The Tri-State Conference was an intercollegiate athletic conference associated with National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) the that existed from 1960 to 1981 and one of two conferences to share this name. The league had members in the Midwestern states of Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Minnesota.

The Tri-State Conference began operations in 1960 with seven members: Concordia College (now known as Concordia University Nebraska in Seward, Nebraska), Dana College in Blair, Nebraska, Midland College (now known as Midland University) in Fremont, Nebraska, Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, Sioux Falls College (now known as the University of Sioux Falls) in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Westmar University in Le Mars, Iowa, and Yankton College in Yankton, South Dakota. In 1971, the three Nebraska schools (Concordia, Dana, and Midland) withdrew; they joined the Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (now known as the Great Plains Athletic Conference) in 1969 and had been members of both conferences. The same year, 1971, Bethel College (now known as Bethel University) in Arden Hills, Minnesota and Concordia University in Saint Paul, Minnesota joined the Tri-State Conference. Concordia of St. Paul left in 1975 as did Bethel in 1977. Dordt College (now known as Dordt University) joined in 1976. Sioux Falls left in 1977 to join the South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference.

Football champions

1960 – Concordia (NE) 1961 – Midland 1962 – Concordia (NE) and Dana 1963 – Midland 1964 – Westmar 1965 – Midland and Westmar 1966 – Westmar and Yankton 1967 – Westmar 1968 – Westmar 1969 – Yankton 1970 – Yankton1971 – Northwestern (IA) 1972 – Northwestern (IA) 1973 – Northwestern (IA) 1974 – Northwestern (IA) 1975 – Bethel (MN), Northwestern (IA), and Yankton 1976 – Northwestern (IA) 1977 – Northwestern (IA) 1978 – Northwestern (IA) 1979 – Northwestern (IA) 1980 – Northwestern (IA)

Yearly football standings

1960 Tri-State Conference football standings
vteConf.Overall
1960 Tri-State Conference football standings vte Conf. Overall Team W L T W L T Concordia (NE) $ 5 – 0 – 1 7 – 1 – 1 Midland 5 – 1 – 0 7 – 1 – 0 Sioux Falls 4 – 2 – 0 6 – 2 – 0 Westmar 3 – 2 – 1 3 – 4 – 1 Dana 2 – 4 – 0 2 – 6 – 0 Yankton 1 – 5 – 0 1 – 7 – 0 Northwestern (IA) 0 – 6 – 0 0 – 6 – 0 $ – Conference champion1961 Tri-State Conference football standings vte Conf. Overall Team W L T W L T Midland $ 5 – 1 – 0 6 – 2 – 0 Dana 4 – 2 – 0 5 – 3 – 0 Westmar 4 – 2 – 0 4 – 4 – 0 Northwestern (IA) 3 – 3 – 0 3 – 4 – 1 Concordia (NE) 2 – 4 – 0 3 – 6 – 0 Yankton 2 – 4 – 0 5 – 4 – 0 Sioux Falls 1 – 5 – 0 1 – 8 – 0 $ – Conference champion1962 Tri-State Conference football standings vte Conf. Overall Team W L T W L T Dana + 5 – 1 – 0 6 – 3 – 0 Concordia (NE) + 5 – 1 – 0 7 – 2 – 0 Midland 4 – 2 – 0 6 – 2 – 0 Westmar 4 – 2 – 0 5 – 4 – 0 Yankton 2 – 4 – 0 3 – 6 – 0 Sioux Falls 1 – 5 – 0 1 – 8 – 0 Northwestern (IA) 0 – 6 – 0 0 – 8 – 0 + – Conference co-champions
TeamWLTWLT
Concordia (NE) $5–0–17–1–1
Midland5–1–07–1–0
Sioux Falls4–2–06–2–0
Westmar3–2–13–4–1
Dana2–4–02–6–0
Yankton1–5–01–7–0
Northwestern (IA)0–6–00–6–0
$ – Conference champion
vteConf.Overall
TeamWLTWLT
Midland $5–1–06–2–0
Dana4–2–05–3–0
Westmar4–2–04–4–0
Northwestern (IA)3–3–03–4–1
Concordia (NE)2–4–03–6–0
Yankton2–4–05–4–0
Sioux Falls1–5–01–8–0
$ – Conference champion
vteConf.Overall
TeamWLTWLT
Dana +5–1–06–3–0
Concordia (NE) +5–1–07–2–0
Midland4–2–06–2–0
Westmar4–2–05–4–0
Yankton2–4–03–6–0
Sioux Falls1–5–01–8–0
Northwestern (IA)0–6–00–8–0
+ – Conference co-champions
1963 Tri-State Conference football standings vte Conf. Overall Team W L T W L T Midland $ 5 – 0 – 1 6 – 1 – 1 Concordia (NE) 5 – 1 – 0 6 – 3 – 0 Westmar 4 – 1 – 1 6 – 1 – 2 Northwestern (IA) 3 – 3 – 0 4 – 4 – 0 Dana 2 – 4 – 0 2 – 6 – 0 Yankton 1 – 5 – 0 1 – 8 – 0 Sioux Falls 0 – 6 – 0 1 – 7 – 0 $ – Conference champion1964 Tri-State Conference football standings vte Conf. Overall Team W L T W L T Westmar $ 5 – 1 – 0 8 – 1 – 0 Northwestern (IA) 4 – 2 – 0 6 – 2 – 0 Yankton 4 – 2 – 0 5 – 4 – 0 Midland 4 – 2 – 0 4 – 4 – 0 Concordia (NE) 3 – 3 – 0 5 – 4 – 0 Dana 1 – 5 – 0 2 – 6 – 0 Sioux Falls 0 – 6 – 0 0 – 9 – 0 $ – Conference champion1965 Tri-State Conference football standings vte Conf. Overall Team W L T W L T Westmar + 5 – 1 – 0 7 – 1 – 1 Midland + 5 – 1 – 0 6 – 2 – 0 Yankton 4 – 2 – 0 7 – 2 – 0 Concordia (NE) 3 – 3 – 0 6 – 3 – 0 Dana 2 – 4 – 0 2 – 6 – 0 Northwestern (IA) 1 – 5 – 0 2 – 6 – 0 Sioux Falls 1 – 5 – 0 2 – 7 – 0 + – Conference co-champions
vteConf.Overall
TeamWLTWLT
Midland $5–0–16–1–1
Concordia (NE)5–1–06–3–0
Westmar4–1–16–1–2
Northwestern (IA)3–3–04–4–0
Dana2–4–02–6–0
Yankton1–5–01–8–0
Sioux Falls0–6–01–7–0
$ – Conference champion
vteConf.Overall
TeamWLTWLT
Westmar $5–1–08–1–0
Northwestern (IA)4–2–06–2–0
Yankton4–2–05–4–0
Midland4–2–04–4–0
Concordia (NE)3–3–05–4–0
Dana1–5–02–6–0
Sioux Falls0–6–00–9–0
$ – Conference champion
vteConf.Overall
TeamWLTWLT
Westmar +5–1–07–1–1
Midland +5–1–06–2–0
Yankton4–2–07–2–0
Concordia (NE)3–3–06–3–0
Dana2–4–02–6–0
Northwestern (IA)1–5–02–6–0
Sioux Falls1–5–02–7–0
+ – Conference co-champions
1966 Tri-State Conference football standings vte Conf. Overall Team W L T W L T Yankton + 5 – 1 – 0 8 – 1 – 0 Westmar + 5 – 1 – 0 7 – 2 – 0 Sioux Falls 4 – 2 – 0 6 – 3 – 0 Dana 2 – 4 – 0 3 – 5 – 0 Concordia (NE) 2 – 4 – 0 2 – 5 – 2 Midland 2 – 4 – 0 2 – 6 – 0 Northwestern (IA) 1 – 5 – 0 2 – 6 – 0 + – Conference co-champions1967 Tri-State Conference football standings vte Conf. Overall Team W L T W L T Westmar $ 6 – 0 – 0 8 – 1 – 0 Yankton 5 – 1 – 0 8 – 1 – 0 Sioux Falls 4 – 2 – 0 7 – 2 – 0 Dana 2 – 3 – 1 2 – 4 – 2 Midland 1 – 3 – 2 2 – 6 – 0 Concordia (NE) 1 – 5 – 0 2 – 7 – 0 Northwestern (IA) 0 – 5 – 1 0 – 7 – 1 $ – Conference champion1968 Tri-State Conference football standings vte Conf. Overall Team W L T W L T Westmar $ 6 – 0 – 0 9 – 0 – 0 Concordia (NE) 5 – 1 – 0 6 – 3 – 0 Northwestern (IA) 4 – 2 – 0 7 – 2 – 0 Dana 2 – 4 – 0 3 – 6 – 0 Sioux Falls 2 – 4 – 0 3 – 6 – 0 Yankton 1 – 4 – 1 1 – 7 – 1 Midland 0 – 5 – 1 0 – 8 – 1 $ – Conference champion
vteConf.Overall
TeamWLTWLT
Yankton +5–1–08–1–0
Westmar +5–1–07–2–0
Sioux Falls4–2–06–3–0
Dana2–4–03–5–0
Concordia (NE)2–4–02–5–2
Midland2–4–02–6–0
Northwestern (IA)1–5–02–6–0
+ – Conference co-champions
vteConf.Overall
TeamWLTWLT
Westmar $6–0–08–1–0
Yankton5–1–08–1–0
Sioux Falls4–2–07–2–0
Dana2–3–12–4–2
Midland1–3–22–6–0
Concordia (NE)1–5–02–7–0
Northwestern (IA)0–5–10–7–1
$ – Conference champion
vteConf.Overall
TeamWLTWLT
Westmar $6–0–09–0–0
Concordia (NE)5–1–06–3–0
Northwestern (IA)4–2–07–2–0
Dana2–4–03–6–0
Sioux Falls2–4–03–6–0
Yankton1–4–11–7–1
Midland0–5–10–8–1
$ – Conference champion
1969 Tri-State Conference football standings vte Conf. Overall Team W L T W L T Yankton $ 5 – 1 – 0 8 – 1 – 0 Concordia (NE) 4 – 1 – 1 4 – 5 – 1 Northwestern (IA) 4 – 2 – 0 7 – 2 – 0 Westmar 3 – 3 – 0 5 – 4 – 0 Dana 2 – 3 – 1 2 – 6 – 1 Midland 1 – 5 – 0 1 – 7 – 0 Sioux Falls 1 – 5 – 0 1 – 8 – 0 $ – Conference champion1970 Tri-State Conference football standings vte Conf. Overall Team W L T W L T No. 14 Yankton $ 6 – 0 – 0 8 – 2 – 0 No. 13 Concordia (NE) 5 – 1 – 0 8 – 1 – 0 Northwestern (IA) 4 – 2 – 0 6 – 3 – 0 Westmar 3 – 3 – 0 5 – 4 – 0 Dana 2 – 4 – 0 3 – 6 – 0 Midland 1 – 5 – 0 1 – 8 – 0 Sioux Falls 0 – 6 – 0 0 – 9 – 0 $ – Conference championRankings from NAIA Division II poll1971 Tri-State Conference football standings vte Conf. Overall Team W L T W L T Northwestern (IA) $ 4 – 1 – 0 6 – 3 – 0 Westmar 3 – 2 – 0 4 – 4 – 1 Concordia-St. Paul 3 – 2 – 0 4 – 5 – 0 Yankton 2 – 3 – 0 5 – 3 – 1 Bethel (MN) 1 – 4 – 0 1 – 8 – 0 Sioux Falls 0 – 5 – 0 0 – 8 – 1 $ – Conference champion
vteConf.Overall
TeamWLTWLT
Yankton $5–1–08–1–0
Concordia (NE)4–1–14–5–1
Northwestern (IA)4–2–07–2–0
Westmar3–3–05–4–0
Dana2–3–12–6–1
Midland1–5–01–7–0
Sioux Falls1–5–01–8–0
$ – Conference champion
vteConf.Overall
TeamWLTWLT
No. 14 Yankton $6–0–08–2–0
No. 13 Concordia (NE)5–1–08–1–0
Northwestern (IA)4–2–06–3–0
Westmar3–3–05–4–0
Dana2–4–03–6–0
Midland1–5–01–8–0
Sioux Falls0–6–00–9–0
$ – Conference championRankings from NAIA Division II poll
vteConf.Overall
TeamWLTWLT
Northwestern (IA) $4–1–06–3–0
Westmar3–2–04–4–1
Concordia-St. Paul3–2–04–5–0
Yankton2–3–05–3–1
Bethel (MN)1–4–01–8–0
Sioux Falls0–5–00–8–1
$ – Conference champion
1972 Tri-State Conference football standings vte Conf. Overall Team W L T W L T No. 2 Northwestern (IA) $^ 5 – 0 – 0 10 – 1 – 0 Westmar 4 – 1 – 0 5 – 4 – 0 Concordia (MN) 2 – 3 – 0 4 – 4 – 0 Bethel (MN) 2 – 3 – 0 3 – 6 – 0 Sioux Falls 1 – 4 – 0 5 – 4 – 0 Yankton 1 – 4 – 0 2 – 7 – 0 $ – Conference champion^ – NAIA Division II playoff participantRankings from NAIA Division II poll1973 Tri-State Conference football standings vte Conf. Overall Team W L T W L T No. 1 Northwestern (IA) $^ 5 – 0 – 0 12 – 0 – 0 No. 14 Yankton 4 – 1 – 0 7 – 2 – 0 Sioux Falls 2 – 3 – 0 5 – 5 – 0 Westmar 2 – 3 – 0 3 – 5 – 0 Bethel (MN) 2 – 3 – 0 3 – 6 – 0 Concordia (MN) 0 – 5 – 0 2 – 7 – 0 $ – Conference champion^ – NAIA Division II playoff participantRankings from NAIA Division II poll1974 Tri-State Conference football standings vte Conf. Overall Team W L T W L T No. 10 Northwestern (IA) $ 5 – 0 – 0 8 – 2 – 0 No. 20 Yankton 4 – 1 – 0 7 – 2 – 0 Bethel (MN) 2 – 3 – 0 5 – 4 – 0 Sioux Falls 2 – 3 – 0 4 – 5 – 0 Westmar 2 – 3 – 0 3 – 5 – 0 Concordia (MN) 0 – 5 – 0 2 – 7 – 0 $ – Conference championRankings from NAIA Division II poll
vteConf.Overall
TeamWLTWLT
No. 2 Northwestern (IA) $^5–0–010–1–0
Westmar4–1–05–4–0
Concordia (MN)2–3–04–4–0
Bethel (MN)2–3–03–6–0
Sioux Falls1–4–05–4–0
Yankton1–4–02–7–0
$ – Conference champion^ – NAIA Division II playoff participantRankings from NAIA Division II poll
vteConf.Overall
TeamWLTWLT
No. 1 Northwestern (IA) $^5–0–012–0–0
No. 14 Yankton4–1–07–2–0
Sioux Falls2–3–05–5–0
Westmar2–3–03–5–0
Bethel (MN)2–3–03–6–0
Concordia (MN)0–5–02–7–0
$ – Conference champion^ – NAIA Division II playoff participantRankings from NAIA Division II poll
vteConf.Overall
TeamWLTWLT
No. 10 Northwestern (IA) $5–0–08–2–0
No. 20 Yankton4–1–07–2–0
Bethel (MN)2–3–05–4–0
Sioux Falls2–3–04–5–0
Westmar2–3–03–5–0
Concordia (MN)0–5–02–7–0
$ – Conference championRankings from NAIA Division II poll
1975 Tri-State Conference football standings vte Conf. Overall Team W L T W L T Bethel (MN) + 3 – 1 – 0 7 – 2 – 0 No. 19 Northwestern (IA) + 3 – 1 – 0 7 – 2 – 1 Yankton + 3 – 1 – 0 6 – 4 – 0 Westmar 1 – 3 – 0 2 – 6 – 0 Sioux Falls 0 – 4 – 0 2 – 7 – 0 + – Conference co-championsRankings from NAIA Division II poll1976 Tri-State Conference football standings vte Conf. Overall Team W L T W L T Northwestern (IA) $ 4 – 0 – 0 5 – 5 – 0 Bethel (MN) 3 – 1 – 0 7 – 2 – 0 Yankton 2 – 2 – 0 0 – 6 – 4 Sioux Falls 1 – 3 – 0 1 – 8 – 0 Westmar 0 – 4 – 0 0 – 9 – 0 $ – Conference champion1977 Tri-State Conference football standings vte Conf. Overall Team W L T W L T Northwestern (IA) $ 2 – 0 – 0 6 – 4 – 0 Westmar 1 – 1 – 0 2 – 8 – 0 Sioux Falls 0 – 2 – 0 0 – 9 – 0 $ – Conference championNorthwestern (IA) and Sioux Falls played twice, but only the first meeting counted in the conference standings.
vteConf.Overall
TeamWLTWLT
Bethel (MN) +3–1–07–2–0
No. 19 Northwestern (IA) +3–1–07–2–1
Yankton +3–1–06–4–0
Westmar1–3–02–6–0
Sioux Falls0–4–02–7–0
+ – Conference co-championsRankings from NAIA Division II poll
vteConf.Overall
TeamWLTWLT
Northwestern (IA) $4–0–05–5–0
Bethel (MN)3–1–07–2–0
Yankton2–2–00–6–4
Sioux Falls1–3–01–8–0
Westmar0–4–00–9–0
$ – Conference champion
vteConf.Overall
TeamWLTWLT
Northwestern (IA) $2–0–06–4–0
Westmar1–1–02–8–0
Sioux Falls0–2–00–9–0
$ – Conference championNorthwestern (IA) and Sioux Falls played twice, but only the first meeting counted in the conference standings.
1978 Tri-State Conference football standings vte Conf. Overall Team W L T W L T No. 7 Northwestern (IA) $^ 2 – 0 – 0 9 – 2 – 0 Westmar 2 – 1 – 0 8 – 2 – 0 Yankton 0 – 3 – 0 1 – 8 – 1 $ – Conference champion^ – NAIA Division II playoff participantRankings from NAIA Division II poll1979 Tri-State Conference football standings vte Conf. Overall Team W L T W L T No. 3 Northwestern (IA) $^ 2 – 0 – 0 10 – 2 – 0 No. 20 Westmar 2 – 1 – 0 7 – 3 – 0 Yankton 0 – 3 – 0 5 – 6 – 0 $ – Conference champion^ – NAIA Division II playoff participantRankings from NAIA Division II poll1980 Tri-State Conference football standings vte Conf. Overall Team W L T W L T Northwestern (IA) 2 – 0 – 0 6 – 3 – 0 Westmar 1 – 1 – 0 7 – 3 – 0 Yankton 0 – 2 – 0 3 – 7 – 0 $ – Conference champion
vteConf.Overall
TeamWLTWLT
No. 7 Northwestern (IA) $^2–0–09–2–0
Westmar2–1–08–2–0
Yankton0–3–01–8–1
$ – Conference champion^ – NAIA Division II playoff participantRankings from NAIA Division II poll
vteConf.Overall
TeamWLTWLT
No. 3 Northwestern (IA) $^2–0–010–2–0
No. 20 Westmar2–1–07–3–0
Yankton0–3–05–6–0
$ – Conference champion^ – NAIA Division II playoff participantRankings from NAIA Division II poll
vteConf.Overall
TeamWLTWLT
Northwestern (IA)2–0–06–3–0
Westmar1–1–07–3–0
Yankton0–2–03–7–0
$ – Conference champion

See also