Ranking the Top 131 College Football Programs of the Last 40 Years: 129. Louisiana-Monroe
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You’ve got to hand it to Louisiana-Monroe, while they come in at third to last in these rankings, they’ve built the program up over time. Starting their football program as a junior college in 1931, UL Monroe went from the NJCAA, to the NAIA, to the FCS, and finally to the FBS in 1994. These days haven’t been as successful as their time in the FCS, having won a national title in 1987, but it’s still impressive how far the Warhawks have come.
Best Seasons and Highlights
+------+------------------+------+--------------+--------+
| rank | team | year | resume score | record |
+------+------------------+------+--------------+--------+
| 63 | Louisiana-Monroe | 2012 | -5.92 | 8-5 |
| 72 | Louisiana-Monroe | 2007 | -14.98 | 6-6 |
| 90 | Louisiana-Monroe | 2018 | -18.117 | 6-6 |
| 82 | Louisiana-Monroe | 2013 | -18.808 | 6-6 |
| 80 | Louisiana-Monroe | 2009 | -21.283 | 6-6 |
| 97 | Louisiana-Monroe | 2019 | -25.286 | 5-7 |
| 74 | Louisiana-Monroe | 1998 | -25.531 | 5-6 |
| 87 | Louisiana-Monroe | 2010 | -26.79 | 5-7 |
| 79 | Louisiana-Monroe | 1997 | -27.731 | 5-7 |
| 85 | Louisiana-Monroe | 2004 | -28.372 | 5-6 |
| 94 | Louisiana-Monroe | 2005 | -29.219 | 5-6 |
| 93 | Louisiana-Monroe | 2006 | -30.542 | 4-8 |
| 95 | Louisiana-Monroe | 1999 | -31.247 | 5-6 |
| 101 | Louisiana-Monroe | 2021 | -31.527 | 4-8 |
| 97 | Louisiana-Monroe | 2011 | -32.209 | 4-8 |
| 104 | Louisiana-Monroe | 2017 | -33.021 | 4-8 |
| 100 | Louisiana-Monroe | 2008 | -33.605 | 4-8 |
| 101 | Louisiana-Monroe | 2014 | -33.736 | 4-8 |
| 90 | Louisiana-Monroe | 1996 | -34.942 | 5-6 |
| 114 | Louisiana-Monroe | 2022 | -36.456 | 4-8 |
| 110 | Louisiana-Monroe | 2016 | -38.524 | 4-8 |
| 90 | Louisiana-Monroe | 1994 | -41.851 | 3-8 |
| 106 | Louisiana-Monroe | 2002 | -48.426 | 3-9 |
| 104 | Louisiana-Monroe | 1995 | -53.068 | 2-9 |
| 107 | Louisiana-Monroe | 2001 | -53.644 | 2-9 |
| 123 | Louisiana-Monroe | 2015 | -60.27 | 2-11 |
| 113 | Louisiana-Monroe | 2003 | -62.5 | 1-11 |
| 129 | Louisiana-Monroe | 2020 | -68.484 | 0-10 |
| 116 | Louisiana-Monroe | 2000 | -72.712 | 1-10 |
+------+------------------+------+--------------+--------+
Overall Score: -8303.4228 (129th)118-221 record
1 conference title
0-1 bowl record
0 consensus All-Americans
10 NFL players drafted
Looking at the Warhawks’ table of seasons is interesting. They haven’t been good, but they haven’t been that bad either. Compared to New Mexico State who came in a spot lower, their resume seems like a manager’s compared to an intern. 13 of the 30 seasons have been 5-7 or better, but not much better. Really not much to note here, the team has been “meh” ever since they came up, with no real notable NFL draft picks and no bowl wins.
Top 5 Seasons
5. 2009 (6-6 overall, 5-3 Sun Belt)
UL Monroe declined to renew head coach Charlie Weatherbie’s contract after the season, which is pretty telling for how their time has gone in the FBS if this is their 5th best season. However, this was a surprising team that came out of nowhere to be tied for second in the Sun Belt with two weeks to spare, sitting at a 5-1 conference record and 6-4 overall. UL Monroe would drop a rivalry game to UL Lafayette and their senior night game against conference runners-up Middle Tennessee, to finish third place in the Sun Belt. Overall, there wasn’t much to write home about. Frank Goodin had a 1000 yard rushing season and Aaron Morgan added 9 sacks on defense.
4. 2013 (6-6 overall, 4-3 Sun Belt)
Coming off the best season in school history, expectations were high as the Warhawks were picked to finish second in the conference by Athlon Sports, barely behind rival UL Lafayette. While they did finish tied for second, it was a four-way tie, and a 6-6 overall record wasn’t the hope coming into the year. 0-34 and 7-70 thrashings to Oklahoma and Baylor, respectively, solidified ULM’s place as a team who hadn’t taken the next step in being competitive with Power 5 competition. A win over Arkansas State at home would’ve won them the title, but a 14-42 drubbing erased all hope of that. On the bright side—it was their 4th best season since 1983. Kolton Browning finished his career as the most decorated passer in school history, throwing for over 10,000 yards with close to 12,000 yards of total offense and 99 total TD.
3. 2018 (6-6 overall, 4-4 Sun Belt)
A do-it-all WR and steady rushing attack paced this team in what felt like a repeat of 2009, sitting at a 4-2 conference record in control of their destiny with two games to go. WR Marcus Green was first team all-Sun Belt at both WR and AP, scoring 8 receiving TD, 1 rushing TD, and 1 punt return TD. QB Caleb Evans earned third team all-conference with 16 passing and 10 rushing TD, going on to have a pretty good career for the Warhawks, throwing for the second most yards in school history. Aside from Evans, the rushing attack was led by Alabama transfer Derrick Gore, picking up 662 rushing yards with 6 TD. Like 2009, the last two games ended in losses with nothing to show for, but this team was better, getting a 44-25 win over a 10-3 Georgia Southern team. Marcus Green would be the first Sun Belt player taken in the draft, a 6th round pick by the Atlanta Falcons.
2. 2007 (6-6 overall, 4-3 Sun Belt)
Hey Alabama, remember this team? If nothing else, the 2007 team stands as the second best in school history thanks to their major 21-14 upset over Nick Saban and Alabama. Cornerback Quintez Secka had two interceptions in the game and opposite corner Darrius Battles added 12 tackles. ULM was paid $1 million to show up, while Alabama was rewarded with a billboard on I-20 that read “Tide Rolled! ULM 21 -- Alabama 14”. After beating Saban, the season was a wash but went swimmingly regardless, beating rival UL Lafayette and Sun Belt champs Florida Atlantic. RB Calvin Dawson earned 1st team all-conference with a league leading 1414 rushing yards and 12 TD. While 2012 takes the cake for best season, the 2007 win over Alabama is undoubtedly the best moment.
1. 2012 (8-5 overall, 6-2 Sun Belt)
No doubt. This is called “The Magical Season” by ULM fans, and for good reason. Picked 6th in the conference in preseason media polls, just being bowl eligible would’ve been enough, but the Warhawks shattered the glass ceiling. While the 2007 win over Alabama was the biggest win for the Warhawks, week 1 of 2012 was easily second. The Warhawks traveled to #8 Arkansas who was fresh off a top 5 11-2 season, and brought the house down. QB Kolton Browning ran in the winning TD in overtime on 4th & 1, sending the travelling Warhawk section of the stadium into a frenzy. ULM would continue to be a national story as they nearly upset Auburn the following week with a 28-31 loss in overtime, and nearly beat Baylor a week after that in a Friday night, sold out home game on ESPNU. ULM wiped through most of the conference and finished second in the Sun Belt, getting to their first ever and only bowl game with an 8-4 regular season record. Browning won Sun Belt POTY and Todd Berry won coach of the year.
5th Quarter
Was I too harsh on UL Monroe? Was the 2007 Alabama or 2012 Arkansas win better? Let me know what you think.
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