1978 NAIA Division I football season

1978 NAIA Division I football season
Regular season	August–November 1978
Postseason	December 2–16, 1978
National Championship	McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium; McAllen, TX
«1977	1979»

The 1978 NAIA Division I football season, as part of the 1978 college football season in the United States and the 23rd season of college football sponsored by the NAIA, was the ninth season of play of the NAIA's top division for football.

The season was played from August to November 1978 and culminated in the 1978 NAIA Division I Football National Championship. Known this year as the Palm Bowl, the title game was played on December 16, 1978 at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium in McAllen, Texas.^[1]

Angelo State defeated Elon in the Palm Bowl, 24–14, to win their first NAIA national title.^[2]

Conference champions

Conference	Champion	Record
Arkansas Intercollegiate	Central Arkansas	6–0
Central States	Kearney State	7–0
Evergreen	Oregon College	5–1
Great Lakes	Grand Valley State	5–0
Lone Star	Angelo State	7–0
NIC	Minnesota–Morris	8–0
Oklahoma	East Central State	4–0
PSAC	Clarion State Shippensburg State	5–1
RMAC	Western State	8–0
South Atlantic	Elon Presbyterian	6–0–1
SWAC	Grambling State	5–0–1
WVIAC	North: Shepherd South: Concord	6–3 8–1
Wisconsin State	Wisconsin–La Crosse Wisconsin–Whitewater	7–1 7–1

Quarterfinals December 2, 1978 Campus sites		Semifinals December 9, 1978 Campus sites		1978 Palm Bowl December 16, 1978 McAllen, TX


Grand Valley State	24

Wisconsin–La Crosse*	14
		Grand Valley State	7

		Elon*	13
Concord	6

Elon*	21
				Elon	14

				Angelo State	24
Western State	21

Central Arkansas*	17
		Western State	3

		Angelo State*	35
Oregon College	0

Angelo State*	32