The College Football BeltThe CFB Belt

A companion lineage

The Losers Belt (FBS)

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 is restricted to FBS programs only — both sides of every game have to be FBS, so the belt can never cross down into FCS. This is the scope that matches the “official” College Football Loser's Belt that's been tracked on r/CFB since 2014 and still goes viral there today.

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.

Purdue holds the Losers Belt.

Caught it by losing to Washington, 26–38, on October 16, 2026.

Next FBS Losers Belt gamePurdue at Penn State · October 31, 2026 · BTN — Penn State catches it with a loss.

15Days Held
0Losses Since
1869Belt Established
196Reigns
783Belt Games
85Programs
Longest Reign
Duke — 30 yrs, 349 days
November 27, 1890 – November 11, 1921
Most Losses, One Reign
BYU — 25
starting November 15, 1952
Most Reigns, All-Time
UL Monroe — 8 separate reigns
caught it back 7 times after passing it on
Reigns 101–196 of 196 · page 2 of 2 · Jump to the beginning →
#TeamReignLength LossesCaught itPassed it on
101 Oregon State October 4, 1986 – October 11, 1986 7 days 0 lost to Washington State 14–24 beat California
102 California October 11, 1986 – November 22, 1986 42 days 5 lost to Oregon State 12–14 beat Stanford
103 Stanford November 22, 1986 – November 30, 1986 8 days 0 lost to California 11–17 beat Arizona
104 Arizona November 30, 1986 – December 27, 1986 27 days 0 lost to Stanford 24–29 beat North Carolina
105 North Carolina December 27, 1986 – September 5, 1987 252 days 0 lost to Arizona 21–30 beat Illinois
106 Illinois September 5, 1987 – September 19, 1987 14 days 1 lost to North Carolina 14–34 beat East Carolina
107 East Carolina September 19, 1987 – September 26, 1987 7 days 0 lost to Illinois 10–20 beat Georgia Southern
108 Georgia Southern September 26, 1987 – October 8, 1988 1 yr, 12 days 1 lost to East Carolina 13–16 vacated — stopped playing football
109 East Carolina October 9, 1988 – November 5, 1988 27 days 3 reverted after Georgia Southern stopped playing beat Temple
110 Temple November 5, 1988 – November 12, 1988 7 days 0 lost to East Carolina 17–34 beat Akron
111 Akron November 12, 1988 – September 9, 1989 301 days 1 lost to Temple 17–37 beat Kent State
112 Kent State September 9, 1989 – October 20, 1990 1 yr, 41 days 15 lost to Akron 7–40 beat Ohio
113 Ohio October 20, 1990 – October 26, 1991 1 yr, 6 days 9 lost to Kent State 15–44 beat Kent State
114 Kent State October 26, 1991 – November 2, 1991 7 days 0 lost to Ohio 40–45 beat Toledo
115 Toledo November 2, 1991 – November 16, 1991 14 days 1 lost to Kent State 13–14 beat Eastern Michigan
116 Eastern Michigan November 16, 1991 – October 24, 1992 343 days 7 lost to Toledo 14–21 beat Ohio
117 Ohio October 24, 1992 – October 16, 1993 357 days 8 lost to Eastern Michigan 6–7 beat Kent State
118 Kent State October 16, 1993 – September 17, 1994 336 days 6 lost to Ohio 10–15 beat Akron
119 Akron September 17, 1994 – November 19, 1994 63 days 6 lost to Kent State 16–32 beat Ohio
120 Ohio November 19, 1994 – October 21, 1995 336 days 5 lost to Akron 10–24 beat Akron
121 Akron October 21, 1995 – October 28, 1995 7 days 0 lost to Ohio 23–29 beat Kent State
122 Kent State October 28, 1995 – October 5, 1996 343 days 6 lost to Akron 6–14 beat Akron
123 Akron October 5, 1996 – October 19, 1996 14 days 1 lost to Kent State 17–32 beat Miami (OH)
124 Miami (OH) October 19, 1996 – November 2, 1996 14 days 1 lost to Akron 7–10 beat Toledo
125 Toledo November 2, 1996 – November 9, 1996 7 days 0 lost to Miami (OH) 7–27 beat Central Michigan
126 Central Michigan November 9, 1996 – August 28, 1997 292 days 0 lost to Toledo 20–23 beat Northern Illinois
127 Northern Illinois August 28, 1997 – October 17, 1998 1 yr, 50 days 14 lost to Central Michigan 10–44 beat Central Michigan
128 Central Michigan October 17, 1998 – October 24, 1998 7 days 0 lost to Northern Illinois 6–16 beat Western Michigan
129 Western Michigan October 24, 1998 – October 31, 1998 7 days 0 lost to Central Michigan 24–26 beat Kent State
130 Kent State October 31, 1998 – September 25, 1999 329 days 5 lost to Western Michigan 23–48 beat Bowling Green
131 Bowling Green September 25, 1999 – October 2, 1999 7 days 0 lost to Kent State 27–41 beat Toledo
132 Toledo October 2, 1999 – October 9, 1999 7 days 0 lost to Bowling Green 23–34 beat Kent State
133 Kent State October 9, 1999 – October 30, 1999 21 days 2 lost to Toledo 7–47 beat Buffalo
134 Buffalo October 30, 1999 – September 23, 2000 329 days 5 lost to Kent State 20–41 beat Bowling Green
135 Bowling Green September 23, 2000 – September 30, 2000 7 days 0 lost to Buffalo 17–20 beat Kent State
136 Kent State September 30, 2000 – October 7, 2000 7 days 0 lost to Bowling Green 11–18 beat Central Michigan
137 Central Michigan October 7, 2000 – November 11, 2000 35 days 3 lost to Kent State 21–24 beat Western Michigan
138 Western Michigan November 11, 2000 – November 18, 2000 7 days 0 lost to Central Michigan 17–21 beat Eastern Michigan
139 Eastern Michigan November 18, 2000 – October 27, 2001 343 days 4 lost to Western Michigan 0–28 beat Buffalo
140 Buffalo October 27, 2001 – November 3, 2001 7 days 0 lost to Eastern Michigan 20–24 beat Ohio
141 Ohio November 3, 2001 – September 28, 2002 329 days 6 lost to Buffalo 0–44 beat Buffalo
142 Buffalo September 28, 2002 – October 25, 2003 1 yr, 27 days 14 lost to Ohio 32–34 beat Ohio
143 Ohio October 25, 2003 – September 25, 2004 336 days 6 lost to Buffalo 17–26 beat Buffalo
144 Buffalo September 25, 2004 – October 2, 2004 7 days 0 lost to Ohio 0–34 beat UCF
145 UCF October 2, 2004 – September 24, 2005 357 days 9 lost to Buffalo 20–48 beat Marshall
146 Marshall September 24, 2005 – October 1, 2005 7 days 0 lost to UCF 13–23 beat SMU
147 SMU October 1, 2005 – October 8, 2005 7 days 0 lost to Marshall 13–16 beat UAB
148 UAB October 8, 2005 – November 1, 2005 24 days 2 lost to SMU 27–28 beat Memphis
149 Memphis November 1, 2005 – November 19, 2005 18 days 1 lost to UAB 20–37 beat Southern Miss
150 Southern Miss November 19, 2005 – November 26, 2005 7 days 0 lost to Memphis 22–24 beat Tulane
151 Tulane November 26, 2005 – September 16, 2006 294 days 1 lost to Southern Miss 7–26 beat Mississippi State
152 Mississippi State September 16, 2006 – September 23, 2006 7 days 0 lost to Tulane 29–32 beat UAB
153 UAB September 23, 2006 – September 30, 2006 7 days 0 lost to Mississippi State 10–16 beat Troy
154 Troy September 30, 2006 – October 14, 2006 14 days 0 lost to UAB 3–21 beat UL Monroe
155 UL Monroe October 14, 2006 – November 11, 2006 28 days 2 lost to Troy 19–24 beat Florida International
156 Florida International November 11, 2006 – December 2, 2007 1 yr, 21 days 14 lost to UL Monroe 0–35 beat North Texas
157 North Texas December 2, 2007 – November 1, 2008 335 days 8 lost to Florida International 19–38 beat Western Kentucky
158 Western Kentucky November 1, 2008 – October 23, 2010 1 yr, 356 days 20 lost to North Texas 40–51 beat Louisiana
159 Louisiana October 23, 2010 – November 27, 2010 35 days 4 lost to Western Kentucky 21–54 beat UL Monroe
160 UL Monroe November 27, 2010 – October 15, 2011 322 days 4 lost to Louisiana 22–23 beat Troy
161 Troy October 15, 2011 – November 19, 2011 35 days 3 lost to UL Monroe 10–38 beat Florida Atlantic
162 Florida Atlantic November 19, 2011 – November 26, 2011 7 days 0 lost to Troy 7–34 beat UAB
163 UAB November 26, 2011 – November 3, 2012 343 days 7 lost to Florida Atlantic 35–38 beat Southern Miss
164 Southern Miss November 3, 2012 – November 30, 2013 1 yr, 27 days 14 lost to UAB 19–27 beat UAB
165 UAB November 30, 2013 – August 30, 2014 273 days 0 lost to Southern Miss 27–62 beat Troy
166 Troy August 30, 2014 – October 11, 2014 42 days 3 lost to UAB 10–48 beat New Mexico State
167 New Mexico State October 11, 2014 – November 7, 2015 1 yr, 27 days 11 lost to Troy 24–41 beat Texas State
168 Texas State November 7, 2015 – November 19, 2015 12 days 1 lost to New Mexico State 21–31 beat UL Monroe
169 UL Monroe November 19, 2015 – December 5, 2015 16 days 1 lost to Texas State 3–16 beat New Mexico State
170 New Mexico State December 5, 2015 – September 10, 2016 280 days 1 lost to UL Monroe 35–42 beat New Mexico
171 New Mexico September 10, 2016 – October 1, 2016 21 days 1 lost to New Mexico State 31–32 beat San José State
172 San José State October 1, 2016 – October 15, 2016 14 days 1 lost to New Mexico 41–48 beat Nevada
173 Nevada October 15, 2016 – November 19, 2016 35 days 3 lost to San José State 10–14 beat Utah State
174 Utah State November 19, 2016 – September 23, 2017 308 days 3 lost to Nevada 37–38 beat San José State
175 San José State September 23, 2017 – November 25, 2017 63 days 7 lost to Utah State 10–61 beat Wyoming
176 Wyoming November 25, 2017 – December 22, 2017 27 days 0 lost to San José State 17–20 beat Central Michigan
177 Central Michigan December 22, 2017 – September 14, 2019 1 yr, 266 days 12 lost to Wyoming 14–37 beat Akron
178 Akron September 14, 2019 – December 5, 2020 1 yr, 82 days 13 lost to Central Michigan 24–45 beat Bowling Green
179 Bowling Green December 5, 2020 – September 25, 2021 294 days 2 lost to Akron 3–31 beat Minnesota
180 Minnesota September 25, 2021 – October 2, 2021 7 days 0 lost to Bowling Green 10–14 beat Purdue
181 Purdue October 2, 2021 – October 16, 2021 14 days 0 lost to Minnesota 13–20 beat Iowa
182 Iowa October 16, 2021 – November 6, 2021 21 days 1 lost to Purdue 7–24 beat Northwestern
183 Northwestern November 6, 2021 – August 27, 2022 294 days 3 lost to Iowa 12–17 beat Nebraska
184 Nebraska August 27, 2022 – October 1, 2022 35 days 2 lost to Northwestern 28–31 beat Indiana
185 Indiana October 1, 2022 – November 19, 2022 49 days 5 lost to Nebraska 21–35 beat Michigan State
186 Michigan State November 19, 2022 – September 1, 2023 286 days 1 lost to Indiana 31–39 beat Central Michigan
187 Central Michigan September 1, 2023 – September 23, 2023 22 days 1 lost to Michigan State 7–31 beat South Alabama
188 South Alabama September 23, 2023 – October 7, 2023 14 days 1 lost to Central Michigan 30–34 beat UL Monroe
189 UL Monroe October 7, 2023 – September 7, 2024 336 days 7 lost to South Alabama 7–55 beat UAB
190 UAB September 7, 2024 – November 2, 2024 56 days 5 lost to UL Monroe 6–32 beat Tulsa
191 Tulsa November 2, 2024 – September 19, 2025 321 days 5 lost to UAB 21–59 beat Oklahoma State
192 Oklahoma State September 19, 2025 – September 12, 2026 358 days 10 lost to Tulsa 12–19 beat Oregon
193 Oregon September 12, 2026 – September 26, 2026 14 days 0 lost to Oklahoma State 31–39 beat USC
194 USC September 26, 2026 – October 3, 2026 7 days 0 lost to Oregon 27–41 beat Washington
195 Washington October 3, 2026 – October 16, 2026 13 days 1 lost to USC 21–25 beat Purdue
196 Purdue October 16, 2026 – Present 15 days 0 lost to Washington 26–38 — present —

No reigns match “.”

Reigns 101–196 of 196 · page 2 of 2 · Jump to the beginning →