FBS conference belt

The Western Athletic Belt

A companion lineage restricted to Western Athletic: the belt passes to whoever beats the holder, exactly like the real belt, but only games between two Western Athletic members COUNT — and only for the seasons both sides were actually in Western Athletic at the time. This belt is retired. Stephen F. Austin held it when Western Athletic played its last game on November 19, 2022, and the reign is closed as of June 30, 2023: the WAC's football members formed the United Athletic Conference in 2023.

114Reigns

374Belt Games

25Programs

Longest Reign

BYU — 3 yrs, 17 days

October 9, 1982 – October 26, 1985

Most Defenses, One Reign

BYU — 23

starting October 9, 1982

Most Reigns, All-Time

BYU — 12 separate reigns

25 Western Athletic programs have held it

#	Team	Reign	Length	Def.	Won it	Lost it
1	Arizona	September 22, 1962 – September 29, 1962	7 days	0	Established it (first game on record)	lost to New Mexico
2	New Mexico	September 29, 1962 – November 3, 1962	35 days	1	beat Arizona 35–25	lost to BYU
3	BYU	November 3, 1962 – September 28, 1963	329 days	1	beat New Mexico 27–0	lost to Arizona
4	Arizona	September 28, 1963 – November 30, 1963	63 days	1	beat BYU 33–7	lost to Arizona State
5	Arizona State	November 30, 1963 – October 24, 1964	329 days	0	beat Arizona 35–6	lost to Utah
6	Utah	October 24, 1964 – September 18, 1965	329 days	1	beat Arizona State 16–3	lost to Arizona
7	Arizona	September 18, 1965 – October 2, 1965	14 days	0	beat Utah 16–9	lost to Wyoming
8	Wyoming	October 2, 1965 – October 9, 1965	7 days	0	beat Arizona 19–0	lost to Utah
9	Utah	October 9, 1965 – October 16, 1965	7 days	0	beat Wyoming 42–3	lost to New Mexico
10	New Mexico	October 16, 1965 – October 23, 1965	7 days	0	beat Utah 13–10	lost to Arizona State
11	Arizona State	October 23, 1965 – September 24, 1966	336 days	2	beat New Mexico 27–14	lost to Wyoming
12	Wyoming	September 24, 1966 – November 23, 1968	2 yrs, 60 days	15	beat Arizona State 23–6	lost to Arizona
13	Arizona	November 23, 1968 – November 30, 1968	7 days	0	beat Wyoming 14–7	lost to Arizona State
14	Arizona State	November 30, 1968 – October 11, 1969	315 days	1	beat Arizona 30–7	lost to Utah
15	Utah	October 11, 1969 – November 15, 1969	35 days	2	beat Arizona State 24–23	lost to Arizona
16	Arizona	November 15, 1969 – November 29, 1969	14 days	0	beat Utah 17–16	lost to Arizona State
17	Arizona State	November 29, 1969 – September 30, 1972	2 yrs, 306 days	14	beat Arizona 38–24	lost to Wyoming
18	Wyoming	September 30, 1972 – October 7, 1972	7 days	0	beat Arizona State 45–43	lost to New Mexico
19	New Mexico	October 7, 1972 – October 14, 1972	7 days	0	beat Wyoming 17–14	lost to Arizona
20	Arizona	October 14, 1972 – November 4, 1972	21 days	1	beat New Mexico 27–15	lost to Utah
21	Utah	November 4, 1972 – November 18, 1972	14 days	0	beat Arizona 28–27	lost to BYU
22	BYU	November 18, 1972 – September 15, 1973	301 days	1	beat Utah 16–7	lost to Colorado State
23	Colorado State	September 15, 1973 – September 29, 1973	14 days	0	beat BYU 21–13	lost to Arizona State
24	Arizona State	September 29, 1973 – November 3, 1973	35 days	2	beat Colorado State 67–14	lost to Utah
25	Utah	November 3, 1973 – November 24, 1973	21 days	1	beat Arizona State 36–31	lost to BYU
26	BYU	November 24, 1973 – September 20, 1975	1 yr, 300 days	8	beat Utah 46–22	lost to Colorado State
27	Colorado State	September 20, 1975 – October 18, 1975	28 days	2	beat BYU 21–17	lost to Arizona State
28	Arizona State	October 18, 1975 – October 2, 1976	350 days	4	beat Colorado State 33–3	lost to Wyoming
29	Wyoming	October 2, 1976 – October 30, 1976	28 days	3	beat Arizona State 13–10	lost to Colorado State
30	Colorado State	October 30, 1976 – November 13, 1976	14 days	0	beat Wyoming 19–16	lost to Arizona
31	Arizona	November 13, 1976 – November 20, 1976	7 days	0	beat Colorado State 23–6	lost to New Mexico
32	New Mexico	November 20, 1976 – September 30, 1977	314 days	0	beat Arizona 21–15	lost to BYU
33	BYU	September 30, 1977 – November 12, 1977	43 days	4	beat New Mexico 54–19	lost to Arizona State
34	Arizona State	November 12, 1977 – November 19, 1977	7 days	0	beat BYU 24–13	lost to Colorado State
35	Colorado State	November 19, 1977 – September 23, 1978	308 days	0	beat Arizona State 25–14	lost to BYU
36	BYU	September 23, 1978 – November 18, 1978	56 days	4	beat Colorado State 32–6	lost to Utah
37	Utah	November 18, 1978 – October 27, 1979	343 days	4	beat BYU 23–22	lost to San Diego State
38	San Diego State	October 27, 1979 – November 24, 1979	28 days	2	beat Utah 17–13	lost to BYU
39	BYU	November 24, 1979 – September 6, 1980	287 days	0	beat San Diego State 63–14	lost to New Mexico
40	New Mexico	September 6, 1980 – October 11, 1980	35 days	1	beat BYU 25–21	lost to Colorado State
41	Colorado State	October 11, 1980 – November 15, 1980	35 days	4	beat New Mexico 31–26	lost to BYU
42	BYU	November 15, 1980 – October 24, 1981	343 days	4	beat Colorado State 45–14	lost to Wyoming
43	Wyoming	October 24, 1981 – November 14, 1981	21 days	2	beat BYU 33–20	lost to Utah
44	Utah	November 14, 1981 – November 21, 1981	7 days	0	beat Wyoming 30–27	lost to BYU
45	BYU	November 21, 1981 – September 25, 1982	308 days	0	beat Utah 56–28	lost to Air Force
46	Air Force	September 25, 1982 – October 2, 1982	7 days	0	beat BYU 39–38	lost to New Mexico
47	New Mexico	October 2, 1982 – October 9, 1982	7 days	0	beat Air Force 49–37	lost to BYU
48	BYU	October 9, 1982 – October 26, 1985	3 yrs, 17 days	23	beat New Mexico 40–12	lost to UTEP
49	UTEP	October 26, 1985 – November 2, 1985	7 days	0	beat BYU 23–16	lost to New Mexico
50	New Mexico	November 2, 1985 – November 9, 1985	7 days	0	beat UTEP 27–23	lost to Utah
51	Utah	November 9, 1985 – November 16, 1985	7 days	0	beat New Mexico 58–49	lost to Colorado State
52	Colorado State	November 16, 1985 – September 27, 1986	315 days	0	beat Utah 21–19	lost to Air Force
53	Air Force	September 27, 1986 – December 6, 1986	70 days	2	beat Colorado State 24–7	lost to BYU
54	BYU	December 6, 1986 – October 10, 1987	308 days	1	beat Air Force 23–3	lost to Wyoming
55	Wyoming	October 10, 1987 – September 10, 1989	1 yr, 335 days	13	beat BYU 29–27	lost to Air Force
56	Air Force	September 10, 1989 – November 11, 1989	62 days	2	beat Wyoming 45–7	lost to BYU
57	BYU	November 11, 1989 – December 1, 1990	1 yr, 20 days	9	beat Air Force 44–35	lost to Hawai'i
58	Hawai'i	December 1, 1990 – September 28, 1991	301 days	2	beat BYU 59–28	lost to Colorado State
59	Colorado State	September 28, 1991 – October 19, 1991	21 days	1	beat Hawai'i 28–16	lost to Utah
60	Utah	October 19, 1991 – October 26, 1991	7 days	0	beat Colorado State 21–16	lost to San Diego State
61	San Diego State	October 26, 1991 – October 24, 1992	364 days	6	beat Utah 24–21	lost to Air Force
62	Air Force	October 24, 1992 – October 31, 1992	7 days	0	beat San Diego State 20–17	lost to Utah
63	Utah	October 31, 1992 – November 7, 1992	7 days	0	beat Air Force 20–13	lost to Fresno State
64	Fresno State	November 7, 1992 – October 9, 1993	336 days	3	beat Utah 41–15	lost to Colorado State
65	Colorado State	October 9, 1993 – October 16, 1993	7 days	0	beat Fresno State 34–32	lost to San Diego State
66	San Diego State	October 16, 1993 – October 30, 1993	14 days	1	beat Colorado State 30–3	lost to Utah
67	Utah	October 30, 1993 – November 6, 1993	7 days	0	beat San Diego State 45–41	lost to Hawai'i
68	Hawai'i	November 6, 1993 – November 13, 1993	7 days	0	beat Utah 41–30	lost to Fresno State
69	Fresno State	November 13, 1993 – October 8, 1994	329 days	2	beat Hawai'i 45–21	lost to BYU
70	BYU	October 8, 1994 – November 19, 1994	42 days	2	beat Fresno State 32–30	lost to Utah
71	Utah	November 19, 1994 – October 7, 1995	322 days	3	beat BYU 34–31	lost to San Diego State
72	San Diego State	October 7, 1995 – November 11, 1995	35 days	3	beat Utah 24–21	lost to Wyoming
73	Wyoming	November 11, 1995 – November 7, 1996	362 days	8	beat San Diego State 34–31	lost to San Diego State
74	San Diego State	November 7, 1996 – November 16, 1996	9 days	0	beat Wyoming 28–24	lost to UNLV
75	UNLV	November 16, 1996 – November 23, 1996	7 days	0	beat San Diego State 44–42	lost to San José State
76	San José State	November 23, 1996 – September 20, 1997	301 days	0	beat UNLV 31–28	lost to Wyoming
77	Wyoming	September 20, 1997 – October 18, 1997	28 days	0	beat San José State 30–10	lost to Colorado State
78	Colorado State	October 18, 1997 – September 17, 1998	334 days	5	beat Wyoming 14–7	lost to Air Force
79	Air Force	September 17, 1998 – September 26, 1998	9 days	0	beat Colorado State 30–27	lost to TCU
80	TCU	September 26, 1998 – October 17, 1998	21 days	1	beat Air Force 35–34	lost to SMU
81	SMU	October 17, 1998 – October 31, 1998	14 days	1	beat TCU 10–6	lost to Air Force
82	Air Force	October 31, 1998 – December 25, 1998	55 days	3	beat SMU 31–7	vacated — left Western Athletic before the 1999 season
83	SMU	December 26, 1998 – September 25, 1999	273 days	0	reverted after Air Force left Western Athletic	lost to Hawai'i
84	Hawai'i	September 25, 1999 – October 9, 1999	14 days	1	beat SMU 20–0	lost to Rice
85	Rice	October 9, 1999 – October 30, 1999	21 days	2	beat Hawai'i 38–19	lost to SMU
86	SMU	October 30, 1999 – November 26, 1999	27 days	1	beat Rice 27–2	lost to TCU
87	TCU	November 26, 1999 – November 4, 2000	344 days	4	beat SMU 21–0	lost to San José State
88	San José State	November 4, 2000 – November 18, 2000	14 days	0	beat TCU 27–24	lost to Tulsa
89	Tulsa	November 18, 2000 – September 22, 2001	308 days	1	beat San José State 28–17	lost to Fresno State
90	Fresno State	September 22, 2001 – October 19, 2001	27 days	1	beat Tulsa 37–18	lost to Boise State
91	Boise State	October 19, 2001 – November 3, 2001	15 days	1	beat Fresno State 35–30	lost to Louisiana Tech
92	Louisiana Tech	November 3, 2001 – October 5, 2002	336 days	3	beat Boise State 48–42	lost to Rice
93	Rice	October 5, 2002 – October 19, 2002	14 days	0	beat Louisiana Tech 37–20	lost to UTEP
94	UTEP	October 19, 2002 – October 26, 2002	7 days	0	beat Rice 38–35	lost to Tulsa
95	Tulsa	October 26, 2002 – November 2, 2002	7 days	0	beat UTEP 20–0	lost to Rice
96	Rice	November 2, 2002 – November 9, 2002	7 days	0	beat Tulsa 33–18	lost to Boise State
97	Boise State	November 9, 2002 – November 10, 2005	3 yrs, 1 day	23	beat Rice 49–7	lost to Fresno State
98	Fresno State	November 10, 2005 – November 26, 2005	16 days	0	beat Boise State 27–7	lost to Nevada
99	Nevada	November 26, 2005 – September 1, 2006	279 days	0	beat Fresno State 38–35	lost to Fresno State
100	Fresno State	September 1, 2006 – October 7, 2006	36 days	0	beat Nevada 28–19	lost to Utah State
101	Utah State	October 7, 2006 – October 14, 2006	7 days	0	beat Fresno State 13–12	lost to San José State
102	San José State	October 14, 2006 – October 21, 2006	7 days	0	beat Utah State 21–14	lost to Nevada
103	Nevada	October 21, 2006 – November 25, 2006	35 days	4	beat San José State 23–7	lost to Boise State
104	Boise State	November 25, 2006 – November 23, 2007	363 days	7	beat Nevada 38–7	lost to Hawai'i
105	Hawai'i	November 23, 2007 – September 27, 2008	309 days	0	beat Boise State 39–27	lost to San José State
106	San José State	September 27, 2008 – October 24, 2008	27 days	2	beat Hawai'i 20–17	lost to Boise State
107	Boise State	October 24, 2008 – November 26, 2010	2 yrs, 33 days	19	beat San José State 33–16	lost to Nevada
108	Nevada	November 26, 2010 – November 19, 2011	358 days	5	beat Boise State 34–31	lost to Louisiana Tech
109	Louisiana Tech	November 19, 2011 – November 17, 2012	364 days	5	beat Nevada 24–20	lost to Utah State
110	Utah State	November 17, 2012 – December 15, 2012	28 days	1	beat Louisiana Tech 48–41	— belt retired —
111	Stephen F. Austin	September 4, 2021 – October 1, 2022	1 yr, 27 days	3	Re-established it (no Western Athletic games on record between 2012 and 2021)	lost to Sam Houston
112	Sam Houston	October 1, 2022 – November 12, 2022	42 days	2	beat Stephen F. Austin 17–16	lost to Abilene Christian
113	Abilene Christian	November 12, 2022 – November 19, 2022	7 days	0	beat Sam Houston 45–28	lost to Stephen F. Austin
114	Stephen F. Austin	November 19, 2022 – June 30, 2023	223 days	0	beat Abilene Christian 24–21	— belt retired —

No reigns match “.”

Membership is judged season by season from every game a team played, so realignment moves a team’s games with it. A holder that stays in Western Athletic keeps the belt through any stretch without a game against another member; a holder that leaves vacates the belt on its last game as a member, and it reverts to the most recent earlier holder that is a member of the season it left for. If no one is left to inherit it, the belt retires with its last holder. Days count the offseason; switch to games to measure a reign by belt games only.

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