Pioneer Football League
Encyclopedia
The Pioneer Football League is a college athletic conference which operates in the East, Midwest, and California of the United States
. It has member schools that range from New York
, North Carolina
, and Florida
in the east to California
in the west. The conference participates in the NCAA
's Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a football
-only conference. Unlike most other Division I FCS conferences, the Pioneer League consists of institutions that choose not to award athletic scholarship
s ("grants-in-aid") to football players.
, the University of Dayton
, Drake University
, the University of Evansville
, and Valparaiso University
. The University of San Diego
joined in 1992, and the league played its first season in 1993. Talk of Creighton University
and Bradley University
joining the league in its origins never materialized by 1993. The six original schools which played in the 1993 season had previously sponsored football at the Division I, Division II and Division III levels.
The league was narrowed back to five members after Evansville downgraded football from Division I to club status in 1997. Evansville explored upgrading football again to NCAA Division I in 2007, but plans fell through. Studies still continue about a possible football resurrection, which would most likely lead to Evansville re-joining the league.
2001 expansion
In 2001, the conference nearly doubled in size and was reorganized with the five current members forming the North Division, and newcomers Austin Peay State University
, Davidson College
, Jacksonville University
and Morehead State University
forming the South Division. This reorganization also spawned a new championship system in which the best record holders from each division would play in a title game for the conference championship.
2005–2008 membership changes
On April 8, 2005, Austin Peay announced that it would be leaving the Pioneer Football League after the 2005 season and returning to scholarship-granting competition in 2007 with the Ohio Valley Conference
in which it competes in other sports. As a result, the conference was reverted to round-robin play and the divisions and championship game were removed. However, on April 7, 2006 Campbell University
announced it would bring back football at the non-scholarship level for the 2008 season, and on December 5, 2007 it accepted an invitation to the PFL. In February 2008, Marist College
announced that it would join the PFL for the 2009 season, after the MAAC
stopped sponsoring football. Although Campbell moved from the Atlantic Sun Conference
to the Big South Conference
, which sponsors football, in 2011, it did not join the Big South football conference and remains in the PFL.
2013 membership changes
On June 13, 2011 it was announced that Mercer and Stetson would join the league in 2013. That will bring the league's membership to 12 teams.
Former members
Future members
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It has member schools that range from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, and Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in the east to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in the west. The conference participates in the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
's Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
-only conference. Unlike most other Division I FCS conferences, the Pioneer League consists of institutions that choose not to award athletic scholarship
Athletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
s ("grants-in-aid") to football players.
Foundation
Following an NCAA rule change passed in January 1991, which required Division I schools to conduct all sports at the Division I level by 1993, the conference was formed by charter members Butler UniversityButler University
Butler University is a private university located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1855 and named after founder Ovid Butler, the university offers 60 degree programs to 4,400 students through six colleges: business, communication, education, liberal Arts and sciences, pharmacy and health...
, the University of Dayton
University of Dayton
The University of Dayton is a private Roman Catholic university operated by the Society of Mary located in Dayton, Ohio...
, Drake University
Drake University
Drake University is a private, co-educational university located in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. The institution offers a number of undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and pharmacy. Today, Drake is one of the twenty-five oldest law schools in the country....
, the University of Evansville
University of Evansville
The University of Evansville is a small, private university with approximately 3,050 students located in Evansville, Indiana. Founded in 1854 as Moores Hill College, it is located near the interchange of the Lloyd Expressway and U.S. Route 41. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church...
, and Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University, known colloquially as Valpo, is a regionally accredited private university located in the city of Valparaiso in the U.S. state of Indiana. Founded in 1859, it consists of five undergraduate colleges, a graduate school, a nursing school and a law school...
. The University of San Diego
University of San Diego
The University of San Diego is a Roman Catholic university in San Diego, California. USD offers more than sixty bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral programs...
joined in 1992, and the league played its first season in 1993. Talk of Creighton University
Creighton University
Creighton University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1878, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. The university is accredited by...
and Bradley University
Bradley University
Bradley University, founded in 1897, is a private, co-educational university located in Peoria, Illinois. It is a small institution with an enrollment of approximately 6,100 undergraduate and postgraduate students and a full-time faculty of approximately 350....
joining the league in its origins never materialized by 1993. The six original schools which played in the 1993 season had previously sponsored football at the Division I, Division II and Division III levels.
Membership changes
Original contractionThe league was narrowed back to five members after Evansville downgraded football from Division I to club status in 1997. Evansville explored upgrading football again to NCAA Division I in 2007, but plans fell through. Studies still continue about a possible football resurrection, which would most likely lead to Evansville re-joining the league.
2001 expansion
In 2001, the conference nearly doubled in size and was reorganized with the five current members forming the North Division, and newcomers Austin Peay State University
Austin Peay State University
Austin Peay State University is a four-year public university located in Clarksville, Tennessee, and operated by the Tennessee Board of Regents. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools .-History:...
, Davidson College
Davidson College
Davidson College is a private liberal arts college in Davidson, North Carolina. The college has graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars and is consistently ranked in the top ten liberal arts colleges in the country by U.S. News and World Report magazine, although it has recently dropped to 11th in U.S. News...
, Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University is a private university in Jacksonville, Florida, on the banks of the St. Johns River. The school was founded in 1934 as a two year college and was known as Jacksonville Junior College until 1958, when it shifted its focus to four-year university degrees and adopted its...
and Morehead State University
Morehead State University
Morehead State University is a public, co-educational university located in Morehead, Kentucky, United States in the foothills of the Daniel Boone National Forest in Rowan County, midway between Lexington, Kentucky, and Huntington, West Virginia. The 2012 edition of "America's Best Colleges" by U.S...
forming the South Division. This reorganization also spawned a new championship system in which the best record holders from each division would play in a title game for the conference championship.
2005–2008 membership changes
On April 8, 2005, Austin Peay announced that it would be leaving the Pioneer Football League after the 2005 season and returning to scholarship-granting competition in 2007 with the Ohio Valley Conference
Ohio Valley Conference
The Ohio Valley Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the midwestern and southeastern United States. It participates in Division I of the NCAA; the conference's football programs compete in the Football Championship Subdivision , the lower of two levels of Division I...
in which it competes in other sports. As a result, the conference was reverted to round-robin play and the divisions and championship game were removed. However, on April 7, 2006 Campbell University
Campbell University
Campbell University is a coeducational, church-related university in rural North Carolina, USA. Its main campus is located in the community of Buies Creek; its law school moved from Buies Creek to a new campus in the state capital of Raleigh in 2009. Campbell has an approximately equal number of...
announced it would bring back football at the non-scholarship level for the 2008 season, and on December 5, 2007 it accepted an invitation to the PFL. In February 2008, Marist College
Marist College
Marist College is a private liberal arts college on the east bank of the Hudson River near Poughkeepsie, New York. The site was established in 1905 by Marist Brothers, and the college was chartered in 1929...
announced that it would join the PFL for the 2009 season, after the MAAC
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. MAAC teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. Most of the members are Catholic or formerly Catholic institutions; the only exception is the private but secular Rider...
stopped sponsoring football. Although Campbell moved from the Atlantic Sun Conference
Atlantic Sun Conference
The Atlantic Sun Conference is a college athletic conference operating in the Southeastern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I; it does not sponsor football. The conference was established in 1978 as the Trans America Athletic Conference...
to the Big South Conference
Big South Conference
The Big South Conference is a college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I. The conference's football teams are part of the Football Championship Subdivision...
, which sponsors football, in 2011, it did not join the Big South football conference and remains in the PFL.
2013 membership changes
On June 13, 2011 it was announced that Mercer and Stetson would join the league in 2013. That will bring the league's membership to 12 teams.
Membership information
Current members| Institution | Location | Founded | First Football Year | Type | Enrollment (Undergraduate) | Joined | Nickname | Primary Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butler University Butler University Butler University is a private university located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1855 and named after founder Ovid Butler, the university offers 60 degree programs to 4,400 students through six colleges: business, communication, education, liberal Arts and sciences, pharmacy and health... |
Indianapolis Indianapolis Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S... , Indiana Indiana Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is... |
1855 | 1887 | Private | 3,897 | 1991 | Bulldogs Butler Bulldogs All but one of Butler University's 19 intercollegiate teams compete in the Horizon League, along with Cleveland State, Detroit, Green Bay, Loyola, Milwaukee, UIC, Valparaiso, Wright State and Youngstown State... |
Horizon League Horizon League The Horizon League is a ten school, NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose members are located in five of the Midwestern United States.... |
| Campbell University Campbell University Campbell University is a coeducational, church-related university in rural North Carolina, USA. Its main campus is located in the community of Buies Creek; its law school moved from Buies Creek to a new campus in the state capital of Raleigh in 2009. Campbell has an approximately equal number of... |
1887 | 1925 (2008) | Private | 9,471 | 2008 | Fighting Camels Campbell Fighting Camels The Campbell University Fighting Camels and Lady Camels are the nicknames of the school's 18 teams that compete at the Division I level of the NCAA.-Sports teams:*Men's sports**Baseball**Basketball**Cross country**Football**Golf**Soccer... |
Big South Conference Big South Conference The Big South Conference is a college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I. The conference's football teams are part of the Football Championship Subdivision... |
|
| Davidson College Davidson College Davidson College is a private liberal arts college in Davidson, North Carolina. The college has graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars and is consistently ranked in the top ten liberal arts colleges in the country by U.S. News and World Report magazine, although it has recently dropped to 11th in U.S. News... |
1837 | 1897 | Private | 1,700 | 2001 | Wildcats | Southern Conference Southern Conference The Southern Conference is a Division I college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision . Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North... |
|
| University of Dayton University of Dayton The University of Dayton is a private Roman Catholic university operated by the Society of Mary located in Dayton, Ohio... |
1850 | 1905 | Private | 7,426 | 1991 | Flyers Dayton Flyers The Dayton Flyers are the University of Dayton's intercollegiate athletic teams, which are based in Dayton, Ohio. The Flyers' home arena is the University of Dayton Arena. The name is a reference and homage to Daytonians Orville and Wilbur Wright who pioneered heavier than air flight... |
Atlantic 10 Conference | |
| Drake University Drake University Drake University is a private, co-educational university located in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. The institution offers a number of undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and pharmacy. Today, Drake is one of the twenty-five oldest law schools in the country.... |
1881 | 1883 | Private | 3,164 | 1991 | Bulldogs Drake Bulldogs The Drake Bulldogs are the athletic teams of Drake University. Athletic scholarships are offered in basketball, cross-country, golf, soccer, softball, track and field, tennis, and volleyball. However, all football players are walk-ons as Drake does not offer athletic scholarships in that sport... |
Missouri Valley Conference Missouri Valley Conference The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States... |
|
| Jacksonville University Jacksonville University Jacksonville University is a private university in Jacksonville, Florida, on the banks of the St. Johns River. The school was founded in 1934 as a two year college and was known as Jacksonville Junior College until 1958, when it shifted its focus to four-year university degrees and adopted its... |
1934 | 1934 (1998) | Private | 7,426 | 2001 | Dolphins Jacksonville Dolphins The Jacksonville University Dolphins are the athletics team of Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Florida, USA. The Dolphins participate in NCAA Division I athletics, and are members of the Atlantic Sun Conference, the National Lacrosse Conference, and as the Pioneer Football League.-Sports... |
Atlantic Sun Conference Atlantic Sun Conference The Atlantic Sun Conference is a college athletic conference operating in the Southeastern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I; it does not sponsor football. The conference was established in 1978 as the Trans America Athletic Conference... |
|
| Marist College Marist College Marist College is a private liberal arts college on the east bank of the Hudson River near Poughkeepsie, New York. The site was established in 1905 by Marist Brothers, and the college was chartered in 1929... |
Poughkeepsie Poughkeepsie (town), New York Poughkeepsie is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 42,777 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from the native term, "Uppu-qui-ipis-in," which means "reed-covered hut by the water."... , New York New York New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east... |
1929 | 1985 | Private | 4,200 | 2009 | Red Foxes Marist Red Foxes Marist College plays NCAA Division I athletics as a member of the MAAC. Other schools in this conference include Siena College, Iona College, Niagara University, Manhattan College, Fairfield University, Loyola College in Maryland, Canisius College, Rider University, and Saint Peter's... |
MAAC Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. MAAC teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. Most of the members are Catholic or formerly Catholic institutions; the only exception is the private but secular Rider... |
| Morehead State University Morehead State University Morehead State University is a public, co-educational university located in Morehead, Kentucky, United States in the foothills of the Daniel Boone National Forest in Rowan County, midway between Lexington, Kentucky, and Huntington, West Virginia. The 2012 edition of "America's Best Colleges" by U.S... |
1922 | 1927 | Public | 7,921 | 2001 | Eagles | Ohio Valley Conference Ohio Valley Conference The Ohio Valley Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the midwestern and southeastern United States. It participates in Division I of the NCAA; the conference's football programs compete in the Football Championship Subdivision , the lower of two levels of Division I... |
|
| University of San Diego University of San Diego The University of San Diego is a Roman Catholic university in San Diego, California. USD offers more than sixty bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral programs... |
San Diego, California California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... |
1949 | 1956 | Private | 4,904 | 1992 | Toreros | West Coast Conference West Coast Conference The West Coast Conference is an NCAA collegiate athletics conference consisting of nine member schools across the states of California, Oregon, Utah and Washington.... |
| Valparaiso University Valparaiso University Valparaiso University, known colloquially as Valpo, is a regionally accredited private university located in the city of Valparaiso in the U.S. state of Indiana. Founded in 1859, it consists of five undergraduate colleges, a graduate school, a nursing school and a law school... |
1859 | 1919 | Private | 2,917 | 1991 | Crusaders Valparaiso Crusaders The Valparaiso University Crusaders compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I .Valparaiso competes in the Horizon League in all sports except for football, which is not sponsored by the conference. The football team is a member of the Pioneer Football League. On May 27,... |
Horizon League Horizon League The Horizon League is a ten school, NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose members are located in five of the Midwestern United States.... |
Former members
| Institution | Location | Founded | First Football Year | Type | Enrollment (Undergraduate) | Joined | Left | Nickname | Left for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Evansville University of Evansville The University of Evansville is a small, private university with approximately 3,050 students located in Evansville, Indiana. Founded in 1854 as Moores Hill College, it is located near the interchange of the Lloyd Expressway and U.S. Route 41. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church... |
1854 | 1898 | Private | 3,050 | 1991 | 1997 | Purple Aces Evansville Purple Aces The Evansville Purple Aces represent the University of Evansville in NCAA Division I sports.-Purple Aces and Ace Purple:The University of Evansville's nickname, the Aces, was acquired after an opposing coach cracked a joke after losing to the Evansville College Pioneers in the 1920s... |
Downgraded football from NCAA Division I to club status | |
| Austin Peay State University Austin Peay State University Austin Peay State University is a four-year public university located in Clarksville, Tennessee, and operated by the Tennessee Board of Regents. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools .-History:... |
1927 | 1970 | Public | 8,650 | 2001 | 2006 | Governors | Ohio Valley Conference Ohio Valley Conference The Ohio Valley Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the midwestern and southeastern United States. It participates in Division I of the NCAA; the conference's football programs compete in the Football Championship Subdivision , the lower of two levels of Division I... |
Future members
| Institution | Location | Founded | First Football Year | Type | Enrollment (Undergraduate) | Joins | Nickname | Primary Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer University Mercer University Mercer University is an independent, private, coeducational university with a Baptist heritage located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Mercer is the only university of its size in the United States that offers programs in eleven diversified fields of study: liberal arts, business, education, music,... |
1833 | 1892 (2013) | Private | 5,500 | 2013 | Bears Mercer Bears The Mercer Bears are the athletic teams of Mercer University, Mercer is an NCAA Division I member competing in the Atlantic Sun Conference for most sports, Mercer rifle and lacrosse teams compete as NCAA Division I independents, football will compete in the Pioneer Football League when the program... |
Atlantic Sun Conference Atlantic Sun Conference The Atlantic Sun Conference is a college athletic conference operating in the Southeastern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I; it does not sponsor football. The conference was established in 1978 as the Trans America Athletic Conference... |
|
| Stetson University Stetson University Stetson University is a private university with four colleges and schools located across the I-4 corridor in Central Florida. The primary undergraduate campus is located in DeLand, Florida, USA. In the 2012 U.S... |
1883 | 1901 (2013) | Private | 2,200 | 2013 | Hatters | Atlantic Sun Conference Atlantic Sun Conference The Atlantic Sun Conference is a college athletic conference operating in the Southeastern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I; it does not sponsor football. The conference was established in 1978 as the Trans America Athletic Conference... |
Conference championships
PFL champions
| Season | Champion | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Dayton | 5–0–0 |
| 1994 | Butler | 4–1–0 |
| Dayton | 4–1–0 | |
| 1995 | Drake | 5–0–0 |
| 1996 | Dayton | 5–0–0 |
| 1997 | Dayton | 5–0–0 |
| 1998 | Drake | 4–0 |
| 1999 | Dayton | 4–0 |
| 2000 | Dayton | 3–1 |
| Drake | 3–1 | |
| Valparaiso | 3–1 | |
| 2001 | Dayton | Championship Game |
| 2002 | Dayton | Championship Game |
| 2003 | Valparaiso | Championship Game |
| 2004 | Drake | Championship Game |
| 2005 | San Diego | Championship Game |
| 2006 | San Diego | 7–0 |
| 2007 | Dayton | 6–1 |
| San Diego | 6–1 | |
| 2008 | Jacksonville | 7–1 |
| 2009 | Butler | 7–1 |
| Dayton | 7–1 | |
| 2010 | Jacksonville | 8-0 |
| Dayton | 8-0 | |
| 2011 | San Diego | 7-1 |
| Drake | 7-1 | |
League titles by school
| School | Championships | Championship Years |
|---|---|---|
| Dayton | |
1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2009, 2010 |
| Drake | |
1995, 1998, 2000, 2004, 2011 |
| San Diego | |
2005, 2006, 2007, 2011 |
| Butler | |
1994, 2009 |
| Jacksonville | |
2008, 2010 |
| Valparaiso | |
2000, 2003 |
| Campbell | |
N/A |
| Davidson | |
N/A |
| Marist | |
N/A |
| Morehead State | |
N/A |
| Evansville | |
N/A |
| Austin Peay | |
N/A |
PFL Championship Game
| Season | Season Champion | Record | Date | Game Champion | Score | Runner-Up | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Dayton | 4–0 | Nov. 17, 2001 | Dayton | 46–14 | Jacksonville | Dayton, OH |
| 2002 | Dayton | 4–0 | Nov. 23, 2002 | Dayton | 28–0 | Morehead State | Morehead, KY |
| 2003 | Valparaiso | 3–1 | Nov. 22, 2003 | Valparaiso | 54–42 | Morehead State | Valparaiso, IN |
| 2004 | Drake | 4–0 | Nov. 20, 2004 | Drake | 20–17 | Morehead State | Morehead, KY |
| 2005 | San Diego | 4–0 | Nov. 19, 2005 | San Diego | 47–40 | Morehead State | San Diego, CA |
Postseason games
The Pioneer Football League has had alliances with the Gridiron Classic and the Sports Network Cup. In addition, league members are allowed to accept at-large invitations to other college bowl games and teams are eligible to compete in the FCS playoffs, but can only receive at-large bids because the league is not an automatic qualifier.Members pre-PFL postseason results
Below are postseason accomplishments by past and current members prior to the formation of the Pioneer Football League.| Season | Champion | Runner-up | Bowl | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | Drake | 13 | Fresno State Fresno State Bulldogs The Fresno State Bulldogs represent California State University, Fresno in 19 NCAA Division I sports. The teams have been members of the Western Athletic Conference since 1992. Before that, it had been a member of the Big West Conference since 1969... |
12 | Raisin Bowl Raisin Bowl The Raisin Bowl was an annual post-season American college football bowl game played at Ratcliffe Stadium in Fresno, California, from 1946 to 1949. The first four games were played on January 1, the last on December 31. The games pitted a California team against an at-large team... |
| 1946 | Evansville | 19 | Northern Illinois Northern Illinois Huskies The Northern Illinois Huskies are the athletic teams that represent Northern Illinois University. The Huskies are a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Mid-American Conference... |
7 | Turkey Bowl Turkey Bowl Turkey Bowl may refer to one of the following sports events:*Turkey Bowl , a common name for high school American football games held either on Thanksgiving or over Thanksgiving weekend... |
| 1947 | Evansville | 20 | Northern Illinois Northern Illinois Huskies The Northern Illinois Huskies are the athletic teams that represent Northern Illinois University. The Huskies are a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Mid-American Conference... |
0 | Hoosier Bowl |
| 1948 | Drake | 14 | Arizona Arizona Wildcats -Athletic program:The University of Arizona participates in the NCAA's Division I-A in the Pacific-12 Conference Arizona participates in the conference's South Division, along with Arizona State, Colorado, UCLA, USC, and Utah... |
13 | Salad Bowl |
| 1948 | Evansville | 13 | Missouri Valley Missouri Valley College Missouri Valley College is a private, four-year liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church . The campus is in Marshall, Missouri.The college was founded in 1889 and supports 27 academic majors and an enrollment close to 1,800 students... |
7 | Refrigerator Bowl Refrigerator Bowl The Refrigerator Bowl was a college football bowl game played annually from 1948 until 1956 in Evansville, Indiana. The game was named for the local refrigerator production. With 3800 units a day being manufactured, Evansville at the time was known as the "refrigerator capital of the United... |
| 1949 | Evansville | 22 | Hillsdale Hillsdale College Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan, United States, is a co-educational liberal arts college known for being the first American college to prohibit in its charter all discrimination based on race, religion, or sex; its refusal of government funding; and its monthly publication, Imprimis... |
7 | Refrigerator Bowl Refrigerator Bowl The Refrigerator Bowl was a college football bowl game played annually from 1948 until 1956 in Evansville, Indiana. The game was named for the local refrigerator production. With 3800 units a day being manufactured, Evansville at the time was known as the "refrigerator capital of the United... |
| 1950 | Wisconsin-La Crosse | 47 | Valparaiso | 14 | Cigar Bowl Cigar Bowl The Cigar Bowl was a post-season college football bowl game featuring small college teams held in Tampa, Florida from 1946 to 1954. It was played at Phillips Field, which was located across the Hillsborough River from downtown Tampa at the current site of Tampa Preparatory School and Julian Lane... |
| 1951 | Houston Houston Cougars Houston Cougars is the name given to the sports teams of the University of Houston. Informally, the Houston Cougars have also been referred to as the Coogs, UH, or simply Houston. Houston's nickname was created by early physical education instructor of the university and former head football... |
26 | Dayton | 21 | Salad Bowl |
| 1957 | Louisville Louisville Cardinals The Louisville Cardinals are the athletic teams representing the University of Louisville. A member of the Big East Conference since 2005, they are known nationally as traditional powers in men's basketball, women's volleyball, and dance team... |
34 | Drake | 20 | Sun Bowl Sun Bowl The Sun Bowl is an annual U.S. college football bowl game that is usually played at the end of December in El Paso, Texas. The Sun Bowl, along with the Sugar Bowl and the Orange Bowl are the second-oldest bowl games in the country, behind the Rose Bowl... |
| 1969 | Arkansas State Arkansas State Red Wolves The Arkansas State University Red Wolves is the name given to Arkansas State University's athletic teams. The university is affiliated with the Sun Belt Conference in sports and maintains NCAA Division I status.-History:... |
29 | Drake | 21 | Pecan Bowl Pecan Bowl Pecan Bowl, a postseason college football bowl game, was first played at Shotwell Stadium located in Abilene, Texas. The first game took place in December 1964, and was played there each year until 1968, when the location was moved to Arlington, Texas. One of four regional playoff bowls of the NCAA... |
| 1969 | Toledo Toledo Rockets The Toledo Rockets are the athletic teams that represent the University of Toledo. The Rockets are a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision team in the National Collegiate Athletic Association and play in the Mid-American Conference . The school's colors are midnight blue and gold.Toledo's... |
56 | Davidson | 33 | Tangerine Bowl Tangerine Bowl Multiple events were named Tangerine Bowl:*The Tangerine Bowl is the original name of the college football bowl game that is currently called the Capital One Bowl. It was known as the Tangerine Bowl from 1947 to 1982.... |
| 1972 | Tennessee State | 29 | Drake | 7 | Pioneer Bowl Pioneer Bowl The Pioneer Bowl is a bowl game between football teams from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and 2007 and is one of two bowl games between historically black colleges and universities... |
| 1973 | Wittenberg | 21 | San Diego | 14 | Division III Playoffs |
| 1974 | Central(Iowa) Central College Central College is a private liberal arts college located in Pella, Iowa. It is a four-year school affiliated with the Reformed Church in America. Central has a student body of approximately 1,600 undergraduates and a main campus... |
31 | Evansville | 14 | Division III Playoffs |
| 1980 | Dayton | 63 | Ithaca Ithaca College Ithaca College is a private college located on the South Hill of Ithaca, New York. The school was founded by William Egbert in 1892 as a conservatory of music. The college has a strong liberal arts core, but also offers several pre-professional programs and some graduate programs. The college is... |
0 | Stagg Bowl |
| 1981 | Widener Widener University Widener University is a private, coeducational university located in Chester, Pennsylvania.Its main campus sits on 108 acres , just southwest of Philadelphia... |
17 | Dayton | 10 | Stagg Bowl |
| 1983 | Cal Davis University of California, Davis The University of California, Davis is a public teaching and research university established in 1905 and located in Davis, California, USA. Spanning over , the campus is the largest within the University of California system and third largest by enrollment... |
25 | Butler | 3 | Division II Playoffs |
| 1987 | Wagner | 19 | Dayton | 3 | Stagg Bowl |
| 1988 | Tennessee-Martin | 23 | Butler | 3 | Division II Playoffs |
| 1989 | Dayton | 17 | Union (NY) | 7 | Stagg Bowl |
| 1991 | Ithaca Ithaca College Ithaca College is a private college located on the South Hill of Ithaca, New York. The school was founded by William Egbert in 1892 as a conservatory of music. The college has a strong liberal arts core, but also offers several pre-professional programs and some graduate programs. The college is... |
34 | Dayton | 20 | Stagg Bowl |
| 1991 | Pittsburg State Pittsburg State University Pittsburg State University, also called Pitt State or PSU, is a public university with approximately 7,100 students located in Pittsburg, Kansas, United States. A large percentage of the student population consists of residents within the Pittsburg region; the gender proportion is relatively equal... |
26 | Butler | 16 | Division II Playoffs |
PFL Gridiron Classic results
On May 16, 2006, the Pioneer Football League (PFL) and Northeast Conference (NEC) announced a four-year agreement to meet in the Gridiron Classic, an exempted postseason football game that match the champions of the two FCS football conferences.| Season | Champion | Runner-up | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | San Diego | 27 | Monmouth | 7 |
| 2007 | Dayton | 42 | Albany Albany Great Danes The Albany Great Danes are the intercollegiate athletic programs of the University at Albany, SUNY. The University's intercollegiate athletics date back to the late 1890s, but its development was hampered for several decades by inadequate facilities, uncertain financial support, and the relatively... |
21 |
| 2008 | Albany Albany Great Danes The Albany Great Danes are the intercollegiate athletic programs of the University at Albany, SUNY. The University's intercollegiate athletics date back to the late 1890s, but its development was hampered for several decades by inadequate facilities, uncertain financial support, and the relatively... |
28 | Jacksonville | 0 |
| 2009 | Butler | 28 | Central Connecticut State | 23 |
Historical standings
| 2007 Pioneer Football League Pioneer Football League The Pioneer Football League is a college athletic conference which operates in the East, Midwest, and California of the United States. It has member schools that range from New York, North Carolina, and Florida in the east to California in the west. The conference participates in the NCAA's... |
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| | Conf | | Overall | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | W | L | PF | PA |
| 6 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 466 | 187 | |
| 6 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 488 | 287 | |
| 5 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 277 | 216 | |
| 4 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 312 | 282 | |
| 3 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 293 | 293 | |
| 2 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 245 | 321 | |
| 2 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 240 | 351 | |
| 0 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 241 | 345 | |
| 2011 Pioneer Football League Pioneer Football League The Pioneer Football League is a college athletic conference which operates in the East, Midwest, and California of the United States. It has member schools that range from New York, North Carolina, and Florida in the east to California in the west. The conference participates in the NCAA's... |
||||||
| | Conf | | Overall | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | W | L | PF | PA |
| Drake 2011 Drake Bulldogs football team The 2011 Drake Bulldogs football team represented Drake University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bulldogs were led by fourth year head coach Chris Creighton and played their home games at Drake Stadium. They are a member of the Pioneer Football League... |
7 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 316 | 196 |
| Jacksonville 2011 Jacksonville Dolphins football team The 2011 Jacksonville Dolphins football team represented Jacksonville University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Dolphins were led by fifth year head coach Kerwin Bell and played their home games at D. B. Milne Field. They are a member of the Pioneer Football League. They... |
6 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 343 | 234 |
| San Diego 2011 San Diego Toreros football team The 2011 San Diego Toreros football team represented the University of San Diego in the 2011 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Toreros were led by fifth year head coach Ron Caragher and played their home games at Torero Stadium. They are a member of the Pioneer Football League... |
6 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 319 | 246 |
| 5 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 343 | 234 | |
| Dayton 2011 Dayton Flyers football team The 2011 Dayton Flyers football team represented the University of Dayton in the 2011 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Flyers were led by fourth year head coach Rick Chamberlin and played their home games at Welcome Stadium. They are a member of the Pioneer Football League. They finished... |
4 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 275 | 221 |
| Butler 2011 Butler Bulldogs football team The 2011 Butler Bulldogs football team represented Butler University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bulldogs were led by sixth year head coach Jeff Voris and played their home games at the Butler Bowl. They are a member of the Pioneer Football League... |
3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 247 | 345 |
| Marist 2011 Marist Red Foxes football team The 2011 Marist Red Foxes football team represented Marist College in the 2011 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Red Foxes were led by 20th year head coach Jim Parady and played their home games at Leonidoff Field. They are a member of the Pioneer Football League. They finished the season... |
3 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 193 | 229 |
| Davidson 2011 Davidson Wildcats football team The 2011 Davidson Wildcats football team represented Davidson University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Wildcats were led by sixth year head coach Tripp Merritt and played their home games at Richardson Stadium. They are a member of the Pioneer Football League... |
1 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 156 | 263 |
| Morehead State 2011 Morehead State Eagles football team The 2011 Morehead State Eagles football team represented Morehead State University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Eagles were led by 18th year head coach Matt Ballard and played their home games at Jayne Stadium. They are a member of the Pioneer Football League... |
1 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 342 | 354 |
| Valparaiso 2011 Valparaiso Crusaders football team The 2011 Valparaiso Crusaders football team represented Valparaiso University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Crusaders were by second year head coach Dale Carlson and played their home games at Brown Field. They are a member of the Pioneer Football League. They finished the... |
1 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 155 | 470 |
Conference facilities
| School | Football Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Butler | Butler Bowl Butler Bowl Butler Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. It opened in 1928 and is home to the Butler University Bulldogs football and soccer teams. The original seating in the Butler Bowl was 36,000. It held games against the likes of the Four Horsemen of Notre Dame and... |
7,500 |
| Campbell | Barker–Lane Stadium | 5,200 |
| Davidson | Richardson Stadium Richardson Stadium Richardson Stadium is a 6,000-seat multi-purpose stadium in Davidson, North Carolina. It is home to the Davidson College Wildcats football and track and field teams. The stadium incorporates both Stephen B. Smith Field and Irwin Belk Track. It has also hosted the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship on... |
6,000 |
| Dayton | Welcome Stadium Welcome Stadium Welcome Stadium is a 11,000-seat multi-purpose stadium in Dayton, Ohio, United States, owned and operated by the Dayton Public Schools. It opened in 1949, and is home to all Dayton public high schools as well as the University of Dayton Flyers football team. It hosted the 1961 Aviation Bowl and the... |
11,000 |
| Drake | Drake Stadium Drake Stadium Drake Stadium is a stadium in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. It is primarily used for the Drake Relays, and is the home field of the Drake University Bulldogs. It opened in 1925 and underwent a $15 million renovation in 2005. Widening the track reduced the stadium's seating capacity from 18,000... |
14,557 |
| Jacksonville | D. B. Milne Field D. B. Milne Field D.B. Milne Field is a multi-purpose stadium on the campus of Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Florida. It is home to the Jacksonville Dolphins college football team. The facility has a seating capacity of 5,000 and opened in 1998.... |
5,500 |
| Marist | Leonidoff Field Leonidoff Field Tenney Stadium at Leonidoff Field is a 5,000-seat multi-purpose stadium in Poughkeepsie, New York. It is home to the Marist College Red Foxes football team. The facility opened in 1968... |
5,000 |
| Morehead State | Jayne Stadium Jayne Stadium Jayne Stadium is a 10,000-seat multi-purpose stadium in Morehead, Kentucky, United States. It opened in 1964 and is home to the Morehead State University Eagles football team.-References:... |
10,000 |
| San Diego | Torero Stadium Torero Stadium The Torero Stadium is a 6,000-seat stadium in San Diego, California that is primarily used for soccer and American football. It was built in 1961... |
6,000 |
| Valparaiso | Brown Field Brown Field (Valparaiso University) Brown Field is a 5,000-seat multi-purpose stadium in Valparaiso, Indiana. It is home to the Valparaiso University football team. The facility opened in 1919.... |
5,000 |