| NCAA I-AA National Championship History | ||||
| Year | Champion (Record) | Score | Runner-up | |
| 1978 | Florida A&M (12-1) | 35-28 | Massachusetts | |
| 1979 | Eastern Ky. (11-2) | 30-7 | Lehigh | |
| 1980 | Boise St. (10-3) | 31-29 | Eastern Ky. | |
| 1981 | Idaho St. (12-1) | 34-23 | Eastern Ky. | |
| 1982 | Eastern Ky. (13-0) | 17-14 | Delaware | |
| 1983 | Southern Ill. (13-1) | 43-7 | Western Caro. | |
| 1984 | Montana St. (12-2) | 19-6 | Louisiana Tech | |
| 1985 | Ga. Southern (13-2) | 44-42 | Furman | |
| 1986 | Ga. Southern (13-2) | 48-21 | Arkansas St. | |
| 1987 | Northeast La. (13-2) | 43-42 | Marshall | |
| 1988 | Furman (13-2) | 17-12 | Ga. Southern | |
| 1989 | Ga. Southern (15-0) | 37-34 | Stephen F. Austin* | |
| 1990 | Ga. Southern (12-3) | 36-13 | Nevada | |
| 1991 | Youngstown St. (12-3) | 25-17 | Marshall | |
| 1992 | Marshall (12-3) | 31-28 | Youngstown St. | |
| 1993 | Youngstown St. (13-2) | 17-5 | Marshall | |
| 1994 | Youngstown St. (14-0-1) | 28-14 | Boise St. | |
| 1995 | Montana (13-2) | 22-20 | Marshall | |
| 1996 | Marshall (15-0) | 49-29 | Montana | |
| 1997 | Youngstown St. (13-2) | 10-9 | McNeese St. | |
| 1998 | Massachusetts (12-3) | 55-43 | Georgia Southern | |
| 1999 | Georgia Southern (13-2) | 59-24 | Youngstown St. | |
| 2000 | Georgia Southern (13-2) | 27-25 | Montana | |
| 2001 | Montana (15-1) | 13-6 | Furman | |
| 2002 | Western Kentucky (12-3) | 34-14 | McNeese State | |
| 2003 | Delaware (15-1) | 40-0 | Colgate | |
| 2004 | James Madison (13-2) | 31-21 | Montana | |
| 2005 | Appalachian St. (12-3) | 21-16 | N. Iowa | |
| 2006 | Appalachian St. (14-1) | 28-17 | Massachusetts | |
| 2007 | Appalachian St. (13-2) | 49-21 | Delaware | |
| 2008 | Richmond | 21-7 | Montana | |