The Bucknell Bison football team represents Bucknell University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) level. Bucknell is a member of the Patriot League. Bucknell won the first Orange Bowl, 26–0, over the Miami Hurricanes on January 1, 1935.
History The Bucknell football team was established in 1883 after a group of students from Lafayette College journeyed west to play a group of students from the University at Lewisburg, as Bucknell University was then called. The Lewisburg students lost the game, 59–0, and did not play another game until 1887. In 1918, Bucknell had its first of its three undefeated seasons. On October 10, 1925, Bucknell played George Washington at home on the day that Christy Mathewson was buried in Lewisburg. In his honor, there was no cheering in the first quarter. In 1931, Clarke Hinkle led Bucknell to a 6–0–3 record. In 1960, the team won its first Lambert Cup. In 1989, the newly renovated Christy Mathewson–Memorial Stadium was renamed in Mathewson's honor. In 1996, Bucknell won its first conference championship. Bucknell football celebrated its seventh-straight winning season in 2001.
Classifications 1937: NCAA College Division 1938–1947: NCAA University Division 1948–1972: NCAA College Division 1973–1977: NCAA Division II 1978–present: NCAA Division I–AA/FCS
Conference memberships 1881–1957: Independent 1958–1969: Middle Atlantic Conference 1970–1972: NCAA College Division independent 1973–1977: NCAA Division II independent 1978–1985: NCAA Division I–AA independent 1986–present: Patriot League
Conference championships 1996 Patriot League 6–5 4–1
Bowl games 1934 Edward Mylin Orange Bowl Miami W 26–0
Individual award winners
College Football Hall of Fame Clarke Hinkle FB 1929–1931 1971
Pro Football Hall of Fame Clarke Hinkle FB 1929–1931 Green Bay Packers 1932–1941 1964
Future non-conference opponents Announced schedules as of August 24, 2026.
at VMI VMI at Delaware at Akron Penn at Pittsburgh
References
External links