Valparaiso Beacons football

The Valparaiso Beacons football program is the intercollegiate American football team for Valparaiso University located in the U.S. state of Indiana. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a member of the Pioneer Football League (PFL). Valparaiso's first football team was fielded in 1919. The team plays its home games at the 5,000-seat Brown Field in Valparaiso, Indiana. Andy Waddle has served as the team's head coach since 2025. Valparaiso was known as the Crusaders through the 2019 season.

History

Classifications

• 1941–1972: NCAA College Division
• 1973–1978: NCAA Division III
• 1979–1992: NCAA Division II
• 1993–present: NCAA Division I–AA/FCS

Conference memberships

• 1919–1923: Independent
• 1924–1925: Western Interstate Conference
• 1926–1933: Independent
• 1934–1947: Indiana Intercollegiate Conference
• 1948–1950: Independent
• 1951–1977: Indiana Collegiate Conference
• 1978–1989: Heartland Collegiate Conference
• 1990–1992: Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference
• 1993–present: Pioneer Football League

Year-by-year results

Bowl game appearances

Championships

Conference championships

† Co-champions

Divisional championships

From 2001 to 2005, the Pioneer Football League (PFL) was divided into North and South Divisions. As winners of the PFL's North Division, Valparaiso has made one appearance in the Pioneer Football League Championship Game, in 2003. Valparaiso shared the Division title with in 2003, but the tie-breaker allowed the Crusaders to represent the division in the championship game.

† Co-champions

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of March 19, 2026.

References

External links