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 1925–1941: Independent 1942–1949: Southeastern Athletic Conference 1950–1979: Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference 1979–2020: Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference 2021–present: Southwestern Athletic Conference
Conference championships 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 Jenkins2014* MEAC 9–3 6–2 Brian Jenkins2015* MEAC 9–2 7–1 Terry Sims Total 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.
2010 MEAC 10–2 7–1 Brian Jenkins 2013 MEAC 10–3 5–1 Brian Jenkins Total 2
Postseason appearances Bowl games Bethune–Cookman has participated in ten bowl games, with the Wildcats garnering a record of 6–4.
1945 Preston Peterson Coconut Bowl Albany State W 32–01946 Preston Peterson Coconut Bowl Columbia Sports Club W 13–01946 Bunky Matthews Lions Bowl Grambling L 47–61947 Bunky Matthews Flower Bowl Lane W 6–0
Playoff appearances NCAA Division I-AA/FCS The Wildcats have made five appearances in the Division I-AA/FCS playoffs, with an overall record of 0–5.
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 have made one appearance in the Division II playoffs, with an overall record of 0–1. 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 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 February 3, 2026 at UCF at USF Stetson Virginia–Lynchburg South Carolina State
See also Florida Classic
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