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.

Washington holds the Losers Belt.

Caught it by losing to USC, 21–25, on October 3, 2026.

Next FBS Losers Belt gameWashington vs. Iowa · October 9, 2026 — Iowa catches it with a loss.

2Days Held
0Losses Since
1869Belt Established
195Reigns
781Belt 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 1–100 of 195 · page 1 of 2 · Jump to current holder →
#TeamReignLength LossesCaught itPassed it on
1 Duke November 27, 1890 – November 11, 1921 30 yrs, 349 days 0 Established it (first-ever loss) beat Wake Forest
2 Wake Forest November 11, 1921 – November 10, 1923 1 yr, 364 days 6 lost to Duke 0–17 beat Duke
3 Duke November 10, 1923 – October 1, 1927 3 yrs, 325 days 9 lost to Wake Forest 6–16 beat Boston College
4 Boston College October 1, 1927 – October 6, 1928 1 yr, 5 days 0 lost to Duke 9–25 beat Navy
5 Navy October 6, 1928 – October 20, 1928 14 days 1 lost to Boston College 0–6 beat Duke
6 Duke October 20, 1928 – November 10, 1928 21 days 0 lost to Navy 0–6 beat Wake Forest
7 Wake Forest November 10, 1928 – December 25, 1928 45 days 0 lost to Duke 0–38 beat Miami
8 Miami December 25, 1928 – December 25, 1928 0 days 0 lost to Wake Forest 6–13 vacated — stopped playing football
9 Wake Forest December 26, 1928 – October 16, 1930 1 yr, 294 days 5 reverted after Miami stopped playing beat NC State
10 NC State October 16, 1930 – October 25, 1930 9 days 0 lost to Wake Forest 0–7 beat Mississippi State
11 Mississippi State October 25, 1930 – November 15, 1930 21 days 1 lost to NC State 0–14 beat Auburn
12 Auburn November 15, 1930 – November 27, 1930 12 days 1 lost to Mississippi State 6–7 beat South Carolina
13 South Carolina November 27, 1930 – September 26, 1931 303 days 0 lost to Auburn 7–25 beat Duke
14 Duke September 26, 1931 – October 23, 1931 27 days 0 lost to South Carolina 0–7 beat Wake Forest
15 Wake Forest October 23, 1931 – October 8, 1932 351 days 1 lost to Duke 0–28 beat South Carolina
16 South Carolina October 8, 1932 – October 20, 1932 12 days 0 lost to Wake Forest 0–6 beat Clemson
17 Clemson October 20, 1932 – October 7, 1933 352 days 2 lost to South Carolina 0–14 beat NC State
18 NC State October 7, 1933 – October 13, 1934 1 yr, 6 days 6 lost to Clemson 0–9 beat South Carolina
19 South Carolina October 13, 1934 – November 3, 1934 21 days 1 lost to NC State 0–6 beat Virginia Tech
20 Virginia Tech November 3, 1934 – November 10, 1934 7 days 0 lost to South Carolina 0–20 beat NC State
21 NC State November 10, 1934 – October 5, 1935 329 days 2 lost to Virginia Tech 6–7 beat South Carolina
22 South Carolina October 5, 1935 – October 10, 1936 1 yr, 5 days 4 lost to NC State 0–14 beat Florida
23 Florida October 10, 1936 – October 31, 1936 21 days 1 lost to South Carolina 0–7 beat Maryland
24 Maryland October 31, 1936 – October 16, 1937 350 days 0 lost to Florida 6–7 beat Virginia
25 Virginia October 16, 1937 – October 15, 1938 364 days 3 lost to Maryland 0–3 beat Virginia Tech
26 Virginia Tech October 15, 1938 – October 29, 1938 14 days 0 lost to Virginia 6–14 beat NC State
27 NC State October 29, 1938 – November 1, 1941 3 yrs, 3 days 14 lost to Virginia Tech 0–7 beat North Carolina
28 North Carolina November 1, 1941 – September 26, 1942 329 days 2 lost to NC State 7–13 beat Wake Forest
29 Wake Forest September 26, 1942 – October 3, 1942 7 days 0 lost to North Carolina 0–6 beat Duke
30 Duke October 3, 1942 – October 24, 1942 21 days 0 lost to Wake Forest 7–20 beat Pittsburgh
31 Pittsburgh October 24, 1942 – November 14, 1942 21 days 1 lost to Duke 0–28 beat Nebraska
32 Nebraska November 14, 1942 – October 23, 1943 343 days 4 lost to Pittsburgh 0–6 beat Kansas
33 Kansas October 23, 1943 – October 30, 1943 7 days 0 lost to Nebraska 6–7 beat Kansas State
34 Kansas State October 30, 1943 – November 11, 1944 1 yr, 12 days 6 lost to Kansas 2–25 beat Kansas
35 Kansas November 11, 1944 – November 17, 1945 1 yr, 6 days 6 lost to Kansas State 14–18 beat Kansas State
36 Kansas State November 17, 1945 – October 9, 1948 2 yrs, 327 days 19 lost to Kansas 0–27 beat Arkansas State
37 Arkansas State October 9, 1948 – October 9, 1948 0 days 0 lost to Kansas State 6–37 vacated — stopped playing football
38 Kansas State October 10, 1948 – October 1, 1949 356 days 6 reverted after Arkansas State stopped playing beat Colorado
39 Colorado October 1, 1949 – October 22, 1949 21 days 2 lost to Kansas State 13–27 beat Utah State
40 Utah State October 22, 1949 – November 5, 1949 14 days 1 lost to Colorado 7–20 beat BYU
41 BYU November 5, 1949 – November 4, 1950 364 days 4 lost to Utah State 3–22 beat Utah State
42 Utah State November 4, 1950 – November 15, 1952 2 yrs, 11 days 10 lost to BYU 13–34 beat BYU
43 BYU November 15, 1952 – November 3, 1956 3 yrs, 354 days 25 lost to Utah State 26–27 beat New Mexico
44 New Mexico November 3, 1956 – November 24, 1956 21 days 0 lost to BYU 12–33 beat San Diego State
45 San Diego State November 24, 1956 – October 26, 1957 336 days 2 lost to New Mexico 6–34 vacated — stopped playing football
46 New Mexico October 27, 1957 – September 20, 1958 328 days 3 reverted after San Diego State stopped playing beat New Mexico State
47 New Mexico State September 20, 1958 – October 25, 1958 35 days 1 lost to New Mexico 7–16 beat UTEP
48 UTEP October 25, 1958 – October 24, 1959 364 days 4 lost to New Mexico State 16–17 beat New Mexico State
49 New Mexico State October 24, 1959 – December 31, 1959 68 days 1 lost to UTEP 15–20 beat North Texas
50 North Texas December 31, 1959 – September 30, 1961 1 yr, 273 days 5 lost to New Mexico State 8–28 beat BYU
51 BYU September 30, 1961 – November 11, 1961 42 days 3 lost to North Texas 30–41 beat Colorado State
52 Colorado State November 11, 1961 – October 26, 1963 1 yr, 349 days 14 lost to BYU 16–30 beat UTEP
53 UTEP October 26, 1963 – September 18, 1965 1 yr, 327 days 11 lost to Colorado State 14–21 beat North Texas
54 North Texas September 18, 1965 – October 30, 1965 42 days 3 lost to UTEP 15–61 beat Cincinnati
55 Cincinnati October 30, 1965 – November 6, 1965 7 days 0 lost to North Texas 24–28 beat Kansas State
56 Kansas State November 6, 1965 – September 23, 1967 1 yr, 321 days 12 lost to Cincinnati 14–21 beat Colorado State
57 Colorado State September 23, 1967 – October 21, 1967 28 days 2 lost to Kansas State 7–17 beat Utah State
58 Utah State October 21, 1967 – November 4, 1967 14 days 0 lost to Colorado State 14–17 beat BYU
59 BYU November 4, 1967 – November 11, 1967 7 days 0 lost to Utah State 9–30 beat Arizona
60 Arizona November 11, 1967 – November 18, 1967 7 days 0 lost to BYU 14–17 beat Air Force
61 Air Force November 18, 1967 – September 28, 1968 315 days 2 lost to Arizona 10–14 beat Wyoming
62 Wyoming September 28, 1968 – October 5, 1968 7 days 0 lost to Air Force 3–10 beat Arizona State
63 Arizona State October 5, 1968 – October 12, 1968 7 days 0 lost to Wyoming 13–27 beat Washington State
64 Washington State October 12, 1968 – November 16, 1968 35 days 4 lost to Arizona State 14–41 beat San José State
65 San José State November 16, 1968 – November 30, 1968 14 days 1 lost to Washington State 0–46 beat BYU
66 BYU November 30, 1968 – September 20, 1969 294 days 0 lost to San José State 21–25 beat Colorado State
67 Colorado State September 20, 1969 – October 11, 1969 21 days 1 lost to BYU 20–22 beat Utah State
68 Utah State October 11, 1969 – October 18, 1969 7 days 0 lost to Colorado State 33–37 beat Army
69 Army October 18, 1969 – October 25, 1969 7 days 0 lost to Utah State 7–23 beat Boston College
70 Boston College October 25, 1969 – November 22, 1969 28 days 2 lost to Army 7–38 beat Massachusetts
71 Massachusetts November 22, 1969 – November 25, 1972 3 yrs, 3 days 3 lost to Boston College 30–35 beat Boston College
72 Boston College November 25, 1972 – September 15, 1973 294 days 0 lost to Massachusetts 7–28 beat Temple
73 Temple September 15, 1973 – September 22, 1973 7 days 0 lost to Boston College 0–45 beat Akron
74 Akron September 22, 1973 – September 6, 1975 1 yr, 349 days 2 lost to Temple 33–47 beat Marshall
75 Marshall September 6, 1975 – October 25, 1975 49 days 1 lost to Akron 8–20 beat Western Michigan
76 Western Michigan October 25, 1975 – November 15, 1975 21 days 2 lost to Marshall 19–21 beat Eastern Michigan
77 Eastern Michigan November 15, 1975 – October 9, 1976 329 days 3 lost to Western Michigan 14–24 beat Arkansas State
78 Arkansas State October 9, 1976 – October 29, 1977 1 yr, 20 days 2 lost to Eastern Michigan 30–32 beat UL Monroe
79 UL Monroe October 29, 1977 – September 16, 1978 322 days 1 lost to Arkansas State 20–31 beat Arkansas State
80 Arkansas State September 16, 1978 – November 4, 1978 49 days 0 lost to UL Monroe 13–21 beat Louisiana
81 Louisiana November 4, 1978 – September 1, 1979 301 days 0 lost to Arkansas State 6–16 beat UL Monroe
82 UL Monroe September 1, 1979 – September 15, 1979 14 days 0 lost to Louisiana 13–17 beat Arkansas State
83 Arkansas State September 15, 1979 – October 13, 1979 28 days 1 lost to UL Monroe 17–18 beat Louisiana Tech
84 Louisiana Tech October 13, 1979 – November 17, 1979 35 days 1 lost to Arkansas State 7–14 beat UL Monroe
85 UL Monroe November 17, 1979 – September 20, 1980 308 days 1 lost to Louisiana Tech 10–13 beat Arkansas State
86 Arkansas State September 20, 1980 – September 12, 1981 357 days 5 lost to UL Monroe 12–35 beat UL Monroe
87 UL Monroe September 12, 1981 – September 19, 1981 7 days 0 lost to Arkansas State 13–35 beat Louisiana
88 Louisiana September 19, 1981 – September 26, 1981 7 days 0 lost to UL Monroe 17–20 beat North Texas
89 North Texas September 26, 1981 – October 10, 1981 14 days 1 lost to Louisiana 11–34 beat New Mexico State
90 New Mexico State October 10, 1981 – November 6, 1982 1 yr, 27 days 7 lost to North Texas 16–38 beat North Texas
91 North Texas November 6, 1982 – September 17, 1983 315 days 2 lost to New Mexico State 19–30 beat New Mexico State
92 New Mexico State September 17, 1983 – October 1, 1983 14 days 1 lost to North Texas 3–49 beat Iowa State
93 Iowa State October 1, 1983 – October 8, 1983 7 days 0 lost to New Mexico State 17–24 beat Kansas
94 Kansas October 8, 1983 – October 15, 1983 7 days 0 lost to Iowa State 35–38 beat Kansas State
95 Kansas State October 15, 1983 – November 5, 1983 21 days 2 lost to Kansas 3–31 beat Oklahoma State
96 Oklahoma State November 5, 1983 – November 19, 1983 14 days 1 lost to Kansas State 20–21 beat Iowa State
97 Iowa State November 19, 1983 – September 14, 1985 1 yr, 299 days 9 lost to Oklahoma State 7–30 beat Utah State
98 Utah State September 14, 1985 – September 21, 1985 7 days 0 lost to Iowa State 3–10 beat San José State
99 San José State September 21, 1985 – September 13, 1986 357 days 5 lost to Utah State 32–35 beat Washington State
100 Washington State September 13, 1986 – October 4, 1986 21 days 2 lost to San José State 13–20 beat Oregon State

No reigns match “.”

Reigns 1–100 of 195 · page 1 of 2 · Jump to current holder →