The College Football BeltThe CFB Belt

A companion lineage

The Losers Belt

The real belt passes to whoever BEATS the holder. This one is its mirror image: it passes to whoever LOSES to the holder — you catch it the way you’d catch a cold, by losing to the team that currently has it. Lose again, and you keep it (you’re still the reigning worst team in the country). Win, and whoever you just beat catches it from you. It starts the same place the real belt does: Princeton, who lost the very first college football game ever played, 6–4 to Rutgers on November 6, 1869. This one folds FBS and FCS together, exactly how this belt has always worked here.

Combined (FBS + FCS)FBS OnlyFCS Only

How the Losers Belt works

Lost to the holder? It's yours.

The holder wins a game, and the team that just lost to them catches the Losers Belt.

Lose again? Still yours.

The holder loses again, nothing changes — still the reigning worst team.

Ties: holder retained

Same convention as the real belt — in the pre-overtime era a tie changed nothing either way (there hasn’t been one since 1996).

Computed, not curated

Same mechanical, no-editorial-judgment approach as the real belt — just run in reverse.

One wrinkle: this belt can only pass by losing, so a holder that stops fielding a football team at all would hold it forever under the literal rule — and a lot of this belt’s holders are exactly the kind of small or historic programs that don’t exist anymore. When a holder goes roughly two full seasons without playing a single game, it’s treated as having discontinued football, and the belt reverts to whoever it last caught it from.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff holds the Losers Belt.

Caught it by losing to Alabama State, 15–21, on October 17, 2026.

Next Losers Belt gameArkansas-Pine Bluff at Florida A&M · October 24, 2026 — Florida A&M catches it with a loss.

6Days Held
0Losses Since
1869Belt Established
197Reigns
770Belt Games
93Programs
Longest Reign
Elon — 10 yrs, 359 days
September 25, 1920 – September 19, 1931
Most Losses, One Reign
Elon — 28
starting September 25, 1920
Most Reigns, All-Time
Rutgers — 15 separate reigns
caught it back 14 times after passing it on
Reigns 101–197 of 197 · page 2 of 2 · Jump to the beginning →
#TeamReignLength LossesCaught itPassed it on
101 Pennsylvania November 12, 1966 – September 30, 1967 322 days 1 lost to Columbia 14–22 beat Lehigh
102 Lehigh September 30, 1967 – October 11, 1969 2 yrs, 11 days 8 lost to Pennsylvania 23–35 beat Rutgers
103 Rutgers October 11, 1969 – October 18, 1969 7 days 0 lost to Lehigh 7–17 beat Navy
104 Navy October 18, 1969 – October 25, 1969 7 days 0 lost to Rutgers 6–20 beat Virginia
105 Virginia October 25, 1969 – September 12, 1970 322 days 4 lost to Navy 0–10 beat Virginia Tech
106 Virginia Tech September 12, 1970 – October 17, 1970 35 days 4 lost to Virginia 0–7 beat Tulsa
107 Tulsa October 17, 1970 – November 21, 1970 35 days 1 lost to Virginia Tech 14–17 beat Idaho
108 Idaho November 21, 1970 – September 25, 1971 308 days 2 lost to Tulsa 17–30 beat Colorado State
109 Colorado State September 25, 1971 – November 20, 1971 56 days 5 lost to Idaho 0–10 beat UTEP
110 UTEP November 20, 1971 – September 30, 1972 315 days 1 lost to Colorado State 7–24 beat New Mexico State
111 New Mexico State September 30, 1972 – November 11, 1972 42 days 3 lost to UTEP 20–21 beat North Texas
112 North Texas November 11, 1972 – October 13, 1973 336 days 2 lost to New Mexico State 22–36 beat Louisville
113 Louisville October 13, 1973 – October 27, 1973 14 days 1 lost to North Texas 6–7 beat Cincinnati
114 Cincinnati October 27, 1973 – November 3, 1973 7 days 0 lost to Louisville 8–10 beat North Texas
115 North Texas November 3, 1973 – October 19, 1974 350 days 7 lost to Cincinnati 3–52 beat New Mexico State
116 New Mexico State October 19, 1974 – September 6, 1975 322 days 4 lost to North Texas 19–24 beat Drake
117 Drake September 6, 1975 – September 20, 1975 14 days 1 lost to New Mexico State 10–14 beat Louisville
118 Louisville September 20, 1975 – October 11, 1975 21 days 1 lost to Drake 7–31 beat Chattanooga
119 Chattanooga October 11, 1975 – October 18, 1975 7 days 0 lost to Louisville 3–6 beat East Tennessee State
120 East Tennessee State October 18, 1975 – October 8, 1977 1 yr, 355 days 3 lost to Chattanooga 13–21 beat App State
121 App State October 8, 1977 – September 9, 1978 336 days 5 lost to East Tennessee State 20–38 beat Wofford
122 Wofford September 9, 1978 – October 6, 1979 1 yr, 27 days 3 lost to App State 14–35 beat Furman
123 Furman October 6, 1979 – October 13, 1979 7 days 0 lost to Wofford 17–27 beat Marshall
124 Marshall October 13, 1979 – September 6, 1980 329 days 5 lost to Furman 24–34 beat Morehead State
125 Morehead State September 6, 1980 – September 12, 1981 1 yr, 6 days 1 lost to Marshall 8–35 vacated — stopped playing football
126 Marshall September 13, 1981 – November 7, 1981 55 days 7 reverted after Morehead State stopped playing beat App State
127 App State November 7, 1981 – September 3, 1983 1 yr, 300 days 4 lost to Marshall 10–17 beat Wake Forest
128 Wake Forest September 3, 1983 – September 10, 1983 7 days 0 lost to App State 25–27 beat Virginia Tech
129 Virginia Tech September 10, 1983 – September 17, 1983 7 days 0 lost to Wake Forest 6–13 beat Memphis
130 Memphis September 17, 1983 – October 8, 1983 21 days 1 lost to Virginia Tech 10–17 beat Tulane
131 Tulane October 8, 1983 – October 15, 1983 7 days 0 lost to Memphis 25–28 beat Louisiana
132 Louisiana October 15, 1983 – October 22, 1983 7 days 0 lost to Tulane 15–17 beat Lamar
133 Lamar October 22, 1983 – September 12, 1987 3 yrs, 325 days 4 lost to Louisiana 6–31 beat Northern Illinois
134 Northern Illinois September 12, 1987 – September 19, 1987 7 days 0 lost to Lamar 35–39 beat Western Michigan
135 Western Michigan September 19, 1987 – September 26, 1987 7 days 0 lost to Northern Illinois 14–34 beat Bowling Green
136 Bowling Green September 26, 1987 – October 10, 1987 14 days 1 lost to Western Michigan 27–34 beat Ohio
137 Ohio October 10, 1987 – October 1, 1988 357 days 9 lost to Bowling Green 7–28 beat Toledo
138 Toledo October 1, 1988 – October 8, 1988 7 days 0 lost to Ohio 14–24 beat Northern Illinois
139 Northern Illinois October 8, 1988 – October 22, 1988 14 days 1 lost to Toledo 20–33 beat Southern Illinois
140 Southern Illinois October 22, 1988 – September 16, 1995 6 yrs, 329 days 13 lost to Northern Illinois 9–10 vacated — stopped playing football
141 Northern Illinois September 17, 1995 – September 23, 1995 6 days 0 reverted after Southern Illinois stopped playing beat Louisiana
142 Louisiana September 23, 1995 – October 7, 1995 14 days 0 lost to Northern Illinois 24–25 beat Arkansas State
143 Arkansas State October 7, 1995 – October 28, 1995 21 days 1 lost to Louisiana 9–33 beat Jacksonville State
144 Jacksonville State October 28, 1995 – September 20, 1997 1 yr, 327 days 3 lost to Arkansas State 6–37 vacated — stopped playing football
145 Arkansas State September 21, 1997 – November 8, 1997 48 days 6 reverted after Jacksonville State stopped playing beat Missouri State
146 Missouri State November 8, 1997 – September 20, 2003 5 yrs, 316 days 7 lost to Arkansas State 27–35 beat Southeast Missouri State
147 Southeast Missouri State September 20, 2003 – October 4, 2003 14 days 1 lost to Missouri State 10–17 beat Eastern Illinois
148 Eastern Illinois October 4, 2003 – October 18, 2003 14 days 1 lost to Southeast Missouri State 17–30 beat Murray State
149 Murray State October 18, 2003 – October 25, 2003 7 days 0 lost to Eastern Illinois 17–27 beat Southeast Missouri State
150 Southeast Missouri State October 25, 2003 – November 1, 2003 7 days 0 lost to Murray State 24–27 beat UT Martin
151 UT Martin November 1, 2003 – September 18, 2004 322 days 4 lost to Southeast Missouri State 7–20 beat Austin Peay
152 Austin Peay September 18, 2004 – October 1, 2005 1 yr, 13 days 2 lost to UT Martin 14–31 beat Valparaiso
153 Valparaiso October 1, 2005 – October 15, 2005 14 days 0 lost to Austin Peay 20–30 beat Butler
154 Butler October 15, 2005 – September 30, 2006 350 days 3 lost to Valparaiso 21–34 beat Dayton
155 Dayton September 30, 2006 – November 4, 2006 35 days 3 lost to Butler 20–23 beat Valparaiso
156 Valparaiso November 4, 2006 – October 13, 2007 343 days 2 lost to Dayton 7–51 beat Butler
157 Butler October 13, 2007 – October 4, 2008 357 days 3 lost to Valparaiso 37–42 beat Drake
158 Drake October 4, 2008 – October 18, 2008 14 days 1 lost to Butler 15–21 beat Campbell
159 Campbell October 18, 2008 – October 31, 2009 1 yr, 13 days 8 lost to Drake 0–45 beat Morehead State
160 Morehead State October 31, 2009 – November 21, 2009 21 days 1 lost to Campbell 22–31 beat Valparaiso
161 Valparaiso November 21, 2009 – November 12, 2011 1 yr, 356 days 16 lost to Morehead State 6–29 beat Campbell
162 Campbell November 12, 2011 – November 2, 2013 1 yr, 355 days 14 lost to Valparaiso 31–34 beat Stetson
163 Stetson November 2, 2013 – November 9, 2013 7 days 0 lost to Campbell 18–19 beat Davidson
164 Davidson November 9, 2013 – August 30, 2014 294 days 1 lost to Stetson 13–26 beat Charlotte
165 Charlotte August 30, 2014 – September 13, 2014 14 days 0 lost to Davidson 0–56 beat North Carolina Central
166 North Carolina Central September 13, 2014 – October 4, 2014 21 days 1 lost to Charlotte 28–40 beat Howard
167 Howard October 4, 2014 – November 1, 2014 28 days 2 lost to North Carolina Central 22–27 beat Delaware State
168 Delaware State November 1, 2014 – November 21, 2015 1 yr, 20 days 11 lost to Howard 10–17 beat Howard
169 Howard November 21, 2015 – October 1, 2016 315 days 4 lost to Delaware State 31–32 beat Norfolk State
170 Norfolk State October 1, 2016 – October 29, 2016 28 days 2 lost to Howard 28–33 beat Morgan State
171 Morgan State October 29, 2016 – September 22, 2018 1 yr, 328 days 16 lost to Norfolk State 14–27 beat North Carolina A&T
172 North Carolina A&T September 22, 2018 – September 27, 2018 5 days 0 lost to Morgan State 13–16 beat South Carolina State
173 South Carolina State September 27, 2018 – October 6, 2018 9 days 0 lost to North Carolina A&T 16–31 beat Morgan State
174 Morgan State October 6, 2018 – November 10, 2018 35 days 3 lost to South Carolina State 18–21 beat Delaware State
175 Delaware State November 10, 2018 – November 9, 2019 364 days 8 lost to Morgan State 0–9 beat Bethune-Cookman
176 Bethune-Cookman November 9, 2019 – November 23, 2019 14 days 1 lost to Delaware State 13–16 beat Florida A&M
177 Florida A&M November 23, 2019 – November 23, 2019 0 days 0 lost to Bethune-Cookman 27–31 vacated — stopped playing football
178 Bethune-Cookman November 24, 2019 – November 24, 2019 0 days 0 reverted after Florida A&M stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
179 Delaware State November 25, 2019 – November 25, 2019 0 days 0 reverted after Bethune-Cookman stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
180 Morgan State November 26, 2019 – October 2, 2021 1 yr, 310 days 2 reverted after Delaware State stopped playing beat Alabama State
181 Alabama State October 2, 2021 – October 9, 2021 7 days 0 lost to Florida A&M 0–28 beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff
182 Arkansas-Pine Bluff October 9, 2021 – November 6, 2021 28 days 3 lost to Alabama State 15–35 beat Grambling
183 Grambling November 6, 2021 – November 27, 2021 21 days 1 lost to Arkansas-Pine Bluff 26–33 beat Southern
184 Southern November 27, 2021 – October 1, 2022 308 days 2 lost to Grambling 26–29 beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff
185 Arkansas-Pine Bluff October 1, 2022 – November 24, 2022 54 days 5 lost to Southern 3–59 beat Alabama State
186 Alabama State November 24, 2022 – September 2, 2023 282 days 0 lost to Arkansas-Pine Bluff 14–19 beat Southern
187 Southern September 2, 2023 – September 16, 2023 14 days 1 lost to Alabama State 10–14 beat Alabama A&M
188 Alabama A&M September 16, 2023 – September 21, 2023 5 days 0 lost to Southern 10–20 beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff
189 Arkansas-Pine Bluff September 21, 2023 – November 18, 2023 58 days 6 lost to Alabama A&M 24–31 beat Texas Southern
190 Texas Southern November 18, 2023 – August 31, 2024 287 days 0 lost to Arkansas-Pine Bluff 34–35 beat Prairie View A&M
191 Prairie View A&M August 31, 2024 – September 7, 2024 7 days 0 lost to Texas Southern 9–27 beat Northwestern State
192 Northwestern State September 7, 2024 – August 28, 2025 355 days 10 lost to Prairie View A&M 31–37 beat Alcorn State
193 Alcorn State August 28, 2025 – October 25, 2025 58 days 5 lost to Northwestern State 10–20 beat Mississippi Valley State
194 Mississippi Valley State October 25, 2025 – November 29, 2025 35 days 4 lost to Alcorn State 10–32 beat Florida A&M
195 Florida A&M November 29, 2025 – October 9, 2026 314 days 4 lost to Mississippi Valley State 31–35 beat Alabama State
196 Alabama State October 9, 2026 – October 17, 2026 8 days 0 lost to Florida A&M 27–28 beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff
197 Arkansas-Pine Bluff October 17, 2026 – Present 6 days 0 lost to Alabama State 15–21 — present —

No reigns match “.”

Reigns 101–197 of 197 · page 2 of 2 · Jump to the beginning →