# Bethune–Cookman Wildcats football

The Bethune–Cookman Wildcats football team represents Bethune–Cookman University in the sport of college football. The Wildcats compete in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Starting with the fall 2021 season, they compete in the East Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), after having been members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) since 1979. They play their home games at Daytona Stadium. The Wildcats have won two black college football national championships and seven MEAC titles in the history of their football program.

## History
### Classifications

* 1956–1972: NCAA College Division
* 1973–1979: NCAA Division II
* 1980–present: NCAA Division I–AA/FCS

### Conference memberships

* 1925–1945: Independent
* 1946–1949: Southeastern Athletic Conference
* 1950–1979: Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
* 1979–2020: Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
* 2021–present: Southwestern Athletic Conference

## Conference championships

| Year | Conference | Overall record | Conference record | Head coach |
| 1942 | SEAC | 6–1 | 6–1 | Preston Peterson |
| 1947 | SEAC | 10–2 | 0–0 | Bunky Matthews |
| 1952 | SIAC | 9–1 | 5–1 | Bunky Matthews |
| 1973 | SIAC | 9–2 | 5–0 | Cy McClairen |
| 1975 | SIAC | 10–1 | 4–1 | Charles W. Moore |
| 1976 | SIAC | 9–2 | 4–1 | Andy Hinson |
| 1984 | MEAC | 7–3 | 4–0 | Larry Little |
| 1988* | MEAC | 5–6 | 4–2 | Larry Little |
| 2002 | MEAC | 11–2 | 7–1 | Alvin Wyatt |
| 2010* | MEAC | 10–2 | 7–1 | Brian Jenkins |
| 2012 | MEAC | 8–3 | 8–0 | Brian Jenkins |
| 2013* | MEAC | 10–3 | 5–1 | Brian Jenkins |
| 2014* | MEAC | 9–3 | 6–2 | Brian Jenkins |
| 2015* | MEAC | 9–2 | 7–1 | Terry Sims |
| Total | Total | 14 | 14 | 14 |
| * Denotes a tie for first place and conference co-champion |||||

## Black college football national championships

The Wildcats have won two black college football national championships.
| Year | Conference | Overall record | Conference record | Head coach |
| 2010 | MEAC | 10–2 | 7–1 | Brian Jenkins |
| 2013 | MEAC | 10–3 | 5–1 | Brian Jenkins |
| Total | Total | 2 | 2 | 2 |

## Postseason appearances
### Bowl Games

Bethune–Cookman has participated in eight bowl games, with the Wildcats garnering a record of 6–4.
| Season | Coach | Bowl | Opponent | Result |
| 1945 | Preston Peterson | Coconut Bowl | Albany State | W 32–0 |
| 1946 | Preston Peterson | Coconut Bowl | Columbia Sports Club | W 13–0 |
| 1946 | Bunky Matthews | Lions Bowl | Grambling | L 47–6 |
| 1947 | Bunky Matthews | Flower Bowl | Lane | W 6–0 |

### Playoff appearances
#### NCAA Division I-AA/FCS

The Wildcats have appeared in the I-AA/FCS playoffs five times with an overall record of 0–5.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 2002 | First Round | Georgia Southern | L 0–34 |
| 2003 | First Round | Florida Atlantic | L 24–32 |
| 2010 | Second Round | New Hampshire | L 20–45 |
| 2012 | First Round | Coastal Carolina | L 14–24 |
| 2013 | First Round | Coastal Carolina | L 24–48 |

#### NCAA Division II

The Wildcats appeared in the Division II playoffs one time, with an overall record of 0–1.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1977 | Quarterfinals | UC Davis | L, 16–34 |

## Alumni in the NFL

Over 31 Bethune–Cookman alumni have played in the NFL, including:
* Leroy Allen
* Boobie Clark
* Nick Collins
* Charles Cornelius
* Jawill Davis
* Ryan Davis
* Roger Jackson
* Larry Little
* Rashean Mathis
* Jack "Cy" McClairen
* Maulty Moore
* Booker Reese
* Tony Samuels
* Howard Smothers
* Eric Weems
* Lee Williams
* Alvin Wyatt
* Antwuan Wyatt

## Pro Football Hall of Fame

One former BCU football player has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
| Year inducted | Player | POS | Seasons at BCU | NFL team(s) | Years with NFL team(s) |
| 1993 | Larry Little | G | 1963–1966 | San Diego Chargers | 1967–1968 |
| 1993 | Larry Little | G | 1963–1966 | Miami Dolphins | 1969–1980 |

## Buck Buchanan Award

The Buck Buchanan Award is given to the most outstanding defensive player in Division I FCS. In 2002, Rashean Mathis of Bethune–Cookman won the award. Mathis holds the NCAA FCS/ I-AA records for most interceptions in a season (14), most interceptions during a career (31), most yards on interception returns in a season (455), and most yards on interception returns in a career (682).

## Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of March 12, 2025
| 2025 | 2026 | 2028 |
| at FIU | at UCF | at USF |
| at Miami (FL) | at USF | |
| at South Carolina State | | |
| Edward Waters | | |