –7  
Arkansas–Monticello  0 –8     1 –10  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2012 Great Northwest Athletic Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
Central Washington $  7 –3     7 –4  
Humboldt State  6 –4     7 –4  
Western Oregon  6 –4     6 –5  
Simon Fraser  4 –6     5 –6  
Azusa Pacific #  4 –6     4 –7  
Dixie State  3 –7     3 –8  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • # – Provisional Division II member
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2012 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 5 Missouri Western $^  9 –1     12 –2  
No. 22 Emporia State  9 –2     10 –2  
No. 10 NW Missouri St. ^  8 –2     10 –3  
Pittsburg State  7 –3     7 –3  
Lindenwood #  7 –3     8 –4  
Washburn  7 –4     7 –4  
Central Missouri  6 –4     6 –4  
Missouri Southern  5 –5     6 –5  
Fort Hays State  4 –6     5 –6  
Northeastern State  4 –6     4 –6  
Truman  3 –7     4 –7  
Southwest Baptist  3 –8     3 –8  
Nebraska–Kearney  2 –8     3 –8  
Central Oklahoma  2 –8     2 –8  
Lincoln (MO)  1 –10     1 –10  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
  • # – Provisional Division II member
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2012 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
North
No. 12 Minnesota–Duluth ^  10 –1     10 –2  
Bemidji State  7 –4     7 –4  
St. Cloud State  7 –4     7 –4  
Northern State  6 –5     6 –5  
Mary  4 –7     4 –7  
Minot State  3 –8     3 –8  
Minnesota–Crookston  2 –9     2 –9  
MSU Moorhead  1 –10     1 –10  
South
No. 3 Minnesota State $^  11 –0     13 –1  
Winona State  9 –2     10 –2  
Sioux Falls  9 –2     9 –2  
Wayne State (NE)  6 –5     6 –5  
Augustana (SD)  5 –6     5 –6  
SW Minnesota State  4 –7     4 –7  
Concordia–St. Paul  2 –9     2 –9  
Upper Iowa  2 –9     2 –9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll

Super Region 4
2012 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
North
Grand Valley State  7 –3     8 –3  
Saginaw Valley State  7 –3     8 –3  
Michigan Tech  7 –3     7 –3  
Hillsdale  7 –3     7 –4  
Ferris State  6 –4     7 –4  
Wayne State (MI)  5 –5     5 –5  
Northwood  4 –6     5 –6  
Northern Michigan  4 –6     5 –6  
South
No. 9 Ashland $^  10 –0     11 –1  
Ohio Dominican  7 –3     8 –3  
Findlay  7 –3     7 –3  
Lake Erie  3 –7     3 –8  
Notre Dame (OH)  2 –8     3 –8  
Tiffin  2 –8     3 –8  
Walsh *  2 –8     3 –8  
Malone *  1 –9     1 –9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
  • * – Provisional Division II member
Rankings from AFCA poll
2012 Great Lakes Valley Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 15 Indianapolis $^  8 –0     10 –3  
No. 24 Missouri S&T  7 –1     10 –1  
Urbana  5 –3     7 –4  
Saint Joseph's (IN)  5 –3     6 –5  
Central State  4 –4     4 –7  
McKendree #  3 –5     3 –7  
Quincy  3 –5     3 –8  
William Jewell  1 –7     2 –9  
Kentucky Wesleyan  0 –8     2 –9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
  • # – Provisional Division II member
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2012 Lone Star Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 16 Midwestern State +^  7 –1     9 –2  
No. 4 West Texas A&M +^  7 –1     12 –3  
Tarleton State  5 –3     6 –4  
Texas A&M–Kingsville  5 –3     6 –6  
Abilene Christian  4 –4     7 –4  
Angelo State  4 –4     5 –6  
Eastern New Mexico †  2 –6     3 –7  
Incarnate Word  1 –7     2 –9  
Texas A&M–Commerce  1 –7     1 –9  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
  • † – Eastern New Mexico vacated all three wins.
Rankings from AFCA poll
2012 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 6 CSU–Pueblo $^  9 –0     12 –1  
No. 18 Chadron State ^  8 –1     9 –3  
New Mexico Highlands  7 –2     8 –3  
Adams State  6 –3     8 –3  
Colorado Mines  4 –5     6 –5  
Colorado Mesa  4 –5     4 –7  
Black Hills State #  3 –6     4 –7  
Western New Mexico  3 –6     4 –7  
Western State  1 –8     1 –10  
Fort Lewis  0 –9     0 –10  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
  • # – Provisional Division II member
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2012 NCAA Division II Super Region 4 independents football records
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
McMurry #   –     8 –3  
OK Panhandle State   –     4 –6  
NW Oklahoma State #   –     3 –7  
South Dakota Mines #   –     2 –9  
Southern Nazarene #   –     2 –9  
  • # – Provisional Division II member
Rankings from AFCA Poll

Conference champions
See also: List of NCAA Division II football seasons
Conference Champions

Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association – Winston-Salem State (14–1, 7–0)
Great American Conference – Henderson State
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Ashland
Great Lakes Valley Conference – Indianapolis
Great Northwest Athletic Conference – Central Washington
Gulf South Conference – West Alabama
Lone Star Conference – Midwestern State and West Texas A&M
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association – Missouri Western State
Northeast-10 Conference – New Haven
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference – Minnesota–Duluth (North) and Minnesota State–Mankato (South)
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference – Indiana (PA)
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference – CSU Pueblo
South Atlantic Conference – Lenoir-Rhyne
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Tuskegee
West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference‡ – Shepherd

Postseason
2012 NCAA Division II Football Championship
Teams24
Finals Site
Champion
Runner-up
Semifinalists
Winning Coach
  • championship

The 2012 NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs were the 39th single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division II college football. The championship game was held at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama for the 25th time.

Seeded teams

Playoff bracket
  First Round
November 17
Campus Sites		 Second Round
November 24
Campus Sites		 Quarterfinals
December 1
Campus Sites		 Semifinals
December 8
Campus Sites		 National Championship Game
December 15
Braly Municipal Stadium,
Florence, Alabama
                                               
— Shippensburg 58     — Winston-Salem State 37  
— Bloomsburg 20     — Shippensburg 14  
  — Winston-Salem State 21  
  — Indiana (PA) 17  
— Indiana (PA) 27 — New Haven 14
— Shepherd 17     — Indiana (PA) 17  
  — Winston-Salem State 41  
  — West Texas A&M 18  
— Indianapolis 31     — CSU–Pueblo 28  
— Midwestern State 14     — Indianapolis 7  
  — CSU–Pueblo 13
  — West Texas A&M 34  
— West Texas A&M 38 — Ashland 28
— Chadron State 30     — West Texas A&M 33  
  — Winston-Salem State 7
  — Valdosta State 35
— West Alabama 41     — Valdosta State 49  
— Miles 7     — West Alabama 21  
  — Valdosta State 48
  — Carson–Newman 26  
— Lenoir–Rhyne 21 — Carson–Newman 38
— Fort Valley State 6     — Lenoir–Rhyne 35  
  — Valdosta State 35
  — Minnesota State 19  
— Northwest Missouri State 35     — Minnesota State 38  
— Harding 0     — Northwest Missouri State 35  
  — Minnesota State 17
  — Missouri Western 10  
— Missouri Western
 57 — Henderson State 21
— Minnesota–Duluth 55     — Missouri Western 45  

* Home team    † Overtime

Awards and honors

Harlon Hill Trophy

The Harlon Hill Trophy is given to the year's most outstanding player.[3]

PlayerSchoolPosition1st2nd3rdTotal
Zach ZulliShippensburgQB521418202
Michael HillMissouri WesternRB232617138
Franklyn QuitehBloomsburgRB82723101
Dustin VaughanWest Texas A&MQB10141068
Taylor HousewightAshlandQB7141564

References
  1. "2010-2014 Winston-Salem State Schedules". College Football Warehouse. cfbdatawarehouse.com. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
  2. "2012 NCAA Division II National Football Championship Bracket" (PDF). NCAA. NCAA.org. p. 15. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
  3. "Harlon Hill Trophy All Time History 1986–2013" (PDF). National Harlon Hill Awards Committee. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
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