1987 NCAA Division III football season

The 1987 NCAA Division III football season, part of the college football season organized by the NCAA at the Division III level in the United States, began in August 1987, and concluded with the NCAA Division III Football Championship, also known as the Stagg Bowl, in December 1987 at Garrett-Harrison Stadium in Phenix City, Alabama.

Wagner won their first Division III championship by defeating Dayton in the championship game, 19−3. Due to NCAA rule changes in 1991, both schools are now members Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA).

Conference changes and new programs

School1986 Conference1987 Conference
BishopD-III IndependentDropped program
ChicagoMidwestD-III Independent
Kentucky WesleyanD-III IndependentMid-South (NAIA)
LowellD-III IndependentNEFC
MaritimeRevived ProgramD-III Independent
St. John FisherClub programD-III Independent
QuincyRevived ProgramD-III Independent

Conference standings

1987 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Augustana (IL) $^8–0–010–1–0
Millikin6–2–06–3–0
North Central (IL)5–3–06–3–0
Carroll (WI)5–3–05–4–0
Elmhurst4–4–05–4–0
Illinois Wesleyan4–4–04–5–0
Wheaton (IL)2–6–03–6–0
Carthage2–6–02–7–0
North Park0–8–00–9–0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
1987 Centennial Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Franklin & Marshall $7–0–09–1–1
Dickinson5–2–07–3–0
Muhlenberg5–2–07–3–0
Gettysburg4–3–07–3–0
Johns Hopkins3–4–04–6–0
Ursinus2–5–03–6–0
Swarthmore1–6–02–8–0
Western Maryland1–6–01–8–1
  • $ – Conference champion
1987 College Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Rhodes $4–0–07–1–2
Rose–Hulman3–1–09–1–0
Sewanee1–3–05–4–0
Centre1–3–04–5–0
Earlham1–3–03–6–0
  • $ – Conference champion
1987 Independent College Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Ithaca $3–0–07–3–0
Alfred2–1–06–3–1
St. Lawrence2–2–05–4–0
RPI1–1–05–5–0
Hobart0–4–02–8–0
  • $ – Conference champion
1987 Iowa Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Central (IA) $^7–1–011–2–0
Luther6–2–08–2–0
Buena Vista5–3–05–5–0
Wartburg4–4–06–4–0
Dubuque4–4–06–5–0
William Penn3–5–04–6–0
Loras3–5–04–7–0
Simpson (IA)3–5–03–6–0
Upper Iowa1–7–01–9–0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
1987 Liberty Football Conference standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Fordham $5–0–09–1–0
Merchant Marine3–2–04–5–0
Iona2–3–05–4–0
St. John's2–3–05–5–0
C. W. Post2–3–02–8–0
Pace1–4–03–6–0
  • $ – Conference champion
1987 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Hope $5–0–06–3–0
Adrian4–1–07–2–0
Albion3–2–05–4–0
Alma2–3–05–4–0
Olivet1–4–02–6–1
Kalamazoo0–5–01–8–0
  • $ – Conference champion
1987 Middle Atlantic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Susquehanna +7–2–08–2–0
Widener +7–2–08–2–0
Lycoming6–2–16–2–1
Juniata6–3–07–3–0
Moravian6–3–06–4–0
Wilkes6–3–07–3–0
Delaware Valley3–5–13–6–1
Albright1–8–02–8–0
Lebanon Valley1–8–02–8–0
Upsala1–8–01–9–0
  • + – Conference co-champions
1987 Midwest Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
North Division
St. Norbert* xy$ 6–1  7–3 
Lawrence* 5–2  6–3 
Ripon* 2–5  3–6 
Lake Forest* 2–5  2–6 
Beloit* 0–7  1–8 
South Division
Monmouth (IL)* xy 7–0  9–1 
Coe 5–2  6–3 
Knox 5–2  6–3 
Cornell (IA) 4–3  5–4 
Grinnell 1–6  1–7 
Illinois College* 0–7  1–8 
Championship: St. Norbert 20, Monmouth (IL) 15
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • * - While the University of Chicago was officially classified as an independent, the seven games they played against Midwest Conference opponents still counted for the conference standings.
1987 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Gustavus Adolphus $^9–0–010–1–0
Saint John's (MN) ^7–2–08–3–0
Concordia–Moorhead7–2–07–3–0
Carleton5–4–06–4–0
Hamline5–4–06–4–0
St. Thomas (MN)5–4–05–5–0
Macalester3–6–04–6–0
St. Olaf3–6–03–7–0
Augsburg0–8–10–9–1
Bethel (MN)0–8–10–9–1
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
1987 New England Football Conference standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
North Division
Plymouth State xy$5–0–010–1–0
Curry3–1–07–1–0
Nichols3–2–05–4–0
Lowell2–2–04–4–0
Western New England1–4–02–6–0
Maine Maritime0–5–00–8–0
South Division
Worcester State xy5–0–07–2–0
Westfield State3–2–06–3–0
Massachusetts Maritime3–2–04–4–0
Bridgewater State3–2–04–5–0
Framingham State1–4–02–6–0
Fitchburg State0–5–00–8–0
Championship: Plymouth State 40, Worcester State 0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
1987 New England Small College Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Trinity (CT)6–1–06–2–0
Hamilton5–1–06–2–0
Amherst6–2–06–2–0
Middlebury4–2–04–4–0
Bowdoin4–3–05–3–0
Williams4–3–04–4–0
Tufts3–4–04–4–0
Bates1–6–02–6–0
Wesleyan1–6–01–7–0
Colby0–6–00–8–0
  • The NESCAC did not recognize an official conference champion until 2000
1987 New Jersey Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Kean $5–1–09–2–0
Montclair State5–1–08–2–0
Glassboro State4–2–06–4–0
William Paterson4–2–07–3–0
Trenton State2–4–04–6–0
Jersey City State1–5–04–6–0
Ramapo0–6–01–9–0
  • $ – Conference champion
1987 North Coast Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Allegheny $^6–0–09–1–1
Ohio Wesleyan4–2–05–5–0
Wooster3–3–05–4–0
Case Western Reserve3–3–05–4–0
Denison2–4–05–5–0
Oberlin2–4–02–8–0
Kenyon1–5–02–8–0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
1987 Ohio Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Capital $^6–1–17–2–2
Baldwin–Wallace6–2–07–3–0
Mount Union6–2–06–4–0
Muskingum5–2–16–4–0
Wittenberg5–3–06–4–0
Ohio Northern3–5–04–6–0
Marietta2–6–03–7–0
Heidelberg1–7–02–8–0
Otterbein1–7–02–8–0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
1987 Old Dominion Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Hampden–Sydney $4–1–05–5–0
Emory & Henry ^4–1–011–3–0
Randolph–Macon3–2–04–5–1
Bridgewater1–4–04–6–0
Washington and Lee1–4–03–6–0
Maryville (TN)1–4–01–8–0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
  • Hampden–Sydney won the conference title by virtue of a head-to-head win over Emory & Henry.
1987 Presidents' Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Washington & Jefferson $^6–0–010–1–0
Hiram ^5–1–08–2–0
Carnegie Mellon4–2–07–2–1
John Carroll3–3–05–4–0
Grove City2–4–03–6–0
Thiel1–5–02–6–0
Bethany (WV)0–6–00–8–1
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
1987 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Occidental +4–0–16–2–1
Claremont-Mudd +4–0–15–4–0
La Verne2–2–13–6–0
Whittier1–3–14–6–0
Pomona-Pitzer1–3–13–6–0
Redlands0–4–11–8–0
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • Each team played one other conference member twice. A head-to-head sweep of the two games counted as one win for the winner and one loss for the loser in the conference standings. A split of the two games counted as a tie for each team.
1987 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Division II
No. 20 Tuskegee x6–1–08–2–0
No. 18 Alabama A&M* x6–1–08–3–0
Albany State5–2–08–3–0
Fort Valley State3–4–04–6–0
Morehouse3–4–04–6–0
Savannah State3–4–04–6–0
Morris Brown2–5–02–8–1
Clark0–7–01–8–0
Division III
Knoxville x5–0–07–1–0
Lane1–4–01–7–1
Miles0–5–01–8–0
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • * – Alabama A&M's loss to North Alabama was designation as a conference game.
Rankings from 1987 NCAA Division II football rankings
1987 Wisconsin State University Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Wisconsin–Whitewater +6–2–08–2–1
No. 25 Wisconsin–River Falls +6–2–07–3–0
No. 24 Wisconsin–Eau Claire5–3–06–4–0
Wisconsin–La Crosse5–3–06–4–0
Wisconsin–Stout5–3–06–5–0
Wisconsin–Platteville4–4–06–5–0
Wisconsin–Oshkosh3–5–06–5–0
Wisconsin–Superior2–6–03–7–0
No. 4 Wisconsin–Stevens Point ^0–8–00–15–0
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NAIA Division II playoff participant
    Wisconsin–Stevens Point finished the season with an overall record of 12–2–1 and a conference mark of 7–1, winning the WSUC title and advancing to the NAIA Division II Football National Championship playoffs, where they tied Pacific Lutheran in the title game, sharing the NAIA Division II title. In May 1988, Stevens Point forfeited its 12 wins, the one tie, and the conference and NAIA titles because of the use of two ineligible players.
Rankings from NAIA Division II poll
1987 NCAA Division III independents football records
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Wagner ^ – 13–1–0
Samford – 9–1–0
Gallaudet – 9–1–0
Rochester (NY) ^ – 9–2–0
Hofstra ^ – 8–2–0
UC Santa Barbara – 8–2–0
Wabash – 8–2–0
Dayton ^ – 11–3–0
Ferrum ^ – 8–2–1
Salisbury State – 7–2–0
Coast Guard – 7–2–0
Georgetown – 6–2–1
DePauw – 7–3–0
Menlo ^ – 7–3–0
Millsaps – 7–3–0
Canisius – 6–3–1
San Diego – 6–3–1
Mercyhurst – 6–4–0
Chicago – 5–3–0
Cortland – 5–4–0
St. John Fisher – 5–4–0
Fairleigh Dickinson–Florham – 5–4–0
Albany – 5–5–0
Drake – 5–5–0
Norwich – 4–4–1
Union (NY) – 5–5–0
Aurora – 4–5–0
Stony Brook – 4–5–0
Brockport – 3–6–0
Buffalo – 3–7–0
Catholic University – 3–7–0
MacMurray – 3–7–0
Trinity (TX) – 2–5–0
Saint Francis (PA) – 2–6–0
WPI – 2–6–0
Brooklyn – 2–7–0
Colorado College – 2–7–0
Duquesne – 2–7–0
Frostburg State – 2–8–0
Saint Peter's – 2–8–0
Maritime – 1–6–0
Marist – 1–7–0
Quincy – 1–7–0
Washington (MO) – 1–8–0
Western Connecticut State – 1–8–1
Buffalo State – 1–9–0
Wesley – 0–9–0
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant

Conference champions

Conference champions

Postseason

The 1987 NCAA Division III Football Championship playoffs were the 15th annual single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division III college football. The championship Stagg Bowl game was held at Garrett-Harrison Stadium in Phenix City, Alabama for the 13th time and for the third consecutive year. Like the previous two tournaments, this year's bracket featured sixteen teams.

Playoff bracket

First Round
Campus Sites 		Quarterfinals
Campus Sites 		Semifinals
Campus Sites 		National Championship Game
Garrett-Harrison Stadium
Phenix City, Alabama
            
Wagner 38
Rochester (NY) 14
Wagner 21
Fordham 0
Fordham 41
Hofstra 6
Wagner 20
Emory & Henry 13
Washington & Jefferson 23*
Allegheny 17
Washington & Jefferson 16
Emory & Henry 23
Emory and Henry 49
Ferrum 7
Wagner 19
Dayton 3
Dayton 52
Capital 28
Dayton 38
Augustana (IL) 36
Augustana (IL) 53
Hiram 0
Dayton 34
Central (IA) 0
Saint John's (MN) 7
Gustavus Adolphus 3
Saint John's (MN) 3
Central (IA) 13
Central (IA) 17
Menlo 0

See also

References

  1. ↑ "All-Time Division III Football Championship Records" (PDF). NCAA. pp. 4–15. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Sign to Play Gridiron for Hawks". The Hancock County Quill. May 27, 1987. p. 16 – via newspaper.com.
  3. ↑ "1987 NCAA Division III National Football Championship Bracket" (PDF). NCAA. p. 14. Retrieved November 13, 2014.