The Northwest Missouri State−Pittsburg State football rivalry, also known as the Fall Classic at Arrowhead, is a college football game between Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) rivals Northwest Missouri State University and Pittsburg State University. From 2002 to 2013, the game was played at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs. The games were played at the teams' home field, due to being unable to reach terms with the Kansas City Chiefs, from 2014 to 2018. The game returned to Arrowhead Stadium in 2019, but has been played on campus since.

Overview

While at Arrowhead, the Fall Classic drew more than 20,000 fans each year (including 26,695 in 2004), the largest attendance of any regular-season NCAA Division II sporting event. Since 1991 the two MIAA rivals have appeared in 15 NCAA Division II National Football Championship title games. Pittsburg State is 2–3, winning in 1991 and 2011, and runner-up in 1992, 1995 and 2004. Northwest is 6–4, winning the titles in 1998, 1999, 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2016, and ending runner-up in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. In addition to the regular season games, the two teams have also played each other the Division II playoffs in 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2011. The two teams have combined for at least a share of all but three MIAA championships since 1989. In every matchup at Arrowhead except 2003, at least one of the teams was ranked in the Top 10 in Division II. In 2013, 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008, 2006 and 2004, both teams were in the Top 10. In 2004, the teams entered the game ranked no. 1 and no. 2. On February 11, 2014, Northwest Missouri State announced on its website that it was unable to reach terms with the Kansas City Chiefs to continue the use of Arrowhead Stadium for the contest. Northwest won ten of the thirteen games played at Arrowhead Stadium.

Game results

A During the 2004, 2005, 2008, and 2011 college football seasons, the Bearcats and Gorillas played twice; in this case, the second meeting was in the playoffs. All other seasons that the two teams played twice was considered a regular season game.