NAIA football national championship

The NAIA football national championship is decided by a post-season playoff system featuring the best National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) college football teams in the United States. Under sponsorship of the NAIA, the championship game has been played annually since 1956.

In 1970, NAIA football was divided into two divisions based on enrollment, Division I and Division II, with a championship game played in each division. In 1997, NAIA football was again consolidated back into one division. NAIA schools are allowed to offer 24 full varsity football scholarships which can be divided up as they wish. Junior varsity scholarship players do not count towards the total.

Texas A&I (now known as Texas A&M–Kingsville) is still the most prolific program with seven NAIA championships, despite having been in NCAA Division II since 1980. Carroll College of Montana is the most successful team still playing at the NAIA level, with six national titles.

Keiser is the current champion, having defeated the Northwestern Red Raiders in the 2023 title game, 31–21.

Game name
Over the years, the NAIA championship games were played under a variety of names:
 * Aluminum Bowl (1956)
 * Holiday Bowl (1957–1960)
 * Camellia Bowl (1961–1963)
 * Champion Bowl (1964–1976 and 1980–1996, Division I games only)
 * Apple Bowl (1977, Division I game only)
 * Palm Bowl (1978–1979, Division I games only)

Championships by school

 * NAIA Division II titles are not included in this list.


 * Programs that no longer compete in NAIA are indicated in italics with a pink background.