When you think of powerhouse football programs, Southern Utah probably doesn’t come to mind. Even among FCS schools, Southern Utah has struggled to break into the top echelon of football programs, having a record of 236 wins, 298 losses and 10 ties since their founding in 1963. Joining the Big Sky Conference in 2012, Southern Utah began to find some success on the gridiron, winning the conference title in 2015. However, the Thunderbirds have yet to find any success in the FCS playoffs. They have appeared in the FCS playoffs 3 times, losing in all 3 appearances.
Last year, many fans believed that the Thunderbirds were about to break through and make a run at the FCS crown.