The Mount Union Purple Raiders won their tenth Division III championship by defeating the Wisconsin–Whitewater Warhawks, 31−26.
The Gagliardi Trophy, given to the most outstanding player in Division III football, was awarded to Greg Micheli, quarterback from Mount Union.
[2] Twenty-three conferences met the requirements for an automatic ("Pool A") bid to the playoffs.
The SLIAC was in the first year of the two-year waiting period, while the ACFC, UAA, and UMAC failed to meet the seven-member requirement.
The NWC received a Pool A bid for the first time, having attained seven members and passed through the waiting period.