IRVING, Texas (Jan. 11, 2022) - Yesterday in front of more than 1,500 coaches at the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas, the National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame presented the NFF divisional national championship trophies to the coaches of the 2021 winning teams.
 
"Each year at the AFCA convention, the NFF presents the championship trophies to the coaches who have taken their teams to the pinnacle of success," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "It is fitting that we present the trophies in front of their peers, the very people who know the commitment, dedication and effort that goes into winning a national championship. We are extremely proud to join with AFCA Executive Director Todd Berry to continue this tradition of honoring the nation's most successful coaches each year at the convention."
 
NCAA Football Championship Subdivision John F. Kennedy Trophy
North Dakota State University - Coach Matt Entz
Head Coach Matthew Entz led No. 2 North Dakota State (14-1) to its ninth FCS national championship in 11 years with a 38-10 victory over No. 8 Montana State (12-3) on Jan. 8 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The win marked Entz's second national championship since becoming the Bison's head coach in 2019, adding to the four FCS titles he helped win as an NDSU assistant. Junior fullback Hunter Luepke claimed Most Outstanding Player honors, running for three touchdowns in the first half and finishing with 82 yards rushing. North Dakota State amassed 380 yards rushing and a total of 506 total yards on offense. Bison QB Cam Miller threw for 126 yards and a touchdown on 13 passing attempts. NDSU running back Kobe Johnson rushed for 106 yards, including a 76-yard run in the second quarter. Linebacker Jasir Cox led the Bison defense with seven tackles. The title marks the 17th national championship for the Bison football program and the ninth since joining the FCS.
 
NCAA Division II - Asa S. Bushnell Trophy
Ferris State University (MI) - Coach Tony Annese
Head coach Tony Annese and No. 1 Ferris State (14-0) etched their names in history Dec. 18 with a 58-17 win over No. 2 Valdosta State [GA] (12-2) in the NCAA Division II National Championship game at McKinney ISD Stadium in Texas. The win marked the school's first football national title, and Coach Annese, in his ninth season with the Bulldogs, has tallied a 41-2 record during the past three seasons. Quarterbacks Jared Bernhardt and Mylik Mitchell shared signal calling duties. Bernhardt had three rushing touchdowns in the first half and totaled 148 yards rushing before a sore ankle sidelined him. Mitchell threw for 122 yards and a touchdown. Running backs Tyler Minor and Jeremy Burrell ran for 125 yards and 103 yards, respectively, in the victory. Linebacker Liam Daly led FSU with a game-high 13 tackles and scored a pick-six interception. The win marked the largest margin of victory since 1997 and the Bulldogs' 58 points landed just five off the title game scoring record.
 
NCAA Division III - Amos Alonzo Stagg Trophy
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (TX) - Coach Pete Fredenburg
Head Coach Pete Fredenburg, who announced his retirement Jan. 7, guided the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (15-0) to its second NCAA Division III National Championship Dec. 17 with a 57-24 win over North Central College [IL] (13-1) in the Stagg Bowl at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. The Crusaders totaled 596 yards of offense, setting a program passing record of 463 yards. Cru Quarterback Kyle King led UMHB's passing attack, throwing for a program-record 436 yards while connecting on 22 of his 29 passes and three touchdowns. Brenton Martin caught nine passes for 196 yards while K.J. Miller had nine receptions for 149 yards. UMHB running backs Aphonso Thomas and Kenneth Cormier Jr. shared carries, combining for 116 yards and three touchdowns. Linebacker Mikkah Hackett, who claimed honors as the game's Most Outstanding Player, had two interceptions, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and 10 tackles, including two tackles for loss and two sacks. Cornerback Keith Gipson led UMHB with 11 tackles. Coach Fredenburg, who launched the UMHB program in 1998 and coached the Crusaders for 24 seasons, amassed a 231-39 record while advancing to the NCAA postseason 17 times with 47 playoff wins and national titles in 2018 and 2021.
 
NAIA - Dwight D. Eisenhower Trophy
Morningside University (IA) - Coach Steve Ryan
Head Coach Steve Ryan steered Morningside University (14-0) to a 38-28 win over Grand View University [IA] (14-1) in the NAIA Football National Championship at Durham County Memorial Stadium in North Carolina, claiming the team's third title in four years. Morningside, down by seven points two times, overcame three turnovers for the win. Mustang running back Anthony Sims claimed Offensive Player of the Game honors, scoring three touchdowns while totaling 161 rushing yards on 28 carries. Wide receiver Reid Jurgensmeier finished with 216 yards on 13 catches and one touchdown. Linebacker Jalen Portis earned Defensive Player of the Game honors after making five tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble.