This is a list of seasons completed by the Drake Bulldogs football team of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). [1] The Drake fielded their first team in 1893 and are currently without a head coach. The 1986 season was exhibition only.
| Legend | |
|---|---|
† National champion [2] | |
| Season | Coach | Conference | Conference results | Season results | Bowl/Playoff/Postseason result | Final ranking | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish | Wins | Losses | Ties | Wins | Losses | Ties [5] | NCAA/TSN Poll [6] | Coaches Poll [7] | |||||
| Drake Bulldogs | |||||||||||||
| 1893 | No Coach | Independent | — | — | — | — | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | |
| 1894 | W. W. Wharton | Independent | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | |
| 1895 | Hermon Williams | Independent | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | |
| 1896 | Fred Rogers | Independent | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | |
| 1897 | A. B. Potter | Independent | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | |
| 1898 | Independent | — | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1899 | Independent | — | — | — | — | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1900 | Charles Best | Independent | — | — | — | — | 6 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | |
| 1901 | Independent | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1902 | G. O. Dietz | Independent | — | — | — | — | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | |
| 1903 | W. J. Monilaw | Independent | — | — | — | — | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | |
| 1904 | Independent | — | — | — | — | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1905 | Willie M. Heston | Independent | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | |
| 1906 | Charles Pell | Independent | — | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | |
| 1907 | Independent | — | — | — | — | 3 | 4 | 0 [8] | — | — | — | ||
| 1908 | John L. Griffith | MVC | 5th | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 [9] | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | |
| 1909 | MVC | 3rd | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 [10] | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1910 | MVC | 7th | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 [11] | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1911 | MVC | 6th | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | ||
| 1912 | MVC | 3rd | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 [12] | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1913 | MVC | 5th | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | ||
| 1914 | MVC | T–6th | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | ||
| 1915 | MVC | 6th | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1916 | Ralph Glaze | MVC | 6th | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | |
| 1917 | MVC | 7th | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | ||
| 1918 | M. B. Banks | MVC | — [13] | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | |
| 1919 | MVC | T–3rd | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1920 | MVC | 5th | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | ||
| 1921 | Ossie Solem | MVC | 4th | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | |
| 1922 | MVC | 2nd | 4 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1923 | MVC | 3rd | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1924 | MVC | T–2nd | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | ||
| 1925 | MVC | 2nd | 5 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1926 | MVC | 8th | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1927 | MVC | 9th | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1928 ‡ | MVC | 1st | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1929 ‡ | MVC | 1st | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | ||
| 1930 ‡ | MVC | 1st | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1931 ‡ | MVC | 1st | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1932 | Evan O. Williams | MVC | 5th | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | |
| 1933 | Vee Green | MVC | 2nd | 4 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | |
| 1934 | MVC | 3rd | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | ||
| 1935 | MVC | 4th | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | ||
| 1936 | MVC | 3rd | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1937 | MVC | 2nd | 4 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1938 | MVC | T–4th | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | ||
| 1939 | MVC | 4th | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1940 | MVC | T–3rd | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1941 | MVC | 6th | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | ||
| 1942 | MVC | T–5th | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1943 | MVC | 3rd | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1944 | MVC | 3rd | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1945 ^ | MVC | 4th | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | Won Raisin Bowl vs. Fresno State, 13–12 | — | — | ||
| 1946 | MVC | 5th | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | ||
| 1947 | Albert Kawal | MVC | 4th | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | |
| 1948 ^ | MVC | 3rd | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | Won 1949 Salad Bowl vs. Arizona, 14–13 | — | — | ||
| 1949 | Warren Gaer | MVC | 2nd | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | |
| 1950 | MVC | T–4th | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | ||
| 1951 | MVC | 2nd | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1952 | Independent | — | — | — | — | 2 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1953 | Independent | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1954 | Independent | — | — | — | — | 2 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1955 | Independent | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1956 | Independent | — | — | — | — | 3 | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1957 ^ | Independent | — | — | — | — | 7 | 2 | 0 | Lost Sun Bowl vs. Louisville, 20–34 | — | — | ||
| 1958 | Independent | — | — | — | — | 2 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1959 | Independent | — | — | — | — | 2 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1960 | Bus Mertes | Independent | — | — | — | — | 4 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | |
| 1961 | Independent | — | — | — | — | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1962 | Independent | — | — | — | — | 8 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1963 | Independent | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1964 | Independent | — | — | — | — | 6 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1965 | Jack Wallace | Independent | — | — | — | — | 6 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | |
| 1966 | Independent | — | — | — | — | 8 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1967 | Independent | — | — | — | — | 4 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1968 | Independent | — | — | — | — | 5 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1969 ^ | Independent | — | — | — | — | 7 | 2 | 2 | Lost Pecan Bowl vs. Arkansas State, 21–29 | — | — | ||
| 1970 | Independent | — | — | — | — | 7 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1971 | MVC | 5th | 2 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1972 ‡ ^ | MVC | T–1st♦ | 4 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 0 | Lost Pioneer Bowl vs. Tennessee State, 7–29 | — | — | ||
| 1973 | MVC | T–6th | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1974 | MVC | 4th | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | ||
| 1975 | MVC | T–4th | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1976 | MVC | 5th | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1977 | Chuck Shelton | MVC | 6th | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | |
| 1978 | MVC | 4th | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1979 | MVC | T–4th | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1980 | MVC | 4th | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1981 ‡ | MVC | T–1st♦ | 5 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1982 | MVC | 5th | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1983 | MVC | 6th | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1984 | MVC | T–4th | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1985 | MVC | T–6th | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1986 | Drake did not play football during the 1986 season because it dropped football | ||||||||||||
| 1987 | Nick Quartaro | Independent | — | — | — | — | 5 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | |
| 1988 | Independent | — | — | — | — | 7 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1989 | Rob Ash | Independent | — | — | — | — | 7 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | |
| 1990 | Independent | — | — | — | — | 6 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1991 | Independent | — | — | — | — | 4 | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1992 | Independent | — | — | — | — | 7 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | ||
| 1993 | PFL | T–2nd | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1994 | PFL | 3rd | 3 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1995 ‡ | PFL | 1st | 5 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | ||
| 1996 | PFL | 2nd | 4 | 1 | — | 8 | 3 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997 | PFL | T–3rd | 2 | 3 | — | 8 | 3 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998 ‡ | PFL | 1st | 4 | 0 | — | 7 | 3 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999 | PFL | T–3rd | 2 | 2 | — | 7 | 4 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000 ‡ | PFL | T–1st♦ | 3 | 1 | — | 7 | 4 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001 | PFL | T–4th (North) | 1 | 3 | — | 5 | 5 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002 | PFL | 4th (North) | 1 | 3 | — | 5 | 6 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003 | PFL | T–4th (North) | 1 | 3 | — | 6 | 6 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004 ‡ | PFL | 1st (North) | 4 | 0 | — | 10 | 2 | — | Won PFL Championship Game vs. Morehead State, 20–17 | — [14] | — | ||
| 2005 | PFL | 3rd (North) | 2 | 2 | — | 6 | 4 | — | — | — [15] | — | ||
| 2006 | PFL | 2nd | 6 | 1 | — | 9 | 2 | — | — | — [16] | — | ||
| 2007 | Steve Loney | PFL | 5th | 3 | 4 | — | 6 | 5 | — | — | — | — | |
| 2008 | Chris Creighton | PFL | T–4th | 4 | 4 | — | 6 | 5 | — | — | — | — | |
| 2009 | PFL | T–3rd | 6 | 2 | — | 8 | 3 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010 | PFL | 3rd | 6 | 2 | — | 7 [17] | 4 | — | — | — [18] | — | ||
| 2011 ‡ | PFL | T–1st♦ | 7 | 1 | — | 9 | 2 | — | — | RV [19] | — | ||
| 2012 ‡ | PFL | T–1st♦ | 7 | 1 | — | 8 | 3 | — | — | RV [20] | — [20] | ||
| 2013 | PFL | T–4th | 5 | 3 | — | 6 | 5 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014 | Rick Fox | PFL | T–3rd | 6 | 2 | — | 7 | 4 | — | — | — | — | |
| 2015 | PFL | T–4th | 4 | 4 | — | 5 | 6 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016 | PFL | 3rd | 6 | 2 | — | 7 | 4 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017 | PFL | 2nd | 6 | 2 | — | 7 | 4 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018 | PFL | 3rd | 6 | 2 | — | 7 | 4 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019 | Todd Stepsis | PFL | T–2nd | 6 | 2 | — | 6 | 5 | — | — | — | — | |
| 2020–21 | PFL | 6th | 2 | 3 | — | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021 | PFL | T–9th | 1 | 7 | — | 2 | 9 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022 | PFL | 8th | 3 | 5 | — | 3 | 8 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023 | PFL | 1st | 8 | 0 | — | 8 | 4 | — | Lost to North Dakota State in 1st Round FCS Playoffs, 3–66 | — | — | ||
| 2024 | PFL | 1st | 7 | 1 | — | 8 | 3 | — | Lost to Tarleton State in 1st Round FCS Playoffs, 29–43 | — | — | ||
| Total | 106 | 130 | 9 | — | — | — | (only includes Missouri Valley Conference games) | ||||||
| 148 | 72 | 0 | — | — | — | (only includes Pioneer Football League games) | |||||||
| — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 0 | (only includes bowl games; 5 appearances) | |||||||
| 244 | 202 | 9 | 651 | 552 | 28 | (all games, totals) | |||||||
| ♦ Denotes a tie for first place and conference co-champion | |||||||||||||
| Season | Date | Bowl | Opponent | Result | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | January 1 | Raisin Bowl | Fresno State | W 13–12 | Fresno, California |
| 1948 | January 1 | Salad Bowl | Arizona | W 14–13 | Phoenix, Arizona |
| 1957 | January 1 | Sun Bowl | Louisville | L 20–34 | El Paso, Texas |
| 1969 | December 13 | Pecan Bowl | Arkansas State | L 21–29 | Arlington, Texas |
| 1972 | December 10 | Pioneer Bowl | Tennessee State | L 7–29 | Wichita Falls, Texas |