1998 NAIA football season

The 1998 NAIA football season, as part of the 1998 college football season in the United States, was the 43rd season of college football sponsored by the NAIA.

1998 NAIA football season
Regular seasonAugust–November 1998
PostseasonNovember 21–December 19, 1998
National ChampionshipJim Carroll Stadium
Savannah, TN
ChampionAzusa Pacific
Player of the YearJack Williams
(RB, Azusa Pacific)

The season was played from August to November 1998, culminating in the 1998 NAIA Football National Championship, played this year on December 19, 1998 at Jim Carroll Stadium in Savannah, Tennessee.[1]

Azusa Pacific defeated Olivet Nazarene in the championship game, 17–14, to win their first NAIA national title.[2]

Jack Williams, running back from Azusa Pacific, was named the 1998 NAIA Football Player of the Year.

Conference standings

1998 Columbia Football Association standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 15 Central Washington $ 41  74 
Western Washington 32  55 
Humboldt State 32  47 
Western Oregon 23  45 
Southern Oregon 23  46 
Simon Fraser 14  36 
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from NAIA poll
1998 Frontier Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 2 Rocky Mountain $^ 60  91 
Montana Tech 33  55 
Western Montana 24  27 
Carroll (MT) 15  18 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA poll
1998 Heart of America Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 5 Benedictine (KS) $ 81  92 
No. 16 Lindenwood ^ 72  83 
No. 23 Missouri Valley 63  73 
Evangel 54  54 
MidAmerica Nazarene 54  65 
Baker 54  55 
Graceland 45  46 
William Jewell 36  37 
Culver–Stockton 27  37 
Central Methodist 09  010 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA poll
1998 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 3 Southwestern (KS) $^ 71  92 
No. 19 Ottawa 62  82 
Bethany (KS) 53  63 
Kansas Wesleyan 44  54 
Bethel (KS) 44  55 
McPherson 44  55 
Sterling 35  46 
Friends 26  28 
Tabor 17  19 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA poll
1998 Mid-South Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 9 Georgetown (KY) +^ 61  93 
No. 20 North Greenville + 61  73 
No. 18 Lambuth 52  73 
No. 24 Campbellsville 43  74 
Cumberland (TN) 43  65 
Belhaven 25  46 
Cumberland (KY) 16  37 
Union (KY) 07  010 
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA poll
1998 Mid-States Football Association standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
Mideast League
No. 12 Malone x^ 51  74 
No. 14 Tri-State ^ 42  113 
No. 17 Geneva 42  83 
Tiffin 33  65 
Walsh 24  65 
Urbana 24  56 
Saint Francis (IN) 15  28 
Midwest League
No. 7 Taylor x^ 60  83 
No. 11 Olivet Nazarene ^ 51  113 
McKendree 33  64 
St. Ambrose 24  55 
Iowa Wesleyan 24  38 
Trinity International 24  28 
Saint Xavier 15  19 
  • x – League champion/co-champions
    ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA poll
1998 Nebraska-Iowa Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 1 Hastings $^ 60  101 
Doane 42  54 
No. 22 Northwestern (IA) 33  73 
Nebraska Wesleyan 33  64 
Midland 33  46 
Concordia (NE) 24  45 
Dana 06  28 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA poll
1998 North Dakota College Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 10 Mary +^ 51  83 
No. 6 Jamestown +^ 51  82 
Dickinson State 42  63 
Minnesota–Crookston 33  64 
Minot State 24  45 
Mayville State 24  28 
Valley City State 06  010 
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NAIA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA poll
1998 South Dakota-Iowa Intercollegiate Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 4 Sioux Falls $^ 50  83 
No. 13 Huron ^ 41  103 
Dakota State 32  73 
Dakota Wesleyan 23  46 
Black Hills State 14  19 
South Dakota Tech 05  010 
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA poll
1998 NAIA independents football records
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 8 Azusa Pacific ^   122 
No. 21 NW Oklahoma State   73 
No. 25 Eastern Oregon   64 
Clinch Valley   45 
Peru State   45 
  • ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA poll

Conference champions

ConferenceChampionRecord
FrontierRocky Mountain6–0
Heart of AmericaBenedictine8–1
KansasSouthwestern (KS)7–1
Mid-SouthGeorgetown (KY)
North Greenville
6–1
Mid-StatesMideast Division: Malone
Midwest Division: Taylor
5–1
6–0
Nebraska-IowaHastings6–0
North DakotaJamestown
Mary
5–1
South Dakota-IowaSioux Falls5–0

Postseason

First Round
November 21, 1998
Campus sites
Quarterfinals
November 21, 1998
Campus sites
Semifinals
December 5, 1998
Campus sites
Championship
December 19, 1998
Savannah, TN
            
5Benedictine (KS)*28
14Tri-State33
14Tri-State37
9Georgetown (KY)*23
9Georgetown (KY)*46
12Malone41
14Tri-State28
11Olivet Nazarene33
1Hastings*26
11Olivet Nazarene32
11Olivet Nazarene37
4Sioux Falls*34
4Sioux Falls*29
10Mary25
11Olivet Nazarene14
8Azusa Pacific17
3Southwestern (KS)*12
16Lindenwood10
3Southwestern (KS)6
13Huron*52
6Jamestown*19
13Huron61
13Huron24
8Azusa Pacific*26
2Rocky Mountain*38
15Central Washington41
15Central Washington28
8Azusa Pacific*35
8Azusa Pacific*31
7Taylor28

See also

References