| YEAR | CHAMPION | SCORE | RUNNER-UP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | North Dakota State | 38-10 | Montana State |
| 2020 | Sam Houston | 23-21 | South Dakota State |
| 2019 | North Dakota State | 28-20 | James Madison |
| 2018 | North Dakota State | 38-24 | Eastern Washington |
| 2017 | North Dakota State | 17-13 | James Madison |
| 2016 | James Madison | 28-14 | Youngstown State |
| 2015 | North Dakota State | 37-10 | Jacksonville State |
| 2014 | North Dakota State | 29-27 | Illinois State |
| 2013 | North Dakota State | 35-7 | Towson |
| 2012 | North Dakota State | 39-13 | Sam Houston State |
| 2011 | North Dakota State | 17-6 | Sam Houston State |
| 2010 | Eastern Washington | 20-19 | Delaware |
| 2009 | Villanova | 23-21 | Montana |
| 2008 | Richmond | 24-7 | Montana |
| 2007 | Appalachian State | 49-21 | Delaware |
| 2006 | Appalachian State | 28-17 | Massachusetts |
| 2005 | Appalachian State | 21-16 | UNI |
| 2004 | James Madison | 31-21 | Montana |
| 2003 | Delaware | 40-0 | Colgate |
| 2002 | Western Kentucky | 34-14 | McNeese State |
| 2001 | Montana | 13-6 | Furman |
| 2000 | Georgia Southern | 27-25 | Montana |
| 1999 | Georgia Southern | 59-24 | Youngstown State |
| 1998 | Massachusetts | 55-43 | Georgia Southern |
| 1997 | Youngstown State | 10~9 | McNeese State |
| 1996 | Marshall | 49-29 | Montana |
| 1995 | Montana | 22-20 | Marshall |
| 1994 | Youngstown State | 28-14 | Boise State |
| 1993 | Youngstown State | 17-5 | Marshall |
| 1992 | Marshall | 31-28 | Youngstown State |
| 1991 | Youngstown State | 25-17 | Marshall |
| 1990 | Georgia Southern | 36-13 | Nevada |
| 1989 | Georgia Southern | 37-34 | Stephen F. Austin (Vacated) |
| 1988 | Furman | 17-12 | Georgia Southern |
| 1987 | Louisiana-Monroe | 43-42 | Marshall |
| 1986 | Georgia Southern | 48-21 | Arkansas State |
| 1985 | Georgia Southern | 44-42 | Furman |
| 1984 | Montana State | 19-6 | Louisiana Tech |
| 1983 | Southern Illinois | 43-7 | Western Carolina |
| 1982 | Eastern Kentucky | 17-14 | Delaware |
| 1981 | Idaho State | 34-23 | Eastern Kentucky |
| 1980 | Boise State | 31-29 | Eastern Kentucky |
| 1979 | Eastern Kentucky | 30-7 | Lehigh |
| 1978 | Florida A&M | 35-28 | Massachusetts |