1979 NAIA Division I football season

1979 NAIA Division I football season
Regular season	August–November 1979
Postseason	December 1–15, 1979
National Championship	McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium; McAllen, TX
«1978	1980»

The 1979 NAIA Division I football season, as part of the 1979 college football season in the United States and the 24th season of college football sponsored by the NAIA, was the 10th season of play of the NAIA's top division for football.

The season was played from August to November 1979 and culminated in the 1979 NAIA Division I Football National Championship. Known again this year as the Palm Bowl, the title game was played on December 15, 1979 at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium in McAllen, Texas.^[1]

Texas A&I defeated Central State (OK) in the Palm Bowl, 20–14, to win their sixth NAIA national title.^[2]

Conference champions

Conference	Champion	Record
Arkansas	Arkansas–Monticello	5–1
Central States	Kearney State Pittsburg State	6–1
Evergreen	Oregon College	5–0
Great Lakes	Saginaw Valley State	4–0–1
Lone Star	Texas A&I	6–1
NIC	Minnesota–Duluth Moorhead State (MN)	7–1
Oklahoma	East Central State	4–0
RMAC	Western State	7–1
South Atlantic	Presbyterian	7–0
WVIAC	North: Fairmont and West Liberty State South: West Virginia State	6–2–1 6–3
Wisconsin State	Wisconsin–River Falls	7–1

Quarterfinals December 1, 1979 Campus sites		Semifinals December 8, 1979 Campus sites		1979 Palm Bowl December 15, 1979 McAllen, TX


Saginaw Valley State	3

Presbyterian*	36
		Presbyterian	6

		Central State (OK)*	28
Central State (OK)	42

Kearney State*	22
				Central State (OK)	14

				Texas A&I	20
Wisconsin–River Falls	7

Angelo State*	31
		Angelo State	19

		Texas A&I*	22
Western State (CO)	14

Texas A&I*	38