1982 NAIA Division I football season

1982 NAIA Division I football season
Regular season	August–November 1982
Postseason	December 4–18, 1982
National Championship	Wantland Stadium; Edmond, OK
«1981	1983»

The 1982 NAIA Division I football season, as part of the 1982 college football season in the United States and the 27th season of college football sponsored by the NAIA, was the 13th season of play of the NAIA's top division for football.

The season was played from August to November 1982 and culminated in the 1982 NAIA Champion Bowl, played this year on December 18, 1982 at Wantland Stadium in Edmond, Oklahoma on the campus of Central State University (now Central Oklahoma).^[1]

Central State (OK) defeated Mesa State in the Champion Bowl, 14–11, to win their second NAIA national title.^[2]

Conference champions

Conference	Champion	Record
Arkansas Intercollegiate	Ouachita Baptist	6–0
Central States	Pittsburg State Kearney State	6–1
NIC	Moorhead State (MN)	5–0–1
Oklahoma	Northeastern State	4–0
RMAC	Mesa (CO)	7–0–1
South Atlantic	Carson–Newman	6–1
WVIAC	Shepherd	7–1
WSUC	Wisconsin–La Crosse	7–1

Quarterfinals December 4, 1982 Campus sites		Semifinals December 11, 1982 Campus sites		1982 Champion Bowl December 18, 1982 Edmond, OK


Carson–Newman	12

Hillsdale*	20
		Hillsdale	9

		Mesa State*	18
Moorhead State	20

Mesa State*	43
				Mesa State	11

				Central State (OK)	14
Central State (OK)	61

Southern Colorado*	20
		Central State (OK)	28

		Northeastern State*	17
Ouachita Baptist	23

Northeastern State*	38