The Linfield Wildcats football team represents Linfield University, located in McMinnville, Oregon, in NCAA Division III college football.

The Wildcats, who began playing football in 1896, compete as members of the Northwest Conference.

The Linfield Wildcats football team has the longest streak of consecutive winning seasons across all levels of college football. , the team has had 69 consecutive winning seasons.

History The Streak The Wildcats' winning streak, referred to as "The Streak", at Linfield, began in 1956. The Linfield University Special Collections and Archives started an oral history video collection from members of the 1956 football team, which was made available to the public in October 2021.

Conferences Northwest Conference (1926–1984, 1996–present) Columbia Football League (1985–1987) Columbia Football Association (1988–1995)

Championships National championships The Wildcats have won four national championships. 1982 NAIA (3) Division II (3) Ad Rutschman 12–0 (5–0 NWC) William Jewell W, 33–15 1984 12–0 (4–0 NWC) Northwestern (IA) W, 33–22 1986 12–0 (6–0 CFL) Baker W, 17–0 2004 NCAA (1) Division III (1) Jay Locey 13–0 (5–0 NWC) Mary Hardin–Baylor W, 28–21

Postseason appearances NAIA playoffs The Wildcats have made fifteen appearances in the NAIA playoffs, with a combined record of 16–12 and three national championship.

1961 SemifinalsNational Championship WhittierPittsburg State W, 18–7L, 7–12 1964 Semifinals Concordia–Moorhead L, 6–28 1965 SemifinalsNational Championship Sul Ross StateSaint John's (MN) W, 30–27L, 0–33 1974 Semifinals Texas Lutheran L, 8–52 1977 Semifinals Cal Lutheran L, 28–29 1978 QuarterfinalsSemifinals Carroll (MT)Concordia–Moorhead W, 32–6L, 23–24 1980 Quarterfinals Pacific Lutheran L, 20–35 1982 QuarterfinalsSemifinalsNational Championship Cal LutheranWestminster (PA)William Jewell W, 20–16W, 37–9W, 33–15 1984 QuarterfinalsSemifinalsNational Championship Saint AmbroseHanoverNorthwestern (IA) W, 26–0W, 45–23W, 33–22 1985 Quarterfinals Pacific Lutheran L, 12–30 1986 QuarterfinalsSemifinalsNational Championship Pacific LutheranCarroll (MT)Baker W, 27–21 W, 53–7W, 17–0 1991 First RoundQuarterfinals Lewis & ClarkPacific Lutheran W, 59–30L, 0–23 1992 First RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsNational Championship Western WashingtonPacific LutheranMinot StateFindlay W, 26–0W, 44–30W, 47–12L, 13–26 1993 First Round Central Washington L, 26–28 1994 First Round Western Washington L, 2–21

NCAA Division III playoffs The Wildcats have made eighteen appearances in the NCAA Division III playoffs, with a combined record of 30–17 and one national championship.

2000 Second Round Central (IA) L, 17–20 2002 Second RoundQuarterfinals WartburgSaint John's (MN) W, 52–15L, 14–21 2003 First RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinals RedlandsWartburgSaint John's (MN) W, 31–23W, 23–20L, 25–31 2004 Second RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsStagg Bowl Wisconsin–La CrosseOccidentalRowanMary Hardin–Baylor W, 52–14W, 56–27W, 52–0W, 28–21 2005 First RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinals OccidentalConcordia–MoorheadWisconsin–Whitewater W, 63–21W, 41–13L, 41–44 2009 First RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinals Cal LutheranMary Hardin–BaylorSt. Thomas (MN)Wisconsin–Whitewater W, 38–17W, 53–21W, 31–20L, 17–27 2010 First RoundSecond Round Cal LutheranSt. Thomas (MN) W, 42–26L, 17–24 2011 First RoundSecond Round Cal LutheranWesley (DE) W, 30–27L, 34–49 2012 First RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinals Pacific LutheranNorth Central (IL)Wisconsin–Oshkosh W, 27–24W, 30–14L, 24–30 2013 First RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinals Pacific LutheranHampden–SydneyWisconsin–Whitewater W, 42–21W, 31–21L, 17–28 2014 First RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinals ChapmanMary Hardin–BaylorWidenerWisconsin–Whitewater W, 55–24W, 31–28W, 45–7L, 14–20 2015 First RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinals WhitworthCortlandMary Hardin–BaylorSt. Thomas (MN) W, 48–10W, 38–22W, 38–35L, 17–38 2016 First RoundSecond Round Hardin–SimmonsMary Hardin–Baylor W, 24–10L, 10–27 2017 First RoundSecond Round Hardin–SimmonsMary Hardin–Baylor W, 27–13L, 0–24 2019 First Round Chapman L, 65–68 2021 First RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinals RedlandsSaint John'sMary Hardin–Baylor W, 44–10W, 31–28L, 24–49 2022 First RoundSecond Round Pomona–PitzerBethel (MN) W, 51–24L, 24–27 2024 Second RoundThird Round Texas LutheranMary Hardin–Baylor W, 65–3L, 18–28

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