Southern · Paladin Stadium · 16,000 · 8,147 avg in 2026
LastW 20–13 at Mercer · Sat Sep 12 · Trevor Short 2 sacks, 2 TFL, 2 tackles
Nextvs South Carolina State · Sat Sep 19 · 7 pm ET · Paladin Stadium · series 2-1 · Game preview
Updated Tue Sep 15 · through week 2
Program Prestige · Furman
11 seasons inside the CFP era, no bids yet — the era the program is still trying to break into.
Furman's 2014–2025 record is 67-63. The era is still being written; the CFP line is the one the program is arguing for.
Program outlook
The Paladins own one of college football's proudest yet most elusive legacies: the 1988 national championship, followed by two heartbreaking near-misses in 1985 and 2001.
Furman football's 1988 national championship under coach Jimmy Satterfield was historic: a 13–2 squad defeated Georgia Southern 17–12 in the championship game, making Furman the first private school to win an NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS) title. Satterfield was named AFCA Coach of the Year. That victory permanently elevated Furman from regional contender to national champion.
But Furman has never captured a second title, though the Paladins have come agonizingly close. In 1985, Dick Sheridan's 12–2 team reached the national championship game under the SoCon title but fell short to Georgia Southern. In 2001, perhaps the most painful near-miss: a 12–3 Furman squad knocked out Georgia Southern's 39-game home playoff win streak (24–17) before losing to Montana 13–6 in the championship game. That 2001 team proved the Paladins could still contend nationally, but fell one win short.
Over 135+ years, Furman's rivalry with Wofford (since 1889) remains Deep South's Oldest Football Rivalry. The Paladins lead the all-time series 56–36–7. In recent seasons under coach Clay Hendrix (2017–2025, 54–37 record), Furman has maintained Southern Conference competitiveness while seeking the next breakthrough to national championship contention. The 2025 season finished 5–5, a reminder that consistency is harder than dominance. But the legacy of 1988 and the near-miss of 2001 ensure that Paladins football will always chase that championship dream.
Furman is a private Southern university that proved in 1988 it could win a national championship. The Paladins carry that victory as their defining achievement while chasing the elusive second title that has eluded them through 37 years.
All-time record · Furman
455-420-31 all-time · 109 seasons · 1902–2026
Program memory
Most weeks vanish. These didn’t.
1889
First game played between Furman and Wofford, inaugurating Deep South's Oldest Football Rivalry. Over 135+ years, Furman leads 56–36–7. The I-85 Rivalry connects Greenville and Spartanburg through one of college football's most enduring traditions.
Milestone
Furman (12–2, SoCon champions) reaches the national championship game under coach Dick Sheridan but loses to Georgia Southern in a narrow defeat. A near-miss that set the stage for the 1988 breakthrough.
Furman defeats Georgia Southern 17–12 in the NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game in Pocatello, Idaho. Head coach Jimmy Satterfield's 13–2 squad becomes the first private school to win an I-AA national title. Satterfield named AFCA Coach of the Year.
Furman posts 12–3 record, captures a share of the SoCon title, and knocks out Georgia Southern (24–17) in the playoffs, breaking a 39-game home playoff win streak. The Paladins reach the national championship game but fall short against Montana 13–6. An agonizing near-miss that proves Furman could still contend nationally.
2017
Clay Hendrix named head coach, beginning a nine-year tenure (through 2025) focused on rebuilding toward championship contention. Record through 2025: 54–37 with two SoCon titles and four FCS playoff appearances.
Moment of the season — so far · Furman · 2026
Week 2 of 2026. Won as a 15.5-point underdog — the result the market didn't see coming. It turned on one snap — Jake Garcia to Daniel Haughton, a 37-point win-probability swing.
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Southern standing · 2026
Furman is 2nd in the Southern at 1-0. 1 team above — that's the direct path to the title game.
| # | Program | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tennessee Tech | 2-0 |
| 2 | Furman | 1-0 |
| 3 | Wofford | 1-0 |
| – | East Tennessee State | 0-0 |
| – | VMI | 0-0 |
| – | Western Carolina | 0-0 |
| 7 | Chattanooga | 0-1 |
| 8 | Mercer | 0-1 |
| 9 | Samford | 0-1 |
| 10 | The Citadel | 0-1 |
Coaching history
Three gameday rituals — the ones outsiders never quite catch.
since 1988
Under coach Jimmy Satterfield, Furman's 1988 squad (13–2 record) defeated Georgia Southern 17–12 in the NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game in Pocatello, Idaho. Satterfield was named AFCA Coach of the Year that season. This victory marked the first national championship ever won by a private school in Division I-AA (now FCS) history. That championship defines Furman football—proof that a small, private Southern school could stand on the national stage.
since 1889
The Furman-Wofford football rivalry, often called 'Deep South's Oldest Football Rivalry' or the 'I-85 Rivalry,' stretches back 135+ years. The teams are separated by fewer than 50 miles (Furman in Greenville, Wofford in Spartanburg). Furman leads the all-time series 56–36–7. This rivalry embodies the competitive culture of the Southern Conference and the tight-knit collegiate football geography of the Southeast.
since 1986
Furman has won 9 Southern Conference titles, including multiple under Jimmy Satterfield's tenure (1986–1993) and sustained success under Clay Hendrix (2017–2025). Conference titles are the Paladins' bread and butter—a mark of consistent excellence within their peer group and the path to playoff football.
since 2003
Paladin Stadium, with a 16,000-seat capacity, was dedicated in 2003 with Paladin Plaza—a welcome area featuring a 17-foot-high bronze patina statue of a knight on horseback, symbolizing the Paladins' athletic identity. The stadium sits at the heart of the Furman University athletics complex in Greenville, South Carolina, overlooking the Furman campus.
Bowl / Postseason Ledger
Most recent: 2023 — loss 35-28 (away). Last 5 postseason: 1-1.
Program Prestige · Furman
Moment of the season — so far · Furman · 2026
Bowl / Postseason Ledger