Est. 1869 · A Companion Lineage The Losers Belt

The Losers Belt (FCS)

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 FCS programs only — both sides of every game have to be FCS, so the belt can never cross up into FBS.

Combined (FBS + FCS)FBS OnlyFCS Only

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 retains

Same convention as the real belt — a tie changes nothing either way.

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.

St. Thomas (MN) holds the Losers Belt.

Caught it by losing to Presbyterian, 9–23, on November 15, 2025. Lost 1 more game since — still the reigning worst team in the country.

305Days Held
1Losses Since
1869Belt Established
7,583Reigns
477Belt Games
35Programs
Longest Reign
Rhode Island — 16 yrs, 8 days
October 3, 1936 – October 11, 1952
Most Losses, One Reign
Lehigh — 17
starting September 30, 1967
Most Reigns, All-Time
The Citadel — 2491 separate reigns
caught it back 2490 times after passing it on
Reigns 7,301–7,400 of 7,583 · page 74 of 76 · Jump to current holder →
#TeamReignLength LossesCaught itPassed it on
7301 Wofford August 14, 2001 – August 14, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7302 The Citadel August 15, 2001 – August 15, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7303 East Tennessee State August 16, 2001 – August 16, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7304 Wofford August 17, 2001 – August 17, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7305 The Citadel August 18, 2001 – August 18, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7306 East Tennessee State August 19, 2001 – August 19, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7307 Wofford August 20, 2001 – August 20, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7308 The Citadel August 21, 2001 – August 21, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7309 East Tennessee State August 22, 2001 – August 22, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7310 Wofford August 23, 2001 – August 23, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7311 The Citadel August 24, 2001 – August 24, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7312 East Tennessee State August 25, 2001 – August 25, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7313 Wofford August 26, 2001 – August 26, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7314 The Citadel August 27, 2001 – August 27, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7315 East Tennessee State August 28, 2001 – August 28, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7316 Wofford August 29, 2001 – August 29, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7317 The Citadel August 30, 2001 – August 30, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7318 East Tennessee State August 31, 2001 – August 31, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7319 Wofford September 1, 2001 – September 1, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7320 The Citadel September 2, 2001 – September 2, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7321 East Tennessee State September 3, 2001 – September 3, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7322 Wofford September 4, 2001 – September 4, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7323 The Citadel September 5, 2001 – September 5, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7324 East Tennessee State September 6, 2001 – September 6, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7325 Wofford September 7, 2001 – September 7, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7326 The Citadel September 8, 2001 – September 8, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7327 East Tennessee State September 9, 2001 – September 9, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7328 Wofford September 10, 2001 – September 10, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7329 The Citadel September 11, 2001 – September 11, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7330 East Tennessee State September 12, 2001 – September 12, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7331 Wofford September 13, 2001 – September 13, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7332 The Citadel September 14, 2001 – September 14, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7333 East Tennessee State September 15, 2001 – September 15, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7334 Wofford September 16, 2001 – September 16, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7335 The Citadel September 17, 2001 – September 17, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7336 East Tennessee State September 18, 2001 – September 18, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7337 Wofford September 19, 2001 – September 19, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7338 The Citadel September 20, 2001 – September 20, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7339 East Tennessee State September 21, 2001 – September 21, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7340 Wofford September 22, 2001 – September 22, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7341 The Citadel September 23, 2001 – September 23, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7342 East Tennessee State September 24, 2001 – September 24, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7343 Wofford September 25, 2001 – September 25, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7344 The Citadel September 26, 2001 – September 26, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7345 East Tennessee State September 27, 2001 – September 27, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7346 Wofford September 28, 2001 – September 28, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7347 The Citadel September 29, 2001 – September 29, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7348 East Tennessee State September 30, 2001 – September 30, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7349 Wofford October 1, 2001 – October 1, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7350 The Citadel October 2, 2001 – October 2, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7351 East Tennessee State October 3, 2001 – October 3, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7352 Wofford October 4, 2001 – October 4, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7353 The Citadel October 5, 2001 – October 5, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7354 East Tennessee State October 6, 2001 – October 6, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7355 Wofford October 7, 2001 – October 7, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7356 The Citadel October 8, 2001 – October 8, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7357 East Tennessee State October 9, 2001 – October 9, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7358 Wofford October 10, 2001 – October 10, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7359 The Citadel October 11, 2001 – October 11, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7360 East Tennessee State October 12, 2001 – October 12, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7361 Wofford October 13, 2001 – October 13, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7362 The Citadel October 14, 2001 – October 14, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7363 East Tennessee State October 15, 2001 – October 15, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7364 Wofford October 16, 2001 – October 16, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7365 The Citadel October 17, 2001 – October 17, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7366 East Tennessee State October 18, 2001 – October 18, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7367 Wofford October 19, 2001 – October 19, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7368 The Citadel October 20, 2001 – October 20, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7369 East Tennessee State October 21, 2001 – October 21, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7370 Wofford October 22, 2001 – October 22, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7371 The Citadel October 23, 2001 – October 23, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7372 East Tennessee State October 24, 2001 – October 24, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7373 Wofford October 25, 2001 – October 25, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7374 The Citadel October 26, 2001 – October 26, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7375 East Tennessee State October 27, 2001 – October 27, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7376 Wofford October 28, 2001 – October 28, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7377 The Citadel October 29, 2001 – October 29, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7378 East Tennessee State October 30, 2001 – October 30, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7379 Wofford October 31, 2001 – October 31, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7380 The Citadel November 1, 2001 – November 1, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7381 East Tennessee State November 2, 2001 – November 2, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7382 Wofford November 3, 2001 – November 3, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7383 The Citadel November 4, 2001 – November 4, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7384 East Tennessee State November 5, 2001 – November 5, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7385 Wofford November 6, 2001 – November 6, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7386 The Citadel November 7, 2001 – November 7, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7387 East Tennessee State November 8, 2001 – November 8, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7388 Wofford November 9, 2001 – November 9, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7389 The Citadel November 10, 2001 – November 10, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7390 East Tennessee State November 11, 2001 – November 11, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7391 Wofford November 12, 2001 – November 12, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7392 The Citadel November 13, 2001 – November 13, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7393 East Tennessee State November 14, 2001 – November 14, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7394 Wofford November 15, 2001 – November 15, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7395 The Citadel November 16, 2001 – November 16, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7396 East Tennessee State November 17, 2001 – November 17, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7397 Wofford November 18, 2001 – November 18, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7398 The Citadel November 19, 2001 – November 19, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7399 East Tennessee State November 20, 2001 – November 20, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7400 Wofford November 21, 2001 – November 21, 2001 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football

No reigns match “.”

Reigns 7,301–7,400 of 7,583 · page 74 of 76 · Jump to current holder →