Central Oklahoma Bronchos football

Five years before Oklahoma became a state, in 1902, UCO, played its first game of football. They were shutout in that season's lone contest. In the match, the Oklahoma A&M Aggies defeated coach-less Central by a score of 40–0.[8] The Bronchos did not field a team in 1903, but they resumed play the following year in 1904 after securing their first head coach, Boyd Hill. Hill stepped down after posting a 2–3 record his first season, and he later went on to coach at Haskell and Oklahoma A&M.[9] In 1905, Coach Fenis Bently took the reins of the young football program and compiled a record of 22–38–5 over the span of seven seasons, with over a third of those losses coming against Oklahoma and Oklahoma A&M.[10]

After ten years of inconsistent play, the school, then known as Central State, landed coach Charles W. Wantland. Wantland took over as the head coach in 1912, and guided the program to 102 victories, six conference championships, and Central State's first undefeated season in 1915, during his 18 years at the helm. Central State's first conference championship came in 1914, when they posted a 7–1–1 record. In 1922, Wantland's wife suggested the term Bronchos for the school's athletic programs.[11] That same year, the Bronchos defeated Iowa State.[12] The third Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference championship came in 1923. The Bronchos were impressive that season, beating its opponents by a combined score of 184–25, including a 14–6 victory over Oklahoma A&M in Stillwater.[13] Wantland's teams continued their success by winning their fifth conference championship the following season in which Central defeated the likes of Oklahoma, eventual Southwest Conference champions Baylor, and Tulsa, all on the road.[14] 1924 was the year of the program's sole victory over the Oklahoma Sooners. This is notable because the coaches for both schools, Charles W. Wantland and Bennie Owen, were later immortalized for their accomplishments in a nearly identical fashion: CSC named its stadium after Wantland, and OU named its playing field after Owen.[7][15] In addition to the stadium, Central State memorialized Coach Wantland by naming the physical education building in his honor.[16] Wantland guided the Bronchos to one more conference championship in 1929 and finished the following year with a final record of 102–42–16 (.688).[17]

Claude Reeds served as Central State's head coach from 1931–1940

Claude Reeds, a former Oklahoma All-American fullback, left West Texas State and took over the CSTC program in 1931. He picked up right where Wantland left off by winning eight Oklahoma Collegiate Conference championships in his ten years in charge.[4] In 1940, Reeds ended his tenure at Central State with a record of 57–28–8 (.656).[18]

After Reeds' departure, Central State hired Dale E. Hamilton to lead the Bronchos. In 1942, the Bronchos completed their second undefeated season with a 7–0 record. Due to World War II the Bronchos did not play again until the 1946 season. During this time Hamilton spent two tours of duty in the armed forces, and Gene Smith filled in during the Korean War in 1950 and 1951, winning an OCC title. Hamilton posted a 73–25–3 (.738) record and won eight conference championships in his 12-years as coach.[4] After coaching, Hamilton served as the institution's athletic director. The university's Hamilton Field House is named in his honor.[19]

Following Hamilton's tough act, Coach Al Blevins managed to take the program to new heights. The Bronchos had three players, Ray Hayes, Bob Sams, and Jerry Perry drafted in the 1961 NFL draft.[20] In 1961, Central State finished 9–1 and won its 20th conference championship. Their only blemish was a loss in the season finale to Panhandle A&M. CSC completed the season ranked ninth in the final NAIA poll.[21] In 1962, Central State went a perfect 11–0, finished third in the final small college AP poll and defeated Lenoir–Rhyne 28–13 in the Camellia Bowl, en route to the programs first NAIA national championship.[22][23] Blevins left CSC after the 1963 season, and later coached minor league football in Oklahoma City.[24] Blevins finished his Broncho tenure with a 43–14–1 record.[25]

In 1964, Phil Ball replaced Blevins as the Bronchos head coach. After a few rough seasons, including a 3–6–1 record in 1967 the Bronchos rebounded over the next few seasons and won the OCC championship in 1972, and made the NAIA playoffs. The Bronchos left the reconstituted Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference in 1976 and made a transition to the NCAA Division II level. He finished with an overall record of 82–42–6.[26]

In 1977, Gary Howard succeeded Phil Ball as the head coach. He oversaw the program's transition from a brief period in NCAA Division II back to NAIA competition, as an independent.[27] During the first two seasons Howard's Bronchos went 12–8–1. In 1979, he led CSU to the program's third NAIA playoff appearance and an 11–2 record. The Bronchos lost the NAIA National Championship Game to Texas A&I 20–14. Three years later he returned to the playoffs this time winning the NAIA National Championship over Mesa State (now Colorado Mesa) 14–11. Howard also won the NAIA Coach of the Year award. The following season the Bronchos returned to the playoffs but lost to Saginaw Valley State in the first round. In 1985, the Bronchos lost in the first round to Henderson State in the institution's final NAIA playoff appearance.[22]

In 1988, the Bronchos re-joined the NCAA where they joined the Lone Star Conference. The Bronchos struggled for several seasons including a 0–10–1 record in 1989. The institution was renamed to the University of Central Oklahoma in 1991. In 1996, Central Oklahoma posted a 9–3 record, finished second in the Lone Star Conference, and made the program's first appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs. The first game against Chadron State ended in a Broncho victory. UCO lost in the second round against UC Davis.[22] The next season the Lone Star Conference underwent conference expansion, adding schools from Arkansas and Oklahoma, including many former OIC schools, and split into two divisions.[28] The first year of the new format the Bronchos captured the North Division title, and Howard won the North Division coach of the year award.[29] In 1998 the Bronchos finished the regular season undefeated, won their first Lone Star Conference Championship, and was the number one ranked team going into the playoffs.[30] However, in the NCAA playoffs UCO lost in the second round to conference foe Texas A&M–Kingsville. In 2000, Texas A&M–Kingsville forfeited their entire 1998 season following NCAA infractions.[31] In 1999, the Bronchos also won the conference title. The final three years experienced a decline with 5–5, 3–8, and 5–6 records. Howard was fired after the 2002 season. He finished with an overall record of 161–106–6.[22][32]

In 2003, UCO hired former Oklahoma Sooners center Chuck Langston as the head coach. In his first year, the Bronchos finished 9–3, and made another playoff appearance. The Bronchos defeated Mesa State 20–15, but lost to Texas A&M–Kingsville the following week.[33] However, Langston's time at UCO would be marred with NCAA violations, including paying for a recruits surgery, and funding a player's remedial classes at Rose State.[34] From 2003 to 2007 Langston had a record of 29–24 (.547) as the Bronchos' coach. UCO fired Langston as a result of the rules violations.[35]

In 2008, the Bronchos hired Tracy Holland as their head coach. In his first year as head coach the Bronchos had a 7–4 record and won the LSCs South Division Championship. However, the program's record declined every year under Holland. The decline in performance coincided with the NCAA's decision to place the Bronchos on three years probation for "lack of institutional control," starting in 2008 from the infractions that occurred under Langston.[36] As a result of penalties, UCO's roster was reduced from 100 players to 90 players each season during the probation. After the 2010 season, UCO left the Lone Star Conference in anticipation to move to the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.[37] In December 2011, Holland was fired as head coach after compiling a 15–29 record during his four seasons at the helm.[38]

With the Bronchos off probation from the NCAA, Navarro Junior College coach, and former UCO fullback Nick Bobeck, took over as head coach in 2012.[39][40] The Bronchos began play in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. That season's campaign began with three straight losses before an upset win over top-ten ranked Washburn.[41] The Bronchos finished with a 2–8 record. The following season the Bronchos began 0–7 before winning two straight. However, they lost to Northeastern State in the President's Cup game to finish with their second straight 2–8 record. In the first game of the 2014 season, the Bronchos won their 600th game. At the time this placed UCO as the fourth highest win total in Division II history.[42][43] During that season the Bronchos were as high as 22nd in the D2football.com rankings before finishing third in the MIAA with an 8–3 record and a Mineral Water Bowl appearance.[44][45] In 2015, the Bronchos, began slowly with an 0–4 record, but won seven out of their final eight games to finish with a 7–5 record and a victory over in-state rival Southwestern Oklahoma State in the Live United Texarkana Bowl.[46][47] In 2016 UCO finished with a 3–8 record. In 2017, the Bronchos began the season 2–4 with all four losses by seven points or less. UCO finished the regular season with five straight victories and a 7–4 record, and a tie for fourth in the MIAA. The Bronchos went on to win the inaugural Corsicana Bowl over Tarleton State 38–31. The following season the Bronchos finished 8–4 after defeating Angelo State in the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl.[48] The Bronchos abstained from the 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic. They played an exhibition game in the spring of 2021.[49] After the 2021 season Bobeck resigned as head coach with a 47–54 (.465) record.[50]

In December 2021, UCO hired former Northwest Missouri State and Abilene Christian head coach Adam Dorrel to the same position. Dorrel had previously won three NCAA Division II championships as the head coach of the Bearcats.[51] In 2022, the Bronchos finished the season with a 6–5 record.

• The following is a list of Central Oklahoma's 27 conference championships.[22][54]

The Lone Star Conference was split into two divisions from the 1997 to the 2010 season with Central Oklahoma competing in the LSC North. Central Oklahoma has won or shared 5 divisional titles. Their last division title was in the 2008 season. The conference and division championships were separate rankings.

Central Oklahoma and the Northeastern State RiverHawks first played each other in 1912 and have since played in 81 contests with Central Oklahoma holding a 52–27–2 advantage. Both teams are members of the MIAA. The two teams have combined for four NAIA national championships, with NSU winning in 1958 and 1994, and UCO winning in 1962 and 1982. The teams also played in an NAIA playoff game in 1982.[60] Except for 2020, this game has been played annually since 1997, when Northeastern State became NCAA Division II members. That year, NSU joined the Bronchos in the Lone Star Conference. Beginning in 1998, the two programs have competed for the President's Cup.[61] In 2010, UCO and Northeastern State both left the LSC and joined the MIAA in 2012. Central Oklahoma currently leads 15–9 in the trophy series.

Central Oklahoma made the NAIA playoffs six times and won the national championship twice.

Central Oklahoma has made the NCAA Division II playoffs four times.

• Texas A&M–Kingsville later forfeited their 1998 postseason.[22][31]

NCAA Division II bowl games invitations are for teams that do not qualify for the playoffs. Since 2014, UCO has played in four bowl games and has a 3–1 record.

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