# List of VMI Keydets football seasons

The following is a list of seasons completed by the VMI Keydets football team. Representing the Virginia Military Institute, the Keydets compete in the Southern Conference of the NCAA Division I. VMI competed in the SoCon for 79 years from 1924 to 2002, and moved to the Big South in 2003, but returned to the SoCon beginning in the 2014–2015 academic year. The Keydets have played their home games out of 10,000-seat Alumni Memorial Field since 1962. VMI is led by head coach Danny Rocco, who took over in 2023.
Though VMI played their first intercollegiate football game in 1873 against Washington and Lee University, the first official team was fielded in 1891 under coach Walter H. Taylor III. The program was successful early on, notching two undefeated seasons in 1894 and 1899, and another 9–0 campaign in 1920. VMI captured their first of seven conference titles in 1951 under head coach Tom Nugent with a 5–0 mark in SoCon play and a 7–3 record overall. The Keydets won 4 additional Southern Conference championships in a six-year span between 1957 and 1962 under the direction of John McKenna, who, to this day, is the all-time coaching wins leader at the Institute.
After playing as an independent, VMI joined the South Atlantic Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 1918. Following the league's disbandment in 1921, VMI joined the Southern Conference in 1924 where they would remain for 79 seasons until joining the Big South Conference in 2003. The Keydets returned to the Southern Conference in 2014 after an 11-year stint in the Big South.
In 2020, VMI earned their first trip to the FCS playoffs since the subdivision's inception in 1978 after winning the Southern Conference championship. This marked the program's first winning season since 1981. They followed up with another winning season in 2021, the first back-to-back winning campaigns since posting six straight from 1957-62.

## Seasons

Legend :
* $^†$ Conference champions
* $^‡$ Division champions
* ^Bowl game berth / playoff result
List of VMI Keydets football seasons :
| Season | Team | Head coach | Conference | Regular season results | Regular season results | Regular season results | Regular season results | Regular season results | Regular season results | Regular season results | Postseason results | Final ranking | Final ranking |
| Season | Team | Head coach | Conference | Overall | Overall | Overall | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Bowl game/Playoff result | STATS Poll | Coaches' Poll |
| Season | Team | Head coach | Conference | Win | Loss | Tie | Win | Loss | Tie | Finish | Bowl game/Playoff result | STATS Poll | Coaches' Poll |
| VMI Keydets ||||||||||||||
| 1891 | 1891 | Walter Taylor | Independent | 3 | 0 | 1 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1892 | 1892 | No coach | Independent | 4 | 0 | 1 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1893 | 1893 | No coach | Independent | 3 | 1 | 0 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1894 | 1894 | No coach | Independent | 6 | 0 | 0 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1895 | 1895 | George W. Bryant | Independent | 5 | 2 | 0 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1896 | 1896 | George W. Bryant | Independent | 3 | 4 | 0 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1897 | 1897 | R. N. Groner | Independent | 3 | 2 | 0 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1898 | 1898 | Samuel Boyle, Jr. | Independent | 4 | 2 | 0 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1899 | 1899 | Samuel Boyle, Jr. | Independent | 1 | 0 | 0 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1900 | 1900 | Sam Walker | Independent | 4 | 1 | 2 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1901 | 1901 | Sam Walker | Independent | 4 | 3 | 0 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1902 | 1902 | Sam Walker | Independent | 3 | 3 | 1 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1903 | 1903 | William Roper | Independent | 2 | 1 | 0 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1904 | 1904 | William Roper | Independent | 3 | 5 | 0 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1905 | 1905 | Ira Johnson | Independent | 2 | 5 | 1 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1906 | 1906 | Ira Johnson | Independent | 4 | 4 | 0 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1907 | 1907 | Charles Roller | Independent | 5 | 3 | 0 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1908 | 1908 | Charles Roller | Independent | 4 | 2 | 0 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1909 | 1909 | William C. Gloth | Independent | 4 | 3 | 0 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1910 | 1910 | William C. Gloth | Independent | 3 | 3 | 1 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1911 | 1911 | Alpha Brummage | Independent | 7 | 1 | 0 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1912 | 1912 | Alpha Brummage | Independent | 6 | 1 | 0 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1913 | 1913 | Henry Poague | Independent | 7 | 1 | 2 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1914 | 1914 | Frank Gorton | Independent | 4 | 4 | 0 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1915 | 1915 | Frank Gorton | Independent | 6 | 2 | 1 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1916 | 1916 | Frank Gorton | Independent | 4 | 5 | 0 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1917 | 1917 | Earl Abell | Independent | 4 | 4 | 1 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1918 | 1918 | Earl Abell Mose Goodman | SAIAA | 3 | 3 | 0 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1919 | 1919 | Red Fleming | SAIAA | 6 | 2 | 0 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1920 | 1920 | Blandy Clarkson | SAIAA | 9 | 0 | 0 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1921 | 1921 | Blandy Clarkson | SAIAA | 3 | 5 | 1 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1922 | 1922 | Blandy Clarkson | Independent | 7 | 2 | 0 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1923 | 1923 | Blandy Clarkson | Independent | 9 | 1 | 0 | | | | | — | — | — |
| 1924 | 1924 | Blandy Clarkson | Southern | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 13th | — | — | — |
| 1925 | 1925 | Blandy Clarkson | Southern | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 18th | — | — | — |
| 1926 | 1926 | Blandy Clarkson | Southern | 5 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 15th | — | — | — |
| 1927 | 1927 | W. C. Raftery | Southern | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 16th | — | — | — |
| 1928 | 1928 | W. C. Raftery | Southern | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 15th | — | — | — |
| 1929 | 1929 | W. C. Raftery | Southern | 8 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 7th | — | — | — |
| 1930 | 1930 | W. C. Raftery | Southern | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 23rd | — | — | — |
| 1931 | 1931 | W. C. Raftery | Southern | 3 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 17th | — | — | — |
| 1932 | 1932 | W. C. Raftery | Southern | 2 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 18th | — | — | — |
| 1933 | 1933 | W. C. Raftery | Southern | 2 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4th | — | — | — |
| 1934 | 1934 | W. C. Raftery | Southern | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 10th | — | — | — |
| 1935 | 1935 | W. C. Raftery | Southern | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 10th | — | — | — |
| 1936 | 1936 | W. C. Raftery | Southern | 6 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 4th | — | — | — |
| 1937 | 1937 | Allison Hubert | Southern | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 5th | — | — | — |
| 1938 | 1938 | Allison Hubert | Southern | 6 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 4th | — | — | — |
| 1939 | 1939 | Allison Hubert | Southern | 6 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5th | — | — | — |
| 1940 | 1940 | Allison Hubert | Southern | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7th | — | — | — |
| 1941 | 1941 | Allison Hubert | Southern | 4 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 6th | — | — | — |
| 1942 | 1942 | Allison Hubert | Southern | 3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 10th | — | — | — |
| 1943 | 1943 | Allison Hubert | Southern | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8th | — | — | — |
| 1944 | 1944 | Allison Hubert | Southern | 1 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 8th | — | — | — |
| 1945 | 1945 | Allison Hubert | Southern | 5 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6th | — | — | — |
| 1946 | 1946 | Allison Hubert | Southern | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 8th | — | — | — |
| 1947 | 1947 | Arthur Morton | Southern | 3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 11th | — | — | — |
| 1948 | 1948 | Arthur Morton | Southern | 6 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3rd | — | — | — |
| 1949 | 1949 | Tom Nugent | Southern | 3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6th | — | — | — |
| 1950 | 1950 | Tom Nugent | Southern | 6 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3rd | — | — | — |
| 1951 | 1951$^†$ | Tom Nugent | Southern | 7 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1st$^†$ | — | — | — |
| 1952 | 1952 | Tom Nugent | Southern | 3 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9th | — | — | — |
| 1953 | 1953 | John McKenna | Southern | 5 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6th | — | — | — |
| 1954 | 1954 | John McKenna | Southern | 4 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 5th | — | — | — |
| 1955 | 1955 | John McKenna | Southern | 1 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 9th | — | — | — |
| 1956 | 1956 | John McKenna | Southern | 3 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5th | — | — | — |
| 1957 | 1957$^†$ | John McKenna | Southern | 9 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1st$^†$ | — | 20 | — |
| 1958 | 1958 | John McKenna | Southern | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4th | — | — | — |
| 1959 | 1959$^†$ | John McKenna | Southern | 8 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1st$^†$ | — | — | — |
| 1960 | 1960$^†$ | John McKenna | Southern | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1st$^†$ | — | — | — |
| 1961 | 1961 | John McKenna | Southern | 6 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3rd | — | — | — |
| 1962 | 1962$^†$ | John McKenna | Southern | 6 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1st$^†$ | — | — | — |
| 1963 | 1963 | John McKenna | Southern | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3rd | — | — | — |
| 1964 | 1964 | John McKenna | Southern | 1 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 9th | — | — | — |
| 1965 | 1965 | John McKenna | Southern | 3 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4th | — | — | — |
| 1966 | 1966 | Vito Ragazzo | Southern | 2 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8th | — | — | — |
| 1967 | 1967 | Vito Ragazzo | Southern | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5th | — | — | — |
| 1968 | 1968 | Vito Ragazzo | Southern | 1 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 7th | — | — | — |
| 1969 | 1969 | Vito Ragazzo | Southern | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7th | — | — | — |
| 1970 | 1970 | Vito Ragazzo | Southern | 1 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 7th | — | — | — |
| 1971 | 1971 | Bob Thalman | Southern | 1 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 6th | — | — | — |
| 1972 | 1972 | Bob Thalman | Southern | 2 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 6th | — | — | — |
| 1973 | 1973 | Bob Thalman | Southern | 3 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 6th | — | — | — |
| 1974 | 1974$^†$ | Bob Thalman | Southern | 7 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1st$^†$ | — | — | — |
| 1975 | 1975 | Bob Thalman | Southern | 3 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 7th | — | — | — |
| 1976 | 1976 | Bob Thalman | Southern | 5 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 7th | — | — | — |
| 1977 | 1977$^†$ | Bob Thalman | Southern | 7 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1st$^†$ | — | — | — |
| 1978 | 1978 | Bob Thalman | Southern | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6th | — | — | — |
| 1979 | 1979 | Bob Thalman | Southern | 6 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2nd | — | — | — |
| 1980 | 1980 | Bob Thalman | Southern | 3 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6th | — | — | — |
| 1981 | 1981 | Bob Thalman | Southern | 6 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2nd | — | — | — |
| 1982 | 1982 | Bob Thalman | Southern | 5 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 6th | — | — | — |
| 1983 | 1983 | Bob Thalman | Southern | 2 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 6th | — | — | — |
| 1984 | 1984 | Bob Thalman | Southern | 1 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 8th | — | — | — |
| 1985 | 1985 | Eddie Williamson | Southern | 3 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 7th | — | — | — |
| 1986 | 1986 | Eddie Williamson | Southern | 1 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 7th | — | — | — |
| 1987 | 1987 | Eddie Williamson | Southern | 4 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 5th | — | — | — |
| 1988 | 1988 | Eddie Williamson | Southern | 2 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 6th | — | — | — |
| 1989 | 1989 | Jim Shuck | Southern | 2 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 7th | — | — | — |
| 1990 | 1990 | Jim Shuck | Southern | 4 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 7th | — | — | — |
| 1991 | 1991 | Jim Shuck | Southern | 4 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 6th | — | — | — |
| 1992 | 1992 | Jim Shuck | Southern | 3 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 7th | — | — | — |
| 1993 | 1993 | Jim Shuck | Southern | 1 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 9th | — | — | — |
| 1994 | 1994 | Bill Stewart | Southern | 1 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 9th | — | — | — |
| 1995 | 1995 | Bill Stewart | Southern | 4 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 6th | — | — | — |
| 1996 | 1996 | Bill Stewart | Southern | 3 | 8 | | 2 | 6 | | 7th | — | — | — |
| 1997 | 1997 | Ted Cain | Southern | 0 | 11 | | 0 | 8 | | 9th | — | — | — |
| 1998 | 1998 | Ted Cain | Southern | 1 | 10 | | 0 | 8 | | 9th | — | — | — |
| 1999 | 1999 | Cal McCombs | Southern | 1 | 10 | | 0 | 8 | | 9th | — | — | — |
| 2000 | 2000 | Cal McCombs | Southern | 2 | 9 | | 1 | 7 | | 9th | — | — | — |
| 2001 | 2001 | Cal McCombs | Southern | 1 | 10 | | 1 | 7 | | 9th | — | — | — |
| 2002 | 2002 | Cal McCombs | Southern | 6 | 6 | | 3 | 5 | | 6th | — | — | — |
| 2003 | 2003 | Cal McCombs | Big South | 6 | 6 | | 2 | 2 | | 3rd | — | — | — |
| 2004 | 2004 | Cal McCombs | Big South | 0 | 11 | | 0 | 4 | | 5th | — | — | — |
| 2005 | 2005 | Cal McCombs | Big South | 3 | 8 | | 2 | 2 | | 4th | — | — | — |
| 2006 | 2006 | Jim Reid | Big South | 1 | 10 | | 0 | 4 | | 5th | — | — | — |
| 2007 | 2007 | Jim Reid | Big South | 2 | 9 | | 0 | 4 | | 5th | — | — | — |
| 2008 | 2008 | Sparky Woods | Big South | 4 | 7 | | 1 | 4 | | 6th | — | — | — |
| 2009 | 2009 | Sparky Woods | Big South | 2 | 9 | | 1 | 5 | | 6th | — | — | — |
| 2010 | 2010 | Sparky Woods | Big South | 3 | 8 | | 2 | 4 | | 5th | — | — | — |
| 2011 | 2011 | Sparky Woods | Big South | 2 | 9 | | 2 | 4 | | 6th | — | — | — |
| 2012 | 2012 | Sparky Woods | Big South | 2 | 9 | | 1 | 5 | | 6th | — | — | — |
| 2013 | 2013 | Sparky Woods | Big South | 2 | 10 | | 1 | 4 | | 6th | — | — | — |
| 2014 | 2014 | Sparky Woods | Southern | 2 | 10 | | 1 | 6 | | 8th | — | — | — |
| 2015 | 2015 | Scott Wachenheim | Southern | 2 | 9 | | 1 | 6 | | 8th | — | — | — |
| 2016 | 2016 | Scott Wachenheim | Southern | 3 | 8 | | 1 | 7 | | 9th | — | — | — |
| 2017 | 2017 | Scott Wachenheim | Southern | 0 | 11 | | 0 | 8 | | 9th | — | — | — |
| 2018 | 2018 | Scott Wachenheim | Southern | 1 | 10 | | 0 | 8 | | 9th | — | — | — |
| 2019 | 2019 | Scott Wachenheim | Southern | 5 | 7 | | 4 | 4 | | 4th | — | — | — |
| 2020 | 2020$^†$ | Scott Wachenheim | Southern | 6 | 2 | | 6 | 1 | | 1st$^†$ | NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs – First Round ^ | 12 | 12 |
| 2021 | 2021 | Scott Wachenheim | Southern | 6 | 5 | | 4 | 4 | | T–4th | — | — | — |
| 2022 | 2022 | Scott Wachenheim | Southern | 1 | 10 | | 0 | 8 | | 9th | — | — | — |
| 2023 | 2023 | Danny Rocco | Southern | 5 | 6 | | 4 | 4 | | T–5th | — | — | — |
| 2024 | 2024 | Danny Rocco | Southern | 1 | 10 | | 1 | 7 | | 9th | — | — | — |
| Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | All-time: 498–747–42 (.403) | All-time: 498–747–42 (.403) | All-time: 498–747–42 (.403) | Conference: 203–379–23 (.355) | Conference: 203–379–23 (.355) | Conference: 203–379–23 (.355) | | Postseason: 0–1 (.000) | | |