|
Record |
Ranking^ |
|
|
Year |
Champions |
Conference |
Overall |
STATS^^ |
Coaches |
Playoff finish |
Head coach
|
1985
|
Northern Iowa |
5–0 |
11–2 |
4 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal 33-41 vs. Georgia Southern |
Darrell Mudra
|
1986
|
Eastern Illinois |
5–1 |
11–2 |
3 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 21-28 vs. Eastern Kentucky |
Al Molde
|
1987
|
Northern Iowa |
6–0 |
10–4 |
4 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal 41-44OT vs. Louisiana-Monroe |
Darrell Mudra
|
1988
|
Western Illinois |
6–0 |
10–2 |
3 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 32-35 vs. Western Kentucky |
Bruce Craddock
|
1989
|
Missouri State |
5–1 |
10–3 |
9 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 22-55 vs Stephen F. Austin |
Jesse Branch
|
1990
|
Missouri State |
5–1 |
9–3 |
6 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA First Round 35-41 vs. Idaho |
Jesse Branch
|
Northern Iowa |
5–1 |
8–4 |
11 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA First Round 3-20 vs. Boise State |
Terry Allen
|
1991
|
Northern Iowa |
5–1 |
11–2 |
4 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 13-41 vs. Marshall |
Terry Allen
|
1992
|
Northern Iowa |
5–1 |
12–2 |
3 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal 7-19 vs. Youngstown State |
Terry Allen
|
1993
|
Northern Iowa |
5–1 |
8–4 |
13 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA First Round 21-272OT at Boston University |
Terry Allen
|
1994
|
Northern Iowa |
6–0 |
8–4 |
11 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA First Round 21-23 at Montana |
Terry Allen
|
1995
|
Eastern Illinois |
5–1 |
10-2 |
14 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA First Round 29-34 at Stephen F. Austin |
Bob Spoo
|
Northern Iowa |
5–1 |
8–5 |
13 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 24-41 at Marshall |
Terry Allen
|
1996
|
Northern Iowa |
5–0 |
12–2 |
3 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal 14-31 at Marshall |
Terry Allen
|
1997
|
Western Illinois |
6–0 |
11–2 |
6 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 12-14 vs. McNeese State |
Randy Ball
|
1998
|
Western Illinois |
5–1 |
11–3 |
4 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal 14-42 at Georgia Southern |
Randy Ball
|
1999
|
Illinois State |
6–0 |
11–3 |
3 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal 17-31 at Georgia Southern |
Todd Berry
|
2000
|
Western Illinois |
5–1 |
9–3 |
12 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA First Round 7-37 vs. Lehigh |
Don Patterson
|
2001
|
Northern Iowa |
6–1 |
11–3 |
4 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA 0-38 at Montana |
Mark Farley
|
2002
|
Western Illinois |
6–1 |
11–2 |
5 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA 28-31 vs. Western Kentucky |
Don Patterson
|
Wester Kentucky |
6–1 |
12–3 |
1 |
– |
National Champion 34-14 vs. McNeese State |
Jack Harbaugh
|
2003
|
Northern Iowa |
6–1 |
10–3 |
5 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 7-37 at Delaware |
Mark Farley
|
Southern Illinois |
6–1 |
10–2 |
9 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA First Round 7-48 at Delaware
|
2004
|
Southern Illinois |
7–0 |
10–2 |
9 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA First Round 31-35 vs. Eastern Washington |
Jerry Kill
|
2005
|
Northern Iowa |
5–2 |
11–4 |
2 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA Runner-up 16-21 vs. Appalachian State |
Mark Farley
|
Southern Illinois |
5–2 |
9–4 |
7 |
– |
NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 24-38 at Appalachian State |
Jerry Kill
|
Youngstown State |
5–2 |
8–3 |
14 |
– |
None |
Jon Heacock
|
2006
|
Youngstown State |
6–1 |
11–3 |
4 |
– |
NCAA FCS Semifinal 24-49 at Appalachian State |
Jon Heacock
|
2007
|
Northern Iowa |
6–0 |
12–1 |
4 |
5 |
NCAA FCS Quarterfinal 27-39 vs. Delaware |
Mark Farley
|
2008
|
Northern Iowa |
7–1 |
12–3 |
4 |
4 |
NCAA FCS Semifinal 20-21 vs. Richmond |
Mark Farley
|
Southern Illinois |
7–1 |
9–3 |
11 |
10 |
NCAA FCS First Round 20-29 vs. New Hampshire |
Dale Lennon
|
2009
|
Southern Illinois |
8–0 |
11–2 |
6 |
6 |
NCAA FCS Quarterfinal 3-24 at William & Mary |
Dale Lennon
|
2010
|
Northern Iowa |
6–2 |
7–5 |
19 |
18 |
NCAA FCS First Round 7-14 vs. Lehigh |
Mark Farley
|
2011
|
North Dakota State |
7–1 |
14–1 |
1 |
1 |
National Champion 17-6 vs. Sam Houston |
Craig Bohl
|
2012
|
North Dakota State |
7–1 |
14–1 |
1 |
1 |
National Champion 39-13 vs. Sam Houston |
Craig Bohl
|
2013
|
North Dakota State |
8–0 |
15–0 |
1 |
1 |
National Champion 35-7 vs. Towson |
Craig Bohl
|
2014
|
Illinois State |
7–1 |
13–2 |
2 |
2 |
NCAA FCS Runner-up 27-29 vs. North Dakota State |
Brock Spack
|
North Dakota State |
7–1 |
15–1 |
1 |
1 |
National Champion 29-27 vs. Illinois State |
Chris Klieman
|
2015
|
Illinois State |
7–1 |
10–3 |
5 |
5 |
NCAA FCS Quarterfinal 27-39 vs. Richmond |
Chris Klieman
|
North Dakota State |
7–1 |
13–2 |
1 |
1 |
National Champion 37-10 vs. Jacksonville State |
Chris Klieman
|
2016
|
North Dakota State |
7–1 |
12–2 |
3 |
3 |
NCAA FCS Semifinal 17-27 vs. James Madison |
Chris Klieman
|
South Dakota State |
7–1 |
9–4 |
6 |
7 |
NCAA FCS Quarterfinal 10-36 at North Dakota State |
John Stiegelmeier
|
2017
|
North Dakota State |
7–1 |
14–1 |
1 |
1 |
National Champion 17-13 vs. James Madison |
Chris Klieman
|
2018
|
North Dakota State |
8–0 |
15–0 |
1 |
1 |
National Champion 38-24 vs. Eastern Washington |
Chris Klieman
|
2019
|
North Dakota State |
8–0 |
16–0 |
1 |
1 |
National Champion 28-20 vs. James Madison |
Matt Entz
|
2020^^^
|
Missouri State |
5–1 |
5–5 |
13 |
13 |
NCAA FCS First Round 10-44 vs. North Dakota |
Bobby Petrino
|
South Dakota State |
5–1 |
8–2 |
2 |
2 |
NCAA FCS Runner-up 21-23 vs. Sam Houston |
John Stiegelmeier
|
North Dakota |
4–1 |
5–2 |
6 |
6 |
NCAA FCS Quarterfinal 21-34 at James Madison |
Bubba Schweigert
|
2021
|
North Dakota State |
7–1 |
14–1 |
1 |
1 |
National Champion 38-10 vs. Montana State |
Matt Entz
|
2022
|
South Dakota State |
8–0 |
14–1 |
1 |
1 |
National Champion 45-21 vs. North Dakota State |
John Stiegelmeier
|
2023
|
South Dakota State |
8–0 |
15–0 |
1 |
1 |
National Champion 23–3 vs. Montana |
Jimmy Rogers
|
2024
|
|
– |
– |
|
|
|
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