The 1974 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 in September and concluded with the Division II Championship on December 14 at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento, California.

Central Michigan defeated Delaware 54–15 in the Camellia Bowl to win their only Division II national title.[1][2] CMU moved up to Division I in 1975.

Conference standings

1974 Big Sky Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 5 Boise State $^6–0–010–2–0
Montana State4–2–07–3–0
Idaho2–2–12–8–1
Montana2–3–13–6–1
Northern Arizona2–3–03–6–0
Idaho State2–4–05–5–0
Weber State1–5–04–7–0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AP small college poll
1974 California Collegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
UC Riverside $4–0–08–3–0
Cal Poly2–1–15–4–1
Cal Poly Pomona1–1–25–3–2
Cal State Northridge1–3–02–9–0
Cal State Los Angeles0–3–15–4–1
  • $ – Conference champion
1974 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Norfolk State $8–0–08–2–0
Virginia Union7–1–08–2–0
Livingstone5–1–08–3–0
Johnson C. Smith4–2–04–7–0
Hampton3–4–03–7–0
Elizabeth City State3–5–03–7–0
Winston-Salem State3–5–04–7–0
Virginia State2–4–03–7–0
Shaw2–5–04–6–0
Fayetteville State2–6–04–7–0
Saint Paul's (VA)0–6–01–8–0
  • $ – Conference champion
1974 Eastern Football Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Central Connecticut State $3–0–04–5–1
Glassboro State2–1–06–3–1
Montclair State1–2–06–3–1
Southern Connecticut State0–3–04–5–0
  • $ – Conference champion
1974 Far Western Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
UC Davis $5–0–09–1–0
San Francisco State2–3–05–6–0
Humboldt State2–3–04–6–0
Chico State2–3–04–7–0
Cal State Hayward2–3–03–6–0
Sacramento State2–3–02–9–0
  • $ – Conference champion
1974 Gulf South Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 7 Jacksonville State $7–1–07–4–0
Delta State7–2–08–3–0
No. 8 Livingston5–3–08–3–0
Southeastern Louisiana5–3–06–4–0
Troy State4–4–06–4–0
North Alabama4–4–04–6–0
Nicholls State4–5–05–6–0
Northwestern State1–6–01–10–0
Tennessee–Martin1–7–02–9–0
Mississippi College0–7–02–9–0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from NAIA Division I poll
1974 Indiana Collegiate Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Butler $6–0–08–2–0
Evansville ^5–1–08–2–0
DePauw4–2–07–3–0
Indiana Central2–4–05–5–0
Wabash2–4–05–5–0
Valparaiso2–4–03–6–0
Saint Joseph's (IN)0–6–00–9–0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
1974 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 11 South Carolina State $5–1–08–4–0
Howard4–1–18–2–1
North Carolina Central4–1–17–2–2
Morgan State4–2–05–5–0
North Carolina A&T2–4–05–6–0
Maryland Eastern Shore1–5–02–6–0
Delaware State0–6–03–6–0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from NAIA Division I poll
1974 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
NW Missouri State $5–1–08–2–0
Missouri–Rolla4–1–16–4–1
SW Missouri State4–2–07–3–0
SE Missouri State4–2–07–4–0
NE Missouri State2–4–04–7–0
Central Missouri State1–4–13–7–1
Lincoln (MO) *0–6–03–8–0
1974 North Central Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
South Dakota +5–2–08–3–0
North Dakota State +5–2–07–4–0
North Dakota +5–2–06–4–0
South Dakota State4–3–06–5–0
Mankato State3–3–15–4–1
Northern Iowa3–3–15–4–1
Augustana (SD)2–5–04–6–0
Morningside0–7–00–9–0
  • + – Conference co-champions
1974 Northern Intercollegiate Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Michigan Tech $6–0–09–0–0
St. Cloud State5–1–05–5–0
Winona State3–3–05–4–0
Moorhead State3–3–04–5–0
Southwest State (MN)2–4–04–5–0
Minnesota Morris2–4–03–7–0
Bemidji State0–6–02–7–0
  • $ – Conference champion
1974 Ohio Valley Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Eastern Kentucky $6–1–08–2–0
Murray State5–2–09–2–0
Western Kentucky5–2–07–3–0
Tennessee Tech4–3–06–5–0
East Tennessee State3–3–14–6–1
Middle Tennessee2–5–03–8–0
Austin Peay1–5–13–7–1
Morehead State1–6–03–8–0
  • $ – Conference champion
1974 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
East Division
West Chester xy5–0–08–2–0
No. 6 Millersville5–1–08–1–0
East Stroudsburg4–2–05–5–0
Kutztown3–3–04–5–0
Cheyney2–4–05–4–0
Mansfield0–4–11–7–1
Bloomsburg0–5–11–7–1
West Division
No. 13 Slippery Rock xy$^5–0–19–1–1
Clarion4–1–16–2–1
Indiana (PA)4–2–06–4–0
Shippensburg3–3–06–4–0
Edinboro2–2–25–2–2
California (PA)1–5–01–7–0
Lock Haven0–6–01–8–0
Championship: Slippery Rock 20, West Chester 7
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
Rankings from AP small college poll for Slippery Rock and NAIA Division I poll for Millersville
1974 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Division I
Tuskegee x5–0–010–1–0
Bethune–Cookman4–1–08–3–1
Florida A&M3–2–06–5–0
Alabama State2–3–02–8–0
Alabama A&M1–4–04–7–0
Albany State1–4–03–7–0
Morris Brown1–4–02–8–0
Division II
Clark (GA) x5–0–08–1–0
Fisk4–1–05–4–0
Fort Valley State3–2–05–3–0
Savannah State3–2–03–6–1
Knoxville2–3–07–4–0
Miles2–3–03–6–0
Morehouse1–4–02–7–0
Lane0–5–00–8–0
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
1974 Southland Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 2 Louisiana Tech $^5–0–011–1–0
Lamar4–1–08–2–0
Arkansas State3–2–07–3–0
McNeese State2–3–06–4–1
UT Arlington1–4–01–10–0
SW Louisiana0–5–02–9–0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AP small college poll
1974 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 7 Grambling State +5–1–011–1–0
No. 14 Alcorn State +^5–1–09–2–0
No. 10 Jackson State4–2–07–3–0
No. 12 Southern3–3–08–3–0
Texas Southern3–3–06–4–0
Mississippi Valley State1–5–05–5–0
Prairie View A&M0–6–00–10–0
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AP small college poll for Grambling State and Alconrn State and NAIA Division I poll for Jackson State and Southern
1974 Virginia College Athletic Association football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Virginia Union2–0–08–2–0
Randolph–Macon4–0–16–2–1
Hampden–Sydney4–1–06–4–0
Virginia State2–1–03–7–0
Madison3–2–06–4–0
Hampton1–2–03–7–0
Bridgewater1–3–04–5–0
Washington and Lee0–2–11–8–1
Emory & Henry0–3–03–8–0
Saint Paul's (VA)0–3–01–8–0
1974 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Northern Division
Fairmont State xy$4–0–07–4–0
No. 15 Salem3–1–07–2–0
West Liberty State2–2–05–4–0
Shepherd1–2–02–9–0
West Virginia Wesleyan0–4–01–8–0
Southern Division
Concord xy3–1–06–5–0
Bluefield State3–1–05–4–0
Glenville State3–1–05–4–0
West Virginia Tech1–3–05–4–0
West Virginia State0–4–01–8–0
Championship: Fairmont State 30, Concord 6
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • Conference standings based on power ratings
Rankings from NAIA Division I poll
1974 Yankee Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
UMass +4–2–05–6–0
Maine +4–2–04–6–0
New Hampshire3–3–05–4–0
Rhode Island3–3–05–5–0
Boston University3–3–05–4–1
Connecticut3–3–04–6–0
Vermont1–5–04–6–0
  • + – Conference co-champions
1974 NCAA Division II independents football records
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 1 Central Michigan ^ – 12–1–0
No. 6 UNLV ^ – 12–1–0
No. 4 Delaware ^ – 12–2–0
No. 8 Western Carolina ^ – 9–2–0
No. 9 Tennessee State – 8–2–0
No. 12 Youngstown State ^ – 8–2–0
Santa Clara – 7–3–0
Wayne State (MI) – 7–3–0
Ball State – 6–4–0
Kentucky State – 6–4–0
Northeastern – 6–4–0
Central State (OH) – 6–5–0
Akron – 5–5–0
Illinois College – 4–4–0
Indiana State – 5–5–0
Nevada – 5–6–0
Portland State – 5–6–0
American International – 4–5–0
Eastern Michigan – 4–6–1
Milwaukee – 4–6–0
Northeast Louisiana – 4–6–0
Eastern Illinois – 3–6–1
Arkansas–Pine Bluff – 3–5–0
Chattanooga – 4–7–0
Nebraska–Omaha – 3–7–0
Bucknell – 2–8–0
Northern Michigan – 0–10–0
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AP small college poll

Conference summaries

ConferenceChampion(s)
Big Sky ConferenceBoise State
Central Intercollegiate Athletic AssociationNorfolk State
Far Western Football ConferenceUC Davis
Gulf South ConferenceJacksonville State
Indiana Collegiate ConferenceButler
Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic AssociationNorthwest Missouri State
North Central ConferenceNorth Dakota State, North Dakota, and South Dakota
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (Division II)Tuskegee
Yankee ConferenceMaine and Massachusetts

Postseason

The 1974 NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs were the second single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of NCAA Division II college football.

The four quarterfinal games were played on campus and all four host teams advanced. The semifinals were the Pioneer Bowl in Wichita Falls, Texas, and the Grantland Rice Bowl in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The championship game was the Camellia Bowl, held at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento, California for the second consecutive year. The Central Michigan Chippewas defeated the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens 54–14 to win their first national title.[1][3] After opening with a home loss to Division I Kent State, CMU won twelve straight to finish as D-II champions.[1]

Playoff bracket

First round
Campus sites

November 30 		Semifinals
Pioneer Bowl
Grantland Rice Bowl
December 7 		Championship
Camellia Bowl
Hughes Stadium
Sacramento, CA
December 14
         
Central Michigan * 20
Boise State 6
Central Michigan 35
Louisiana Tech 14
Louisiana Tech * 10
Western Carolina 7
Central Michigan 54
Delaware 14
UNLV * 35
Alcorn State 22
UNLV 11
Delaware 49
Delaware * 35
Youngstown State 14

* Denotes host institution

Rankings

In 1974, United Press International (UPI) and the Associated Press (AP) ranked teams in their College Division or "small college" polls – which had started in 1958 and 1960, respectively – for the final time. UPI published their final poll at the end of the regular season, while the AP waited until postseason games had been completed. UPI's number one selection was the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, who during the regular season were 10–0 while outscoring opponents 294–103. The Bulldogs later lost in the playoffs to the Central Michigan Chippewas, winners of the tournament. AP's number one selection was the Chippewas, who were 9–1 during the regular season and finished with an overall record of 12–1 while outscoring opponents 450–127.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Central Michigan destroys Delaware". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. December 15, 1974. p. 6D.
  2. ↑ "1974 NCAA Division II National Football Championship Bracket" (PDF). NCAA. NCAA.org. p. 13. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  3. ↑ "1974 NCAA Division II Football Championship Bracket" (PDF). NCAA. NCAA.org. p. 13. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Louisiana Tech Wins UPI Football Title". The Minneapolis Star. Minneapolis, MN. November 27, 1974. p. 2D. Retrieved July 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  5. ↑ "A.P. final small college football ranking". Great Bend Tribune. Great Bend, Kansas. Associated Press. December 24, 1974. p. 3. Retrieved July 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_NCAA_Division_II_football_season