<P> The NCAA Division III Football Championship began in 1973 . Before 1973, most of the schools now in Division III competed in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). </P> <P> The Division III playoffs begin with 32 teams selected to participate in the playoffs . The Division III championship game, known as the Stagg Bowl (named after Amos Alonzo Stagg), has been played annually at Salem Football Stadium in Salem, Virginia since 1993 . It was previously played at Garrett - Harrison Stadium in Phenix City, Alabama (1973--1982, 1985--1989), at Galbreath Field at the College Football Hall of Fame, when the Hall was located in Kings Island, Ohio (1983--1984), and at Hawkins Stadium in Bradenton, Florida (1990--1992). </P> <P> Mount Union has appeared in eleven consecutive Stagg Bowls, and all but three since 1996 . The Purple Raiders defeated Wisconsin--Whitewater in 2005, 2006, and 2008; lost to Wisconsin--Whitewater in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2014; and defeated the University of St. Thomas in 2012 and 2015 . The only two times since 2000 in which Mount Union did not appear, the University of Mary Hardin - Baylor did . They lost the 2004 championship to Linfield College and won the 2016 game over University of Wisconsin--Oshkosh . </P>

How many teams make the division 3 football playoffs