While the school is mostly known for its academic prowess, the Cal Poly Mustangs are something special on the football field as well. Competing at the FCS level makes it easy for fans to find cheap Cal Poly football tickets. However, the Mustangs are in the process of becoming one of the top FCS programs in the country. In the past, Cal Poly has competed for championships at the Division II level, and there’s no reason why the Mustangs can’t do the same at the FCS level. As the aspirations of Cal Poly football continue to grow, the demand for last-minute Cal Poly football tickets grows as well.

Glory Days

If there was a golden era for Cal Poly football, it was during the 1950s under head coach LeRoy Hughes. This era was highlighted by the 1953 undefeated season, as well as the presence of all-time greats like Perry Jeter, Bobby Beathard, and legendary coach John Madden, who played his college football for the Mustangs. Cal Poly finished the decade with a record of 67-29-1. Sadly, the golden era ended in tragedy when a plane crash killed 16 Cal Poly players and a team manager.

From the Ashes

It took the Mustangs a long time to recover from the plane crash. But the arrival of Joe Harper as head coach in 1968 helped turn things around. In 1972, Harper guided the Mustangs to an appearance in the Camellia Bowl. The success under Harper continued with the Mustangs reaching the Division II Quarterfinals in 1978 and winning the Division II national championship in 1980.

The Next Level

With a Division II championship under their belt, the Mustangs eventually made the jump to the FCS level. After a period of adjustment, Cal Poly began to rise through the ranks under Rich Ellerson, who led the Mustangs to three Great West Football Conference championships and two FCS Playoff appearances between 2004 and 2008. That success continued under Tim Walsh, who won two more conference titles. By the time Walsh retired in 2019 and passed the reins to Beau Baldwin, it was clear that Cal Poly is a program on the rise.