(05-01-2017 03:01 AM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote:  You always say NAIA was better than D-II, funny the D-II guys said they've always been better. I look at it this way, the D-II playoff schools the last 15-20 years were better than the NAIA playoff schools for the most part, in football and basketball. The GVSUs, UNA, NW Mo, UND, N.Colos, Valdosta Sts were better than the Carrolls, Sioux Falls, Georgetown(KY), St. Francis(IN) NW Ok. Same in bball, the CSUBs, Kentucky Wesleyans, Metro St., UC Davis> Life, Ok City, G'town, Birm-So.

It depends on the sport, and that usually comes down to scholarships.

D2 football is better than NAIA football because there difference is (I think) 50% more scholarships for D2. NAIA allows 24 (but doesn't count honors students and JVs) and D2 - I think - allows 36(?). Football is what most here care about I guess. There aren't many head to head games to compare for sure, the one that does come to mind is Marian vs. Indianapolis.

For basketball, yes I think NAIA is better but not by much. Eleven scholarships (again, not including honors students) vs 10 for D2. There are a couple of head to head comparisons that bear this out, although they are getting a little old. NAIA St Catharine was a 1st round tournament loser in 2011 but beat D2 national champion Bellarmine. NAIA Westmont didn't qualify for the 2010 national tournament but beat D2 champion Cal Poly Pomona. If you have other comparisons that show otherwise let me know.