# San Diego Toreros football

The San Diego Toreros football team is the college football program that represents the University of San Diego (USD). The Toreros compete in NCAA Division I (FCS) as a member of the Pioneer Football League (PFL). The team plays its home games at Torero Stadium.
San Diego's first football team was fielded in 1956. The Toreros have won the PFL championship 12 times.

## History
### Classifications

* 1973–1992: NCAA Division III
* 1993–present: NCAA Division I-AA/FCS

### Conference memberships

* 1956–1972: Independent
* 1973–1992: NCAA Division III independent
* 1993–present: Pioneer Football League
In the early 1990s, the NCAA passed new legislation which required athletic departments to now play all of their respective sports at the same divisional level. Briefly discussed as a potential answer to the legislation, the concept of Division I-AAA was considered in response, including USD as one of only six schools eligible for the classification along the West Coast (along with Santa Clara, CSUN, Sacramento State, Saint Mary's and UCSB).
However, in January 1992, the proposal to create a football-playing Division I-AAA was twice voted down at an NCAA convention; then in February 1992, Toreros athletic director Tom Iannacone announced USD football would elevate to I-AA status beginning in the fall of 1993, by way of joining the PFL.

## Rivalries
### Cal Poly

San Diego Toreros and Cal Poly have a regional rivalry, both schools are in-state FCS opponents but not in the same conferences.

## Notable former players

Notable alumni include:
* Jamal Agnew
* Eric Bakhtiari
* Ross Dwelley
* Michael Gasperson
* Evan Hlavacek
* Josh Johnson
* Matt Maslowski
* John Matthews
* Jordan Paopao
* Vern Valdez
* Brendan P. Murphy
* Ken Zampese
* Dave Dunn

## Year-by-year results

| Year | Wins | Loss | Ties | Win % | Coach | Conference |
| 1956 | 2 | 3 | 0 | .400 | Gil Kuhn | Independent |
| 1957 | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | Bob McCutcheon | Independent |
| 1958 | 8 | 2 | 0 | .800 | Bob McCutcheon | Independent |
| 1959 | 1 | 5 | 0 | .167 | Paul Platz | Independent |
| 1960 | 4 | 5 | 1 | .450 | Mike Pecarovich | Independent |
| 1961 | 2 | 8 | 0 | .200 | Mike Pecarovich | Independent |
| 1969 | 5 | 2 | 0 | .714 | Jim Gray | Independent |
| 1970 | 2 | 6 | 0 | .250 | Jim Gray | Independent |
| 1971 | 3 | 5 | 0 | .375 | Jim Gray | Independent |
| 1972 | 6 | 3 | 1 | .650 | Andy Vinci | Independent |
| 1973 | 9 | 2 | 1 | .792 | Andy Vinci | Independent (NCAA Division III) |
| 1974 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Dick Logan | Independent (NCAA Division III) |
| 1975 | 2 | 7 | 0 | .222 | Dick Logan | Independent (NCAA Division III) |
| 1976 | 1 | 7 | 1 | .167 | Bill Williams | Independent (NCAA Division III) |
| 1977 | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | Bill Williams | Independent (NCAA Division III) |
| 1978 | 7 | 3 | 0 | .700 | Bill Williams | Independent (NCAA Division III) |
| 1979 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Bill Williams | Independent (NCAA Division III) |
| 1980 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Bill Williams | Independent (NCAA Division III) |
| 1981 | 9 | 1 | 0 | .900 | Bill Williams | Independent (NCAA Division III) |
| 1982 | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | Bill Williams | Independent (NCAA Division III) |
| 1983 | 5 | 5 | 0 | .500 | Brian Fogarty | Independent (NCAA Division III) |
| 1984 | 1 | 8 | 1 | .150 | Brian Fogarty | Independent (NCAA Division III) |
| 1985 | 5 | 5 | 0 | .500 | Brian Fogarty | Independent (NCAA Division III) |
| 1986 | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | Brian Fogarty | Independent (NCAA Division III) |
| 1987 | 6 | 3 | 1 | .650 | Brian Fogarty | Independent (NCAA Division III) |
| 1988 | 5 | 4 | 0 | .556 | Brian Fogarty | Independent (NCAA Division III) |
| 1989 | 7 | 2 | 0 | .778 | Brian Fogarty | Independent (NCAA Division III) |
| 1990 | 7 | 2 | 0 | .778 | Brian Fogarty | Independent (NCAA Division III) |
| 1991 | 7 | 3 | 0 | .700 | Brian Fogarty | Independent (NCAA Division III) |
| 1992 | 7 | 2 | 1 | .750 | Brian Fogarty | Independent (NCAA Division III) |
| 1993 | 6 | 4 | 0 | .600 | Brian Fogarty | Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| 1994 | 6 | 4 | 0 | .600 | Brian Fogarty | Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| 1995 | 5 | 5 | 0 | .500 | Brian Fogarty | Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| 1996 | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | Kevin McGarry | Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| 1997 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | Kevin McGarry | Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| 1998 | 2 | 8 | 0 | .200 | Kevin McGarry | Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| 1999 | 5 | 5 | 0 | .500 | Kevin McGarry | Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| 2000 | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | Kevin McGarry | Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| 2001 | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | Kevin McGarry | Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| 2002 | 5 | 5 | 0 | .500 | Kevin McGarry | Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| 2003 | 8 | 2 | 0 | .800 | Kevin McGarry | Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| 2004 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | Jim Harbaugh | Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| 2005 | 11 | 1 | 0 | .917 | Jim Harbaugh | Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| 2006 | 11 | 1 | 0 | .917 | Jim Harbaugh | Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| 2007 | 9 | 2 | 0 | .818 | Ron Caragher | Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| 2008 | 9 | 2 | 0 | .818 | Ron Caragher | Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| 2009 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Ron Caragher | Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| 2010 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Ron Caragher | Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| 2011 | 9 | 2 | 0 | .818 | Ron Caragher | Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| 2012 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | Ron Caragher | Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| 2013 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | Dale Lindsey | Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| 2014 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | Dale Lindsey | Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| 2015 | 9 | 2 | 0 | .818 | Dale Lindsey | Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| 2016 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | Dale Lindsey | Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| 2017 | 10 | 3 | 0 | .769 | Dale Lindsey | Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| 2018 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | Dale Lindsey | Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| 2019 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | Dale Lindsey | Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| 2020 | 4 | 2 | 0 | .667 | Dale Lindsey | Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| 2021 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | Dale Lindsey | Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| 2022 | 5 | 5 | 0 | .500 | Dale Lindsey | Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| 2023 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .333 | Brandon Moore | Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| Totals | 358 | 249 | 7 | .583 | | |

## Championships
### Conference championships

| Year | Conference | Coach | Overall record | Conference record |
| 2005 | Pioneer Football League | Jim Harbaugh | 11–1 | 4–0 |
| 2006 | Pioneer Football League | Jim Harbaugh | 11–1 | 7–0 |
| 2007† | Pioneer Football League | Ron Caragher | 9–2 | 6–1 |
| 2011† | Pioneer Football League | Ron Caragher | 9–2 | 7–1 |
| 2012† | Pioneer Football League | Ron Caragher | 8–3 | 7–1 |
| 2014† | Pioneer Football League | Dale Lindsey | 9–3 | 7–1 |
| 2015† | Pioneer Football League | Dale Lindsey | 9–2 | 7–1 |
| 2016 | Pioneer Football League | Dale Lindsey | 10–2 | 8–0 |
| 2017 | Pioneer Football League | Dale Lindsey | 10–3 | 8–0 |
| 2018 | Pioneer Football League | Dale Lindsey | 9–3 | 8–0 |
| 2019 | Pioneer Football League | Dale Lindsey | 9–3 | 8–0 |
† Co-champions

### Divisional championships

From 2001–2005, the Pioneer Football League was divided into North and South Divisions. As winners of the Pioneer Football League's North Division, San Diego has made one appearance in the Pioneer Football League Championship Game, in 2005. The Toreros also shared the Division title with Valparaiso in 2003, but the tie-breaker allowed the Crusaders to represent the division in the championship game.
| Year | Division Championship | Opponent | CG result |
| 2003† | PFL North | N/A lost tiebreaker to Valparaiso | N/A lost tiebreaker to Valparaiso |
| 2005 | PFL North | Morehead State | W 47–40 |

## Playoff appearances
### NCAA Division I FCS

San Diego has made five appearances in the FCS playoffs. Their overall record is 2–5.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 2014 | First Round | Montana | L, 14–52 |
| 2016 | First Round Second Round | Cal Poly North Dakota State | W, 35–21 L, 7–45 |
| 2017 | First Round Second Round | Northern Arizona North Dakota State | W, 41–10 L, 3–38 |
| 2018 | First Round | Nicholls | L, 30–49 |
| 2019 | First Round | Northern Iowa | L, 3–17 |
| Playoff record | Playoff record | 2–5 | 2–5 | 2–5 |

### NCAA Division III

The Toreros made one appearances in the NCAA Division III football playoffs, with a combined record of 0-1.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1973 | Semifinals | Wittenberg | L, 14–21 |

## Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of February 19, 2025.
| 2025 | 2027 | 2028 | 2030 |
| Southern Utah | at Southern Utah | Sacramento State | Sacramento State |
| at Montana State | at Sacramento State | | |
| at Princeton | | | |