The BethuneâÂÂCookman Wildcats football team represents BethuneâÂÂCookman University in the sport of college football. The Wildcats compete in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Starting with the fall 2021 season, they compete in the East Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), after having been members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) since 1979. They play their home games at Daytona Stadium. The Wildcats have won two black college football national championships and seven MEAC titles in the history of their football program.
The Wildcats have won two black college football national championships.
BethuneâÂÂCookman has participated in ten bowl games, with the Wildcats garnering a record of 6âÂÂ4.
The Wildcats have made five appearances in the Division I-AA/FCS playoffs, with an overall record of 0âÂÂ5.
The Wildcats have made one appearance in the Division II playoffs, with an overall record of 0âÂÂ1.
Over 31 BethuneâÂÂCookman alumni have played in the NFL, including:
One former BCU football player has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Buck Buchanan Award is given to the most outstanding defensive player in Division I FCS. In 2002, Rashean Mathis of BethuneâÂÂCookman won the award. Mathis holds the NCAA FCS/ I-AA records for most interceptions in a season (14), most interceptions during a career (31), most yards on interception returns in a season (455), and most yards on interception returns in a career (682).
Announced schedules as of February 3, 2026