The Northern Colorado Bears football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Northern Colorado located in Greeley, Colorado. The team competes in the Big Sky Conference[5] at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level. The university's first football team was fielded in 1893.[6] The team plays its home games at the 8,533 seat[3] Nottingham Field on campus. The Bears announced the hiring of Ed Lamb on December 6, 2022,[7] replacing Ed McCaffrey, who went 6–16 in two seasons.[8]
Below is the list of conferences in which Northern Colorado has been a member.[1]
Northern Colorado made two appearances in the NCAA Division II National Championship Game. The Bears defeated Carson–Newman, 23–14 in 1996, and later defeated New Haven, 51–0 in 1997.
† Co-champions
The Bears appeared in the Division II playoffs nine times with an overall record of 12–7.[1]
Below is a list of the Bears best-attended home games at Nottingham Field.[1]
As of the 2014 season.
Source:[1]
Below is the Bears home attendance by season at Nottingham Field.
As of the 2015 season.
Notable alumni include:
Since moving to the Big Sky Conference in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in 2006, the Bears have struggled. Through the 2023 season, their conference record is 28–111 (.201),[9] and they have yet to make the FCS playoffs.
Stadium Capacity: 8,533