Eastern Kentucky Colonels football

Conference affiliation

• Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (1927–1948)
• Ohio Valley Conference (1948–2020)
• ASUN–WAC Challenge (2021)
• ASUN Conference (2022)
• United Athletic Conference (2023–present)

Championships

National championships

Eastern Kentucky went to four consecutive national championship games, winning twice in 1979 and 1982 while finishing as runner-up in 1980 and 1981 to Boise State and Idaho State, respectively.

Conference championships

Eastern Kentucky has won 22 conference championships, 16 outright and 6 shared.

† Co-champion

Bowl games

Eastern Kentucky has participated in six bowl games. Four of these bowl games served as a sort of championship game, whether as a regional championship game or as the NCAA Division I Football Championship. The EKU Colonels played in the inaugural Opportunity Bowl presented by Raising Cane's, and in memory of Dr. Sheila Pressley, on Nov. 21, 2020. Eastern Kentucky University hosted the second annual Opportunity Bowl presented by Dinsmore & Shohl on Nov. 20, 2021. The game was matchup EKU and Jacksonville State University.

Playoff appearances

NCAA Division I-AA/FCS

Eastern Kentucky University football is considered the first dynasty in FCS football. Including a four-year run to the championship game from 1979 to 1982. During this time period they went 46–7 under legendary coach Roy Kidd. Eastern Kentucky is second all time in the FCS for playoff appearances with 23 total (Montana 28/UNI 22). Below is a list of all playoff appearances.

NCAA Division II

The Colonels made one appearance in the Division II playoffs, with a record of 0–1.

Head coaches

Rivalries

Western Kentucky

Main article: Battle of the Bluegrass

The Battle of the Bluegrass is the name given to the Eastern Kentucky–Western Kentucky football rivalry. Both schools were formerly members of the Ohio Valley Conference and played against each other regularly until Western Kentucky's transition from the NCAA's FCS to FBS in 2008. The two teams have met 84 times on the football field, with Western Kentucky currently holding a 47–35–3 edge in the all-time series. This rivalry has been known to be particularly competitive with neither team gaining an edge until recent history with Western moving up to the FBS level. It is known as the oldest and most fierce rivalry the commonwealth of Kentucky has, even more so than larger schools of the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville's Governors Cup game because of how many times the teams met, the longevity of the rivalry, and the important conference implications the annual game used to hold.

After a nearly nine year pause, the series resumed again in 2017, when Western Kentucky hosted Eastern Kentucky in a game played at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium, where Western Kentucky won 31–17. After another seven year pause, the teams met again on September 7, 2024, at Western Kentucky, where they won once again 31–0.

Morehead State

Main article: Old Hawg Rifle

The Old Hawg Rifle is the name of the rivalry trophy between the Eastern Kentucky Colonels and the Morehead State Eagles. This rivalry was important because the schools are in such close proximity and are serving the same general Eastern Kentucky region. The gun is an antique, pre-Revolutionary War muzzleloader that is rumored to have once been used in Kentucky's Rowan County War. The rifle has not been actively used in the rivalry since 1962, though the two teams have continued to play against each other since then. The rifle is currently kept on display in the Morehead State student center. The two teams have met 73 times on the football field, with Eastern Kentucky currently holding a 53–16–4 edge in the all-time series. Eastern Kentucky has won 28 out of the last 29 matchups.

Program records

Team records

• Consecutive winning seasons: 31, 1977–2008
• Consecutive wins: 18, 1982–1983
• Consecutive National Title appearances: 4, 1979–1982

Individual records

• Most rushing yards (game): 300 Markus Thomas against Marshall 1989
• Most rushing yards (season): 1,998 Elroy Harris in the 1988 season
• ''Most rushing yards (career):''' 5,532 Markus Thomas 1989–1992
• Most passing yards (game): 464 Bennie Coney against Tennessee Tech 2015
• Most passing yards (season): 2,861 Josh Greco in the 2005 season
• Most passing yards (career): 5,992 Josh Greco 2004–2007
• Most receiving yards (game): 316 Aaron Marsh against Northwood 1967
• Most receiving yards (season): 1,150 Andre Ralston in the 2005 season
• Most receiving yards (career): 3,095 Andre Ralston 2002–2005
• **Most completions (season):**225 Bennie Coney 2015

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of January 9, 2026.

References

References

1. Story, Mark. (September 14, 2013). "Mark Story: EKU is 'discussing' moving its football program up to the FBS". Lexington Herald-Leader.
2. (January 29, 2021). "ASUN Conference Announces Three New Institutions; Adds Football as 20th Sport". ASUN Conference.
3. (February 23, 2021). "ASUN, WAC Conferences Announce Football Partnership for 2021". ASUN Conference.
4. (December 20, 2022). "@ASUN_Football and WAC Release 2023 Schedule". ASUN Conference.
5. (December 20, 2022). "ASUN And WAC Unveil 2023 Football Schedule". Western Athletic Conference.
6. (April 17, 2023). "ASUN-WAC Football Partnership Formally Rebrands As The United Athletic Conference". ASUN Conference.
7. "Ohio Valley Conference".
8. "Football vs. Eastern Kentucky (2017)". Western Kentucky University Athletics.
9. "Football vs. Eastern Kentucky (2024)". Western Kentucky University Athletics.
10. "Eastern Kentucky Colonels Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com.