Linfield Wildcats football

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

Linfield Wildcats football
First season	1896 (1896)
Athletic director	Scott Brosius
Head coach	Joseph Smith 19th season, 173–33 (.840)
Location	McMinnville, Oregon
Stadium	Maxwell Field and Memorial Stadium
NCAA division	Division III
Conference	Northwest
Colors	Purple and red
NCAA Division III championships
2004
NAIA national championships
NAIA Division II: 1982, 1984, 1986
Website	golinfieldwildcats.com

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. As of 2025, 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.

Year	Association	Division	Head coach	Record	Opponent	Result
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.

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
1961	Semifinals National Championship	Whittier Pittsburg State	W, 18–7 L, 7–12
1964	Semifinals	Concordia–Moorhead	L, 6–28
1965	Semifinals National Championship	Sul Ross State Saint John's (MN)	W, 30–27 L, 0–33
1974	Semifinals	Texas Lutheran	L, 8–52
1977	Semifinals	Cal Lutheran	L, 28–29
1978	Quarterfinals Semifinals	Carroll (MT) Concordia–Moorhead	W, 32–6 L, 23–24
1980	Quarterfinals	Pacific Lutheran	L, 20–35
1982	Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship	Cal Lutheran Westminster (PA) William Jewell	W, 20–16 W, 37–9 W, 33–15
1984	Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship	Saint Ambrose Hanover Northwestern (IA)	W, 26–0 W, 45–23 W, 33–22
1985	Quarterfinals	Pacific Lutheran	L, 12–30
1986	Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship	Pacific Lutheran Carroll (MT) Baker	W, 27–21 OT W, 53–7 W, 17–0
1991	First Round Quarterfinals	Lewis & Clark Pacific Lutheran	W, 59–30 L, 0–23
1992	First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship	Western Washington Pacific Lutheran Minot State Findlay	W, 26–0 W, 44–30 W, 47–12 L, 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.

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
2000	Second Round	Central (IA)	L, 17–20 OT
2002	Second Round Quarterfinals	Wartburg Saint John's (MN)	W, 52–15 L, 14–21
2003	First Round Second Round Quarterfinals	Redlands Wartburg Saint John's (MN)	W, 31–23 W, 23–20 L, 25–31
2004	Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Stagg Bowl	Wisconsin–La Crosse Occidental Rowan Mary Hardin–Baylor	W, 52–14 W, 56–27 W, 52–0 W, 28–21
2005	First Round Second Round Quarterfinals	Occidental Concordia–Moorhead Wisconsin–Whitewater	W, 63–21 W, 41–13 L, 41–44
2009	First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals	Cal Lutheran Mary Hardin–Baylor St. Thomas (MN) Wisconsin–Whitewater	W, 38–17 W, 53–21 W, 31–20 L, 17–27
2010	First Round Second Round	Cal Lutheran St. Thomas (MN)	W, 42–26 L, 17–24 2OT
2011	First Round Second Round	Cal Lutheran Wesley (DE)	W, 30–27 L, 34–49
2012	First Round Second Round Quarterfinals	Pacific Lutheran North Central (IL) Wisconsin–Oshkosh	W, 27–24 W, 30–14 L, 24–30 OT
2013	First Round Second Round Quarterfinals	Pacific Lutheran Hampden–Sydney Wisconsin–Whitewater	W, 42–21 W, 31–21 L, 17–28
2014	First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals	Chapman Mary Hardin–Baylor Widener Wisconsin–Whitewater	W, 55–24 W, 31–28 W, 45–7 L, 14–20
2015	First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals	Whitworth Cortland Mary Hardin–Baylor St. Thomas (MN)	W, 48–10 W, 38–22 W, 38–35 L, 17–38
2016	First Round Second Round	Hardin–Simmons Mary Hardin–Baylor	W, 24–10 L, 10–27
2017	First Round Second Round	Hardin–Simmons Mary Hardin–Baylor	W, 27–13 L, 0–24
2019	First Round	Chapman	L, 65–68 3OT
2021	First Round Second Round Quarterfinals	Redlands Saint John's Mary Hardin–Baylor	W, 44–10 W, 31–28 L, 24–49
2022	First Round Second Round	Pomona–Pitzer Bethel (MN)	W, 51–24 L, 24–27
2024	Second Round Third Round	Texas Lutheran Mary Hardin–Baylor	W, 65–3 L, 18–28

External links

• Official website