| Sport | College football |
| Conference | Southern Conference |
| Played | 1933–present |
| Current champion | Appalachian State (10) |
| Most championships | Furman (12) |
| TV partner(s) | SportSouth |
| Official website | SoConSports.com Football |
The list of Southern Conference football champions includes 19 distinct teams that have won the college football championship awarded by the Southern Conference since its creation. In total, forty-one teams have sponsored football in the conference.[1] Just three—Elon, Samford and Western Carolina—have never won a Southern Conference football championship.
The conference was formed in 1921 when fourteen members from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) met in Atlanta, Georgia with the purpose of creating a workable number of conference games for each member.[2] The Southern Conference is notable for having spawned two other major conferences. In 1933, thirteen schools located south and west of the Appalachians (Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Sewanee, Tennessee, Tulane, and Vanderbilt) departed to form the Southeastern Conference.[3] Twenty years later, in 1953, seven schools (Clemson, Duke, Maryland, North Carolina, North Carolina State, South Carolina, and Wake Forest) withdrew to form the Atlantic Coast Conference.[4]
Currently the conference competes at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level in athletics, with the football teams playing in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). There are nine football playing members of the Southern Conference: Appalachian State, Chattanooga, The Citadel, Elon, Furman, Georgia Southern, Samford, Western Carolina, and Wofford. Southern Conference teams have been successful in the NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs, leading all conferences with an 87–49 (.640) record.[5] Current and former Southern Conference teams have won a total of 12 national championships.[5]
Teams[]
| Team | Location | Stadium |
| Appalachian State Mountaineers | Boone, North Carolina | Kidd Brewer Stadium |
| Chattanooga Mocs | Chattanooga, Tennessee | Finley Stadium |
| Citadel Bulldogs | Charleston, South Carolina | Johnson Hagood Stadium |
| Elon Phoenix | Elon, North Carolina | Rhodes Stadium |
| Furman Paladins | Greenville, South Carolina | Paladin Stadium |
| Georgia Southern Eagles | Statesboro, Georgia | Paulson Stadium |
| Samford Bulldogs | Birmingham, Alabama | Seibert Stadium |
| Western Carolina Catamounts | Cullowhee, North Carolina | E.J. Whitmire Stadium |
| Wofford Terriers | Spartanburg, South Carolina | Gibbs Stadium |
Champions by year[]
Undefeated teams: 1922–1932[]
The Southern Conference does not officially recognize championships claimed from the 1922–32 seasons,[6] as there were upwards of 20 to 23 teams competing within the conference during this time. However, some championships are still cited, such as Georgia Tech's claim of 1922, 1927 and 1928 conference titles.[7]
| Year | Undefeated team(s)[8] | Record | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1922 | North Carolina
Georgia Tech Vanderbilt Virginia Tech Florida |
5–0–0
4–0–0 3–0–0 3–0–0 2–0–0 |
This was the inaugural Southern Conference football season with 20 teams participating. |
| 1923 | Washington & Lee
Vanderbilt Florida Georgia Tech |
4–0–1
3–0–1 1–0–2 1–0–4 |
|
| 1924 | Alabama
Florida |
5–0–0
2–0–1 |
|
| 1925 | Alabama
Tulane North Carolina |
7–0–0
5–0–0 4–0–1 |
Alabama wins national championship.[9] |
| 1926 | Alabama | 8–0–0 | Alabama wins national championship.[9] |
| 1927 | Georgia Tech
Tennessee Vanderbilt North Carolina State |
7–0–1
5–0–1 5–0–2 4–0–0 |
|
| 1928 | Georgia Tech
Tennessee |
7–0–0
6–0–1 |
Georgia Tech wins national championship.[7] |
| 1929 | Tulane
Tennessee |
6–0–0
6–0–1 |
|
| 1930 | Alabama
Tulane |
8–0–0
5–0–0 |
Alabama wins national championship.[9] |
| 1931 | Tulane
Tennessee |
8–0–0
6–0–1 |
|
| 1932 | Tennessee
Auburn LSU |
7–0–1
6–0–1 4–0–0 |
Thirteen teams leave after this season to form the Southeastern Conference.[3] |
Champions: 1933–present[]
In 1978 Division I football was split into two classifications: the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly I-A) and Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA). The Southern Conference moved to the FCS in 1982 where its members compete for the NCAA Division I Football Championship.
| Year | Champion(s)[8] | Record | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | Duke | 4–0–0 | |
| 1934 | Washington & Lee | 4–0–0 | |
| 1935 | Duke | 5–0–0 | |
| 1936 | Duke | 7–0–0 | The Citadel, Furman, George Washington, and Richmond join the Southern Conference.[10] |
| 1937 | Maryland | 2–0–0 | |
| 1938 | Duke | 5–0–0 | |
| 1939 | Duke | 5–0–0 | |
| 1940 | Clemson | 4–0–0 | |
| 1941 | Duke | 5–0–0 | |
| 1942 | William & Mary | 5–0–0 | |
| 1943 | Duke | 4–0–0 | |
| 1944 | Duke | 4–0–0 | |
| 1945 | Duke | 4–0–0 | |
| 1946 | North Carolina | 4–0–1 | |
| 1947 | William & Mary | 7–1–0 | |
| 1948 | Clemson | 5–0–0 | |
| 1949 | North Carolina | 5–0–0 | |
| 1950 | Washington & Lee | 6–0–0 | West Virginia joins the Southern Conference.[10] |
| 1951 | Maryland
VMI |
5–0–0 | |
| 1952 | Duke | 5–0–0 | Seven teams leave after this season to form the Atlantic Coast Conference.[4] |
| 1953 | West Virginia | 4–0–0 | |
| 1954 | West Virginia | 3–0–0 | |
| 1955 | West Virginia | 4–0–0 | |
| 1956 | West Virginia | 5–0–0 | |
| 1957 | VMI | 6–0–0 | |
| 1958 | West Virginia | 4–0–0 | Washington & Lee leaves the Southern Conference.[10] |
| 1959 | VMI | 6–0–1 | |
| 1960 | VMI | 4–1–0 | |
| 1961 | The Citadel | 5–1–0 | |
| 1962 | VMI | 6–0–0 | |
| 1963 | Virginia Tech | 5–0–0 | |
| 1964 | West Virginia | 5–0–0 | East Carolina joins the Southern Conference.[10] |
| 1965 | West Virginia | 4–0–0 | Virginia Tech leaves the Southern Conference.[10] |
| 1966 | East Carolina
William & Mary |
4–1–1 | |
| 1967 | West Virginia | 4–0–1 | |
| 1968 | Richmond | 6–0–0 | West Virginia leaves the Southern Conference.[10] |
| 1969 | Davidson
Richmond |
5–1–0 | |
| 1970 | William & Mary | 3–1–0 | George Washington leaves the Southern Conference.[10] |
| 1971 | Richmond | 5–1–0 | Appalachian State joins the Southern Conference.[10] |
| 1972 | East Carolina | 7–0–0 | |
| 1973 | East Carolina | 7–0–0 | |
| 1974 | VMI | 5–1–0 | |
| 1975 | Richmond | 5–1–0 | |
| 1976 | East Carolina | 4–1–0 | Chattanooga, Marshall, and Western Carolina join the Southern Conference.[10]East Carolina and Richmond leave the Southern Conference.[10] |
| 1977 | Chattanooga
VMI |
4–1–0 | William & Mary leaves the Southern Conference.[10] |
| 1978 | Furman
Chattanooga |
4–1–0 | Division I splits into I-A and I-AA subdivisions.[11]East Tennessee State joins the Southern Conference.[10] |
| 1979 | Chattanooga | 5–1–0 | |
| 1980 | Furman | 7–0–0 | |
| 1981 | Furman | 5–2–0 | |
| 1982 | Furman | 6–1–0 | Southern Conference drops from I-A to the I-AA classification in football.[2] |
| 1983 | Furman | 6–0–1 | |
| 1984 | Chattanooga | 5–1–0 | |
| 1985 | Furman | 6–0–0 | |
| 1986 | Appalachian State | 6–0–1 | |
| 1987 | Appalachian State | 7–0–0 | |
| 1988 | Furman
Marshall |
6–1–0 | Furman wins NCAA Division I-AA national championship.[12] |
| 1989 | Furman | 7–0–0 | |
| 1990 | Furman | 6–1–0 | |
| 1991 | Appalachian State | 6–1–0 | Georgia Southern joins the Southern Conference.[10] |
| 1992 | The Citadel | 6–1–0 | Marshall wins NCAA Division I-AA national championship.[13] |
| 1993 | Georgia Southern | 7–1–0 | |
| 1994 | Marshall | 7–1–0 | |
| 1995 | Appalachian State | 8–0–0 | |
| 1996[14] | Marshall | 8–0 | Marshall wins NCAA Division I-AA national championship.[13] |
| 1997 | Georgia Southern | 7–1 | Marshall leaves the Southern Conference.[10]Wofford joins the Southern Conference.[10] |
| 1998 | Georgia Southern | 8–0 | |
| 1999 | Furman
Georgia Southern Appalachian State |
7–1 | Georgia Southern wins NCAA Division I-AA national championship.[15] |
| 2000 | Georgia Southern | 7–1 | Georgia Southern wins NCAA Division I-AA national championship.[15] |
| 2001 | Georgia Southern
Furman |
7–1 | |
| 2002 | Georgia Southern | 7–1 | |
| 2003 | Wofford | 8–0 | Elon joins the Southern Conference.[10]VMI leaves the Southern Conference.[10] |
| 2004 | Furman
Georgia Southern |
6–1 | |
| 2005 | Appalachian State | 6–1 | Appalachian State wins NCAA Division I-AA national championship.[16]East Tennessee State leaves the Southern Conference.[10] |
| 2006 | Appalachian State | 7–0 | Appalachian State wins NCAA Division I FCS national championship.[17] |
| 2007 | Wofford
Appalachian State |
5–2 | Appalachian State wins NCAA Division I FCS national championship.[18] |
| 2008 | Appalachian State | 8–0 | Samford joins the Southern Conference.[10] |
| 2009 | Appalachian State | 8–0 |
Championships by school[]
Current members[]
| School | Championships | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Furman | 12 | 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1999, 2001, 2004 |
| Appalachian State | 10 | 1986, 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 |
| Georgia Southern | 8 | 1993, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004 |
| Chattanooga | 4 | 1977, 1978, 1979, 1984 |
| The Citadel | 2 | 1961, 1992 |
| Wofford | 2 | 2003, 2007 |
| Elon | 0 | |
| Samford | 0 | |
| Western Carolina | 0 |
Former members[]
| School | Championships | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Duke | 10 | 1933, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1952 |
| West Virginia | 8 | 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1964, 1965, 1967 |
| VMI | 7 | 1951, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1974, 1977 |
| East Carolina | 4 | 1966, 1972, 1973, 1976 |
| Richmond | 4 | 1968, 1969, 1971, 1975 |
| William & Mary | 4 | 1942, 1947, 1966, 1970 |
| Marshall | 3 | 1988, 1994, 1996 |
| Clemson | 2 | 1940, 1948 |
| Maryland | 2 | 1937, 1951 |
| North Carolina | 2 | 1946, 1949 |
| Washington & Lee | 2 | 1934, 1950 |
| Virginia Tech | 1 | 1963 |
| Davidson | 1 | 1969 |
Conference facilities[]
| School | Football stadium | |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Capacity | |
| Appalachian State | Kidd Brewer Stadium | 21,650 |
| Chattanooga | Finley Stadium | 20,668 |
| The Citadel | Johnson Hagood Stadium | 21,000 |
| College of Charleston | Non-football School | N/A |
| Davidson | Richardson Stadium[5] | 6,000 |
| Elon | Rhodes Stadium | 11,250 |
| Furman | Paladin Stadium | 16,000 |
| Georgia Southern | Paulson Stadium | 18,000 |
| Samford | Seibert Stadium | 6,700 |
| UNC Greensboro | Non-football School | N/A |
| Western Carolina | E. J. Whitmire Stadium | 13,742 |
| Wofford | Gibbs Stadium | 13,000 |