Official NAIA Release | Men’s Bracket | Event Page
Heading into its 71st year, the 2023 NAIA Men’s National Championship field has been officially announced today, placing the 24 teams who will be meeting up in Mobile, Alabama from May 16-20 where a National Champion will be crowned.
With 15 automatic berths given out, the remainder of the field is filled by nine at-large berths as well as a host berth that is given to Mobile (Ala.), who has served as the NAIA National Championship host for the past 18 seasons.
Kesier will enter the 2023 NAIA Championship as the No. 1 seed. The Seahawks are 19-5 on the season, but have yet to lost to NAIA competition this year, including beating Georgia Gwinnett for the ITA National Team Indoor Championship earlier in the spring.
Speaking of Georgia Gwinnett, the Grizzlies are looking to claim their ninth-consecutive NAIA Championship when play begins in just a few weeks. Georgia Gwinnett has compiled an 18-1 record on the season, with their only loss being the previously mentioned matchup against Keiser.
Holy Cross (Ind.), Southwestern (Kan.), and Westcliff (Calif.) are the only teams making their first championship appearance this year. They will look to establish themselves in the field of established programs as 19 of the 24 teams return from last year’s championship.
A complete list of the 2023 NAIA Championship field can be found below:
| Institution | 2022-23 Record | Appearances | Last Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ave Maria (Fla.) | 8-6 | 2 | 2022 |
| Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) | 17-8 | 8 | 2022 |
| Coastal Georgia | 9-5 | 7 | 2022 |
| Cumberland (Tenn.) | 19-7 | 8 | 2022 |
| Cumberlands (Ky.) | 21-3 | 6 | 2022 |
| Georgia Gwinnett | 18-1 | 9 | 2022 |
| Grace (Ind.) | 22-5 | 2 | 2021 |
| Holy Cross (Ind.) | 12-3 | 1 | N/A |
| Keiser (Fla.) | 19-5 | 16 | 2022 |
| Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | 14-7 | 20 | 2022 |
| McPherson (Kan.) | 18-6 | 8 | 2022 |
| Middle Georgia State | 13-6 | 6 | 2022 |
| Midland (Neb.) | 17-7 | 4 | 2022 |
| Mobile (Ala.) | 9-6 | 15 | 2022 |
| Northwestern Ohio | 16-5 | 10 | 2022 |
| Oakland City (Ind.) | 21-6 | 2 | 2022 |
| Southeastern (Fla.) | 17-4 | 3 | 2022 |
| Southwestern (Kan.) | 12-4 | 1 | N/A |
| St. Thomas (Fla.) | 14-10 | 4 | 2021 |
| Tennessee Wesleyan | 19-1 | 7 | 2022 |
| Westcliff (Calif.) | 13-3 | 1 | N/A |
| William Carey (Mo.) | 13-5 | 12 | 2022 |
| William Woods (Mo.) | 20-4 | 6 | 2022 |
| Xavier (La.) | 17-6 | 14 | 2022 |
