AMES, Iowa — Auburn has hired Iowa State's Gene Chizik as its new football coach, turning to a former defensive coordinator who helped the Tigers forge a perfect season but has won five games in two years as a head coach.

Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard said that Chizik told him yesterday he was accepting the job at Auburn.

"I'm disappointed for our Iowa State fans and student-athletes that he has chosen to leave our program after only two seasons," Pollard said in a statement. "I understand that it is a dream job for him, but the timing and the way it played out has been hurtful and disappointing."

Chizik will succeed Tommy Tuberville, who resigned following 10 seasons with an 85-40 record.

Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs would not confirm the hiring earlier after it was reported by numerous media outlets.

"We're just still working through the deal," Jacobs told reporters after landing in Auburn on a university jet.

Jacobs was on the plane with university President Jay Gogue and other athletic department officials, reportedly returning from a trip to Memphis, where Chizik's agent, Jimmy Sexton, is based.

An Auburn spokesman said no announcement was scheduled, but Chizik is expected to be introduced as the new coach tomorrow.

The 46-year-old Chizik is 5-19 in two seasons at Iowa State. He coached the nation's top scoring defense on a 2004 Auburn team that went 13-0 in his third and final season with the Tigers before taking the same job at Texas.

NCAA DIVISION II

MINNESOTA DULUTH 21, NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE 14

Ted Schlafke threw two touchdown passes to lead the Bulldogs (15-0) to their first NCAA Division II football championship with victory over the Wildcats (13-2) at Florence, Ala. The Wildcats lost in the championship game for the fourth consecutive season.

NCAA FCS PLAYOFFS

RICHMOND 21, NORTHERN IOWA 20

Eric Ward threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Joe Stewart with 14 seconds left and Andrew Howard kicked the PAT, lifting the visiting Spiders (12-3) over the Panthers (12-3) at Cedar Falls, Iowa, and into the Football Championship Subdivision title game Saturday at Chattanooga, Tenn. Richmond will play Montana (14-1), which defeated James Madison (12-2), 35-27, Friday night at Harrinsonburg, Va.

SWAC CHAMPIONSHIP

GRAMBLING STATE 41, JACKSON STATE 9

Greg Dillon threw for three touchdowns, two in the first half en route to a 13-0 lead, and rushed for another as the Grambling State Tigers (11-2, 7-0) romped past the Jackson State Tigers (7-5, 6-1) in the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game at Birmingham, Ala.

NCAA DIVISION III

MOUNT UNION 45, WHEATON 24

Nate Kmic gained 310 yards and scored three touchdowns to become college football's career rushing leader with 7,986 yards as the top-ranked Purple Raiders (13-1) beat the Thunder (11-3) at Alliance, Ohio to advance to the finals of the NCAA Division III championship playoffs.

WISCONSIN-WHITEWATER 39, MARY-HARDIN BAYLOR 13

The visiting Warhawks (13-1) scored a touchdown with 26 seconds left in the first half for a 12-10 lead and Jeff Donovan threw a pair of third-quarter TDs to make it 25-10 in a victory over the Crusaders (12-2) at Belton, Texas. Wisconsin-Whitewater advances to the Stagg Bowl in Salem, Va., on Saturday.