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.

304Days 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 7,501–7,583 of 7,583 · page 76 of 76 · Jump to the beginning →
#TeamReignLength LossesCaught itPassed it on
7501 East Tennessee State March 2, 2002 – March 2, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7502 Wofford March 3, 2002 – March 3, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7503 The Citadel March 4, 2002 – March 4, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7504 East Tennessee State March 5, 2002 – March 5, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7505 Wofford March 6, 2002 – March 6, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7506 The Citadel March 7, 2002 – March 7, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7507 East Tennessee State March 8, 2002 – March 8, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7508 Wofford March 9, 2002 – March 9, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7509 The Citadel March 10, 2002 – March 10, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7510 East Tennessee State March 11, 2002 – March 11, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7511 Wofford March 12, 2002 – March 12, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7512 The Citadel March 13, 2002 – March 13, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7513 East Tennessee State March 14, 2002 – March 14, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7514 Wofford March 15, 2002 – March 15, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7515 The Citadel March 16, 2002 – March 16, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7516 East Tennessee State March 17, 2002 – March 17, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7517 Wofford March 18, 2002 – March 18, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7518 The Citadel March 19, 2002 – March 19, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7519 East Tennessee State March 20, 2002 – March 20, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7520 Wofford March 21, 2002 – March 21, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7521 The Citadel March 22, 2002 – March 22, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7522 East Tennessee State March 23, 2002 – March 23, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7523 Wofford March 24, 2002 – March 24, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7524 The Citadel March 25, 2002 – March 25, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7525 East Tennessee State March 26, 2002 – March 26, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7526 Wofford March 27, 2002 – March 27, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7527 The Citadel March 28, 2002 – March 28, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7528 East Tennessee State March 29, 2002 – March 29, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7529 Wofford March 30, 2002 – March 30, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7530 The Citadel March 31, 2002 – March 31, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7531 East Tennessee State April 1, 2002 – April 1, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7532 Wofford April 2, 2002 – April 2, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7533 The Citadel April 3, 2002 – April 3, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7534 East Tennessee State April 4, 2002 – April 4, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7535 Wofford April 5, 2002 – April 5, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7536 The Citadel April 6, 2002 – April 6, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7537 East Tennessee State April 7, 2002 – April 7, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7538 Wofford April 8, 2002 – April 8, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7539 The Citadel April 9, 2002 – April 9, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7540 East Tennessee State April 10, 2002 – April 10, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7541 Wofford April 11, 2002 – April 11, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7542 The Citadel April 12, 2002 – April 12, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7543 East Tennessee State April 13, 2002 – April 13, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7544 Wofford April 14, 2002 – April 14, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7545 The Citadel April 15, 2002 – April 15, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7546 East Tennessee State April 16, 2002 – April 16, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after The Citadel stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7547 Wofford April 17, 2002 – April 17, 2002 0 days 0 reverted after East Tennessee State stopped playing vacated — stopped playing football
7548 The Citadel April 18, 2002 – August 30, 2003 1 yr, 134 days 0 reverted after Wofford stopped playing beat Charleston Southern
7549 Charleston Southern August 30, 2003 – October 2, 2004 1 yr, 33 days 4 lost to The Citadel 10–64 beat VMI
7550 VMI October 2, 2004 – September 3, 2005 336 days 3 lost to Charleston Southern 24–25 beat Davidson
7551 Davidson September 3, 2005 – September 24, 2005 21 days 0 lost to VMI 0–33 beat Valparaiso
7552 Valparaiso September 24, 2005 – October 15, 2005 21 days 1 lost to Davidson 17–48 beat Butler
7553 Butler October 15, 2005 – September 30, 2006 350 days 3 lost to Valparaiso 21–34 beat Dayton
7554 Dayton September 30, 2006 – November 4, 2006 35 days 3 lost to Butler 20–23 beat Valparaiso
7555 Valparaiso November 4, 2006 – October 13, 2007 343 days 2 lost to Dayton 7–51 beat Butler
7556 Butler October 13, 2007 – October 4, 2008 357 days 3 lost to Valparaiso 37–42 beat Drake
7557 Drake October 4, 2008 – October 18, 2008 14 days 1 lost to Butler 15–21 beat Campbell
7558 Campbell October 18, 2008 – October 31, 2009 1 yr, 13 days 7 lost to Drake 0–45 beat Morehead State
7559 Morehead State October 31, 2009 – November 21, 2009 21 days 1 lost to Campbell 22–31 beat Valparaiso
7560 Valparaiso November 21, 2009 – November 12, 2011 1 yr, 356 days 16 lost to Morehead State 6–29 beat Campbell
7561 Campbell November 12, 2011 – November 2, 2013 1 yr, 355 days 12 lost to Valparaiso 31–34 beat Stetson
7562 Stetson November 2, 2013 – November 9, 2013 7 days 0 lost to Campbell 18–19 beat Davidson
7563 Davidson November 9, 2013 – November 21, 2015 2 yrs, 12 days 16 lost to Stetson 13–26 beat Stetson
7564 Stetson November 21, 2015 – October 1, 2016 315 days 1 lost to Davidson 17–20 beat Davidson
7565 Davidson October 1, 2016 – September 29, 2018 1 yr, 363 days 14 lost to Stetson 27–31 beat Valparaiso
7566 Valparaiso September 29, 2018 – October 13, 2018 14 days 1 lost to Davidson 35–40 beat Butler
7567 Butler October 13, 2018 – November 10, 2018 28 days 2 lost to Valparaiso 17–35 beat Stetson
7568 Stetson November 10, 2018 – November 17, 2018 7 days 0 lost to Butler 23–28 beat Valparaiso
7569 Valparaiso November 17, 2018 – October 26, 2019 343 days 5 lost to Stetson 31–45 beat Stetson
7570 Stetson October 26, 2019 – November 23, 2019 28 days 2 lost to Valparaiso 10–19 beat Morehead State
7571 Morehead State November 23, 2019 – October 2, 2021 1 yr, 313 days 1 lost to Stetson 16–31 beat Dayton
7572 Dayton October 2, 2021 – October 9, 2021 7 days 0 lost to Morehead State 38–45 beat Drake
7573 Drake October 9, 2021 – October 29, 2022 1 yr, 20 days 11 lost to Dayton 10–28 beat Stetson
7574 Stetson October 29, 2022 – November 19, 2022 21 days 2 lost to Drake 17–24 beat Presbyterian
7575 Presbyterian November 19, 2022 – September 16, 2023 301 days 1 lost to Stetson 21–42 beat Wofford
7576 Wofford September 16, 2023 – November 11, 2023 56 days 6 lost to Presbyterian 20–23 beat The Citadel
7577 The Citadel November 11, 2023 – August 31, 2024 294 days 1 lost to Wofford 3–11 beat Charleston Southern
7578 Charleston Southern August 31, 2024 – September 7, 2024 7 days 0 lost to The Citadel 21–22 beat Furman
7579 Furman September 7, 2024 – September 14, 2024 7 days 0 lost to Charleston Southern 20–24 beat Stetson
7580 Stetson September 14, 2024 – October 4, 2025 1 yr, 20 days 12 lost to Furman 7–48 beat Davidson
7581 Davidson October 4, 2025 – November 8, 2025 35 days 4 lost to Stetson 32–35 beat Presbyterian
7582 Presbyterian November 8, 2025 – November 15, 2025 7 days 0 lost to Davidson 13–14 beat St. Thomas (MN)
7583 St. Thomas (MN) November 15, 2025 – Present 304 days 1 lost to Presbyterian 9–23 — present —

No reigns match “.”

Reigns 7,501–7,583 of 7,583 · page 76 of 76 · Jump to the beginning →