History of College football in Timeline

College football is a popular amateur sport in the United States played by student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was in college that gridiron football first gained popularity.

May 1900: Yost hired as football coach at Stanford University

In May 1900, Yost was hired as the football coach at Stanford University.

August 21, 1900: Yost Arrives at Stanford

On August 21, 1900, Yost arrived in Palo Alto, California, to coach football at Stanford University.

December 4, 1900: Death of Fred Lilly

On December 4, 1900, Fred Lilly, the last victim of the "Thanksgiving Day Disaster", died, bringing the death toll to 22. The incident, where spectators fell into the S.F. and Pacific Glass Works during the Big Game, remains the deadliest accident to kill spectators at a U.S. sporting event.

November 22, 1901: First Intercollegiate Football Game in Florida

On November 22, 1901, the first intercollegiate football game between official varsity teams in Florida was played, with Stetson beating Florida Agricultural College at Lake City 6–0.

1901: Yost hired by Michigan Wolverines

In 1901, Yost was hired by Charles A. Baird as the head football coach for the Michigan Wolverines football team.

1901: Michigan becomes the first "western" national power

In 1901, led by coach Fielding H. Yost, Michigan became the first "western" national power.

1901: Colorado wins Colorado Football Association Championship

In 1901, the University of Colorado won one of their eight Colorado Football Association Championships.

January 1, 1902: Yost's Michigan wins inaugural Tournament East-West football game

On January 1, 1902, Yost's 1901 Michigan Wolverines football team played against Stanford University in the inaugural "Tournament East-West football game", now known as the Rose Bowl Game, winning 49–0.

September 27, 1902: Georgetown vs. Navy Game

On September 27, 1902, Georgetown beat Navy 4 to 0 in a game claimed by Georgetown authorities as the game with the first ever "roving center" or linebacker, when Percy Given stood up.

1902: Michigan plays in the first college football bowl game

In 1902, Michigan participated in the first college football bowl game, later known as the Rose Bowl Game.

1902: First Rose Bowl Game

In 1902, the first Rose Bowl game was played between Michigan and Stanford, with Michigan winning 49-0. The game ended with 8 minutes left on the clock at Stanford's request.

1903: Pop Warner uses hidden ball trick at Carlisle

In 1903, Pop Warner used the hidden ball trick at Carlisle against Harvard, garnering national attention.

1903: SIAA Championship Game Tie

In 1903, on Thanksgiving Day, a game between Cumberland and Heisman's Clemson for the "SIAA championship game" ended in an 11–11 tie, causing many teams to claim the title. This was also Heisman's last game as Clemson head coach.

1904: Big Coaching Hires in the South

In 1904, there were significant coaching hires in the south: Mike Donahue at Auburn, John Heisman at Georgia Tech, and Dan McGugin at Vanderbilt.

October 9, 1905: Roosevelt meets with football representatives

On October 9, 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt held a meeting with football representatives from Harvard, Yale, and Princeton to discuss reducing injuries in the sport, though he did not threaten to ban football.

November 11, 1905: First game at Stanford Field

On November 11, 1905, the Big Game between Stanford and Cal was the first played at Stanford Field, with Stanford winning 12–5.

November 30, 1905: Chicago defeats Michigan in "The First Greatest Game of the Century"

On November 30, 1905, Chicago defeated Michigan 2 to 0 in a game dubbed "The First Greatest Game of the Century." This victory ended Michigan's 56-game unbeaten streak and marked the end of the "Point-a-Minute" years.

December 28, 1905: 62 Schools Meet to Discuss Rule Changes

On December 28, 1905, 62 schools convened in New York City to discuss potential rule changes aimed at enhancing player safety. This meeting led to the formation of the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States (IAAUS) in 1906.

1905: 1905-1906 Reforms

As a result of the 1905–1906 reforms, mass formation plays became illegal and forward passes legal.

1905: First Scouting in the South

In 1905, Dan McGugin and Captain Innis Brown of Vanderbilt scouted Sewanee play Georgia Tech. This is claimed to be the first scouting done in the South.

1905: End of Michigan's Undefeated Streak

In 1905, Michigan's 56-game undefeated streak, which began in 1901, came to an end.

1905: High number of fatalities in college football

In 1905, there were 19 fatalities nationwide in college football, contributing to a total of 330 college athlete deaths between 1890 and 1905 due to injuries sustained on the field.

September 5, 1906: First Legal Forward Pass

On September 5, 1906, Bradbury Robinson, playing for Saint Louis University, threw the first legal forward pass in a game against Carroll College at Waukesha.

1906: Davidson's First Legal Forward Pass in the South

In 1906, Fuzzy Woodruff claims Davidson was the first team in the South to throw a legal forward pass.

1906: Vanderbilt Defeats Carlisle

In 1906, Vanderbilt defeated Carlisle with a score of 4 to 0, resulting from a field goal by Bob Blake.

1906: Introduction of the play-the-ball rule in rugby league

In 1906, rugby league introduced the play-the-ball rule, which greatly resembled Camp's early scrimmage and center-snap rules.

1906: Formation of the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States

In 1906, the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States (IAAUS) was formed as a result of meetings among school leaders and college officials to address safety concerns in college football. The IAAUS served as the original rule-making body for the sport. President Roosevelt organized a meeting among thirteen school leaders at the White House to find solutions to make the sport safer for the athletes.

1906: West Coast universities switch to rugby union

In 1906, universities on the West Coast, including California and Stanford, replaced American football with rugby union due to concerns about violence in American football. Other schools that followed suit included Nevada, St. Mary's, Santa Clara.

1907: First Halftime Show Featuring a Marching Band

In 1907, Chicago and Illinois played the first game to feature a halftime show with a marching band, which took place in Champaign, Illinois. Chicago won the game 42-6.

1907: Vanderbilt and Navy Tie

In 1907, Vanderbilt and Navy played to a 6-6 tie.

1909: Founding of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference

In 1909, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) was founded with four members: Colorado, Colorado College, Colorado School of Mines, and Colorado Agricultural College.

1909: Field Goals Lowered to Three Points

In 1909, the scoring rules in college football changed, lowering the value of field goals to three points.

1910: Vanderbilt Ties Defending National Champion Yale

In 1910, Vanderbilt played to a scoreless tie against Yale, who was the defending national champion.

1910: Formal Adoption of Rule Changes

In 1910, several rule changes were formally adopted, including requirements for at least seven offensive players to be on the line of scrimmage at the snap, a ban on pushing or pulling, and a prohibition of interlocking interference. These changes were aimed at reducing collision injuries.

1910: IAAUS Renamed National Collegiate Athletic Association

In 1910, the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States (IAAUS) was renamed the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The NCAA continues to set the rules governing college football to this day.

1910: University of Denver and University of Utah Join RMAC

In 1910, the University of Denver and the University of Utah joined the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC).

November 25, 1911: First Homecoming Football Game

On November 25, 1911, Kansas played at Missouri in what is considered the first homecoming football game. The game was "broadcast" via telegraph to fans in Lawrence, Kansas, and ended in a 3-3 tie.

1911: USC switches to rugby union

In 1911, USC switched to rugby union due to concerns about violence in American football.

1912: Touchdowns Raised to Six Points

In 1912, the scoring rules in college football changed, raising the value of touchdowns to six points.

1913: Notre Dame Defeats Army Using Forward Pass

In 1913, Knute Rockne and Gus Dorais of Notre Dame used the forward pass to defeat Army 35-13, establishing Notre Dame as a national power.

1914: Implementation of First Roughing-the-Passer Penalty

In 1914, college football implemented the first penalty for roughing the passer, marking a significant step in protecting quarterbacks.

1915: California returns to American football

In 1915, California returned to American football, citing rule changes, student and supporter desire, interest in playing East Coast and Midwest schools, and a patriotic desire to play an "American" game.

1915: Founding of the Southwest Athletic Conference

In 1915, the Southwest Athletic Conference was founded, consisting mostly of schools from Texas.

1915: Construction of the Yale Bowl

In 1915, the Yale Bowl was built. It's construction eventually inspired the term "bowl" for similarly shaped stadiums, such as the Rose Bowl Stadium.

October 7, 1916: Georgia Tech's Lopsided Victory Over Cumberland

On October 7, 1916, John Heisman's Georgia Tech Golden Tornado defeated Cumberland 222-0 at Grant Field, marking the most lopsided victory in college football history. Tech was using the "jump shift" offense at the time.

1916: Big Games played as rugby union against Santa Clara.

In 1916, Stanford played its "Big Game" as rugby union against Santa Clara, while California's football "Big Game" was against Washington.

1916: Rose Bowl Game Reattempted

In 1916, the Tournament of Roses decided to reattempt the postseason Rose Bowl Game annually after it was not played for several years following the lopsided 1902 game.

1917: The rise of Centre

1917 saw the rise of another Southern team in Centre of Danville, Kentucky.

1917: Georgia Tech's National Championship

In 1917, Georgia Tech achieved its first national championship, led by a powerful backfield. The team also featured the first two players from the Deep South to be selected first-team All-American, Walker Carpenter and Everett Strupper.

1917: Big Games played as rugby union against Santa Clara.

In 1917, Stanford played its "Big Game" as rugby union against Santa Clara, while California's football "Big Game" was against Washington.

1917: Auburn Ties Ohio State

In 1917, the Auburn Tigers held the undefeated, Chic Harley-led Big Ten champion Ohio State to a scoreless tie.

1918: Rockne Returns to Coach Notre Dame

In 1918, Knute Rockne returned to coach the Notre Dame team and devised the Notre Dame Box offense, based on Warner's single wing.

1918: Stanford drops rugby union due to World War I

In 1918, due to American involvement in World War I and the designation of Stanford as the Students' Army Training Corps headquarters, rugby union was dropped in favor of American football for training purposes.

1918: Loosening of Rules on Eligible Receivers

In 1918, the rules on eligible receivers were loosened, allowing eligible players to catch the ball anywhere on the field, which previously had stricter limitations.

1919: Heisman leaves Georgia Tech

In 1919, Heisman left Georgia Tech, his shift was still employed by protégé William Alexander.

October 8, 1921: First Live Radio Broadcast of a College Football Game

On October 8, 1921, West Virginia and Pittsburgh played in the first live radio broadcast of a college football game. Harold W. Arlin announced the Backyard Brawl on KDKA, with Pitt winning 21-13.

1921: Centre upset Harvard

In 1921 Bo McMillin-led Centre upset defending national champion Harvard 6 to 0 in what is widely considered one of the greatest upsets in college football history.

October 28, 1922: First Nationally Broadcast College Football Game

On October 28, 1922, Princeton and Chicago played the first college football game to be nationally broadcast on radio. Princeton won 21-18 and was dubbed the "Team of Destiny".

1923: Construction of the Rose Bowl Stadium

In 1923, the Rose Bowl stadium was built in Pasadena, California. Its shape resembled the Yale Bowl and gave rise to the term "bowl" for similar stadiums.

1924: Walter Camp's last All-American team selection

In 1924, Walter Camp personally selected an annual All-American team for the last time, having done so every year from 1889.

1924: The Four Horsemen Backfield

The 1924 Notre Dame team featured the Four Horsemen backfield, contributing to the team's success.

1925: Alabama's Rose Bowl Victory

In 1925, Wallace Wade coached Alabama to the South's first Rose Bowl victory, which is commonly referred to as 'the game that changed the south'.

1925: Death of Walter Camp

In 1925, Walter Camp, who had been employed by the New Haven Clock Company since 1882, passed away. He had remained a fixture at annual rules meetings and personally selected an annual All-American team every year from 1889 through 1924.

1926: Alabama wins 1926 Rose Bowl

Wallace William Wade's 1925 Alabama team won the 1926 Rose Bowl after receiving its first national title.

1927: Georgia defeats Yale

In 1927, Georgia's "dream and wonder team" defeated Yale for the first time.

1927: Publication of 'Football for Coaches and Players'

In 1927, Glenn 'Pop' Warner wrote one of the first important books of football strategy, 'Football for Coaches and Players'.

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1927: Rule Change Due to Rockne's Complex Shifts

In 1927, Knute Rockne's complex shifts led to a rule change requiring all offensive players to stop for a full second before the ball could be snapped.

1928: Georgia Tech Wins Rose Bowl

In 1928, William Alexander's Georgia Tech team defeated California in the 1929 Rose Bowl.

October 12, 1929: Georgia defeats Yale

On October 12, 1929, Yale lost to Georgia in Sanford Stadium in its first trip to the south.

1929: Georgia Tech Wins 1929 Rose Bowl

William Alexander's 1928 Georgia Tech team defeated California in the 1929 Rose Bowl.

1930: Alabama Wins National Championship and Rose Bowl

In 1930, Wallace Wade's Alabama team won another national championship and Rose Bowl.

1931: Knute Rockne's Death in Plane Crash

In 1931, Knute Rockne died prematurely in a plane crash. His funeral was broadcast nationally on radio due to his fame.

1931: USC Awarded National Title

In 1931, the University of Southern California (USC) was awarded the national title.

1932: USC Awarded National Title

In 1932, the University of Southern California (USC) was awarded the national title for the second year in a row.

1933: Period of Rules Committees and Conferences

In 1933, American football historian Parke H. Davis dubbed the years 1894–1933 the "Period of Rules Committees and Conferences".

1933: Michigan Wins National Title

In 1933, Michigan won the national title.

1934: Minnesota Wins National Title

In 1934, Minnesota began a period of dominance, winning 5 titles between 1934 and 1941.

1934: Rules Changes to Passing Game

In 1934, the rules committee removed penalties for incomplete passes and shrunk the circumference of the ball, making it easier to grip and throw. This rule change had a profound effect on teams' ability to throw the ball.

1935: Creation of New Bowl Games

In 1935, The Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and the Sun Bowl were created.

1935: First Heisman Trophy Awarded

In 1935, the Downtown Athletic Club of New York City awarded the first Heisman Trophy to Jay Berwanger, a halfback from the University of Chicago. The trophy was designed by Frank Eliscu and modeled after New York University player Ed Smith.

1936: Jay Berwanger Becomes First NFL Draft Pick

In 1936, Jay Berwanger, the first Heisman Trophy winner, became the first-ever NFL draft pick.

1936: Associated Press Poll

In 1936, the Associated Press began its weekly poll of prominent sports writers, ranking all of the nation's college football teams.

1937: Cotton Bowl Created

In 1937, the Cotton Bowl was created.

1938: TCU Wins National Championship

In 1938, Texas Christian University (TCU) won the national championship.

1939: Texas A&M Wins National Championship

In 1939, Texas A&M won the national championship.

1940: Number of Bowl Games

In 1940, there were only five bowl games for the highest level of college football: Rose, Orange, Sugar, Sun, and Cotton.

1941: Minnesota Wins National Title

In 1941, Minnesota concluded a period of dominance, winning 5 titles between 1934 and 1941.

1942: Ohio State Wins National Title

In 1942, Ohio State won the national title.

1944: Army Wins National Title

In 1944, amidst World War II, the Army team, coached by Red Blaik and featuring future Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi on the coaching staff, secured a national title.

1945: Army Wins Back-to-Back National Titles; Blanchard Wins Heisman

In 1945, Army won its second consecutive national title. Doc Blanchard, known as "Mr. Inside," also won the Heisman Trophy.

1946: Glenn Davis Wins Heisman Trophy

In 1946, Glenn Davis, known as "Mr. Outside", won the Heisman Trophy.

1947: Michigan Wins National Title

In 1947, Michigan won the national title.

1948: Michigan Wins National Title

In 1948, Michigan won the national title.

1950: Number of Bowl Games

By 1950, the number of bowl games had increased to eight.

1950: Oklahoma Wins National Title

In 1950, Oklahoma, under coach Bud Wilkinson, won a national title, marking the beginning of their dominant run in the decade.

1951: Passing Attempts Decline

In 1951, passing attempts averaged 18.9 per game, starting a decline in passing during the decade.

1952: NCAA Claims Television Broadcasting Rights

In 1952, the NCAA claimed all television broadcasting rights for the games of its member institutions, giving it sole power to negotiate television rights.

1953: Michigan State Joins Big Ten Athletically

In 1953, the Michigan State Spartans joined the Big Ten athletically, becoming known as the "football factory" during the decade.

1954: Ohio State Wins National Title

In 1954, Woody Hayes led Ohio State to a national title.

1955: Oklahoma Wins National Title Again

In 1955, Oklahoma, coached by Bud Wilkinson, secured another national title.

1956: Oklahoma Wins National Title; Hornung Wins Heisman

In 1956, Oklahoma won another national title. Paul Hornung, Notre Dame quarterback, won the Heisman Trophy despite playing for a losing team.

1956: 1956 Sugar Bowl Controversy

In 1956, the Sugar Bowl faced controversy when Georgia's Governor Griffin threatened Georgia Tech's President Blake Van Leer over allowing an African American player to play in the game, highlighting segregationist sentiments.

1957: Ohio State Wins National Title

In 1957, Ohio State, under Woody Hayes, won a national title.

1958: NFL Championship Game Success Impacts College Football Popularity

Following the enormous success of the 1958 NFL Championship Game, college football's national popularity started to be eclipsed by the NFL.

1966: ABC Sports Begins Broadcasting Game of the Week

In 1966, ABC Sports began broadcasting a national Game of the Week, bringing key college football matchups and rivalries to a national audience for the first time.

1966: Introduction of the four-tackle rule in rugby league

In 1966, rugby league introduced a four-tackle rule based on Camp's early down-and-distance rules.

1970: Number of Major Bowl Games

By 1970, there were still only eight major college bowl games.

1972: Change to a six-tackle rule in rugby league

In 1972, the four-tackle rule introduced in 1966 was changed to a six-tackle rule in rugby league, based on Camp's early down-and-distance rules.

1976: Number of Bowl Games

In 1976, the number of bowl games grew to eleven.

1979: NCAA Committee Proposal for a Four-Team Playoff

In 1979, an NCAA committee proposed a four-team playoff following bowl games, but little progress was made due to economic interests in the bowl system.

1980: Number of Bowl Games

In 1980, with the emergence of cable television and sports networks like ESPN, there were fifteen bowl games.

1984: Supreme Court Rules Against NCAA

In 1984, the Supreme Court ruled against the NCAA in a lawsuit brought by several schools under the Sherman Antitrust Act, allowing schools to negotiate their own television deals.

1992: Formation of the Bowl Coalition

In 1992, seven conferences and independent Notre Dame formed the Bowl Coalition to arrange an annual No. 1 versus No. 2 matchup based on the final AP poll standings.

1995: Establishment of the Bowl Alliance

In 1995, the Bowl Coalition was replaced by the Bowl Alliance, reducing the number of bowl games to host a national championship game to three and the participating conferences to five.

1998: Michigan Wins Rose Bowl, Nebraska Wins Orange Bowl

In 1998, during the final year of the Bowl Alliance, Michigan won the Rose Bowl and Nebraska won the Orange Bowl. Both teams could claim a share of the national title.

1998: Bowl Championship Series (BCS) Established

In 1998, the Bowl Championship Series was implemented, including all major conferences and four major bowl games, establishing a complex system to rank schools and determine the national championship matchup.

1998: Bowl Championship Series Used as Selection Method

In 1998, the Bowl Championship Series was introduced as a selection method to determine the national championship game participants.

1998: Creation of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS)

In 1998, the NCAA created the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) to create a definitive national championship game for college football. The series included the Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and Fiesta Bowl.

2005: Utah Selected for BCS Game

In 2005, Utah became the only BCS non-AQ conference team to be selected as an at-large team.

2006: Adjustment to the BCS System

In 2006, the NCAA added a fifth game, called the National Championship Game, to the BCS series. This allowed the top two teams in the BCS rankings to play in the new National Championship Game.

2006: BCS National Championship Game Added

Starting with the 2006 season, a fifth game, the BCS National Championship Game, was added to the schedule.

2008: Number of Bowl Games

From 1980 to 2008, an additional 20 bowl games were added to the schedule, bringing the total to 35.

2009: Boise State vs. TCU in Fiesta Bowl

In 2009, Boise State played TCU in the Fiesta Bowl, marking the first time two schools from non-AQ conferences played each other in a BCS bowl game.

2009: Number of Bowl Games in FBS

In the 2009 season, there were 34 bowl games, inviting 68 of the 120 Division I FBS teams to play.

2012: Northern Illinois Reaches BCS Bowl Game

In 2012, Northern Illinois became the last team from a non-AQ conference to reach a BCS bowl game.

2013: Northern Illinois Plays in Orange Bowl

In 2013, Northern Illinois played in the Orange Bowl, marking the last appearance of a non-AQ team in a BCS bowl game during the BCS era.

2013: Expansion of Division I FCS Playoff

In 2013, the Division I FCS playoff expanded from 20 to 24 teams to determine the national championship, with the top eight teams seeded and receiving a bye in the first round.

2013: End of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS)

The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) ended after the 2013 season.

2014: Creation of the College Football Playoff (CFP)

In 2014, the College Football Playoff (CFP) began, ending the longtime resistance to a playoff system at the FBS level. It featured a four-team tournament to determine the national champion.

2014: College Football Playoff Replaced Bowl Championship Series

In 2014, the College Football Playoff (CFP) replaced the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) as the method to determine the FBS national champion. The CFP uses a four-team playoff at the end of the regular season.

2014: Establishment of the College Football Playoff

In 2014, the College Football Playoff was established, but not directly run by the NCAA. The NCAA has never recognized an official FBS national championship.

2014: NAIA Allowed NIL Compensation

In 2014, the NAIA initially allowed all student-athletes at its member schools to receive Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) compensation.

2014: Financial Loss in Major Collegiate Football Programs

In 2014, the majority of major collegiate football programs operated at a financial loss.

2017: Study on CTE in Brains of Football Players

According to a 2017 study, 91% of college football players' brains tested showed various stages of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).

2020: NAIA Allowed Endorsement Deals Referencing Athletic Participation

Beginning in 2020, the NAIA specifically allowed student-athletes to reference their athletic participation in their endorsement deals.

July 2021: NCAA passed NIL reform

In July 2021, The NCAA passed its Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) reform, similar to the NAIA's reform.

2021: NCAA Adopts Temporary Rule Change for NIL Activity

In 2021, specifically on June 3, the NCAA's board of directors adopted a temporary rule change that opened the door for Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) activity, instructing schools to set their own policy for what should be allowed with minimal guidelines. On July 1, 2021, the new rules set in and student athletes could start signing endorsements using their name, image and likeness.

2023: Separate NCAA Rules Committees Established

In 2023, as part of an NCAA initiative, separate rules committees were established for each NCAA division to provide more autonomy over governance.

2024: CFP Expansion to 12 Teams Agreement Reached

An agreement was reached on CFP expansion to 12 teams effective with the 2024 season.

2024: College Teams and Club/Sprint Football

In 2024, Colleges that field a team in the NCAA are not restricted from fielding teams in club or sprint football, though no schools field both club and sprint teams simultaneously.