The team plays their home games at Bearcat Stadium, located on campus in Maryville, Missouri.

They have appeared in ten NCAA Division II national title games – winning six – since going 0–11 in Mel Tjeerdsma's first season in 1994.

The game was the longest in NCAA football playoff history in number of extra periods, surpassing six contests that were extended by three overtimes.

The Cinderella nature of Northwest coming from 22nd to challenge the #1 team in the final has been evoked as a weakness of the Bowl Championship Series, where such a run would be impossible.

The Bearcats went 3–0 in the playoffs, thus earning a rematch against the Grand Valley State University Lakers in the NCAA Division II National Championship Game at Florence, Alabama, on December 16, 2006.

In the second round, they faced #3 West Texas A&M University at Bearcat Stadium, and won with a final score of 56–28.

The Bearcats faced their long-time post-season rivals Grand Valley State University in the semifinals.

The Bearcats lost to #8 Valdosta State University in the NCAA Division II football national championship at 12pm (Eastern) on Saturday December 15, 2007 in Florence, Alabama; the game was broadcast on ESPN2.

In 2008 the Bearcats played in their fourth consecutive national title game and lost to Minnesota-Duluth, which had a 15–0 season.

In the semifinals it defeated California University of Pennsylvania to qualify for its third meeting in the finals with Grand Valley.

It was the first Bearcat national championship game not coached by Mel Tjeerdsma, who retired after losing in the semi-finals in 2010.

Northwest took home their fifth national title since 1998, second under head coach Adam Dorrel, defeating Shepherd 34–7.

Northwest Missouri State picked up its sixth title when the Bearcats defeated North Alabama, 29-3.

On June 5, 2011 Bearcats head coach Scott Bostwick died of an apparent heart attack in Maryville.