The Pittsburgh Steelers might have won a few Super Bowls, but the Duquesne Dukes might actually be the best football team in the Steel City. As an FCS program, the Dukes are usually overlooked, making it easy to find cheap Duquesne football tickets. However, the Dukes have won over a dozen conference championships and even a claim a few national championships at various levels. In recent years, the Dukes have become a powerhouse in the Northeast Conference, making last-minute Duquesne football tickets the best-kept secret for Pittsburgh sports fans.

The Early Days

Once upon a time, Duquesne was a national power on the gridiron. Throughout the 1930s and early 40s, the Dukes were a top-20 caliber program. Duquesne won the 1936 Orange Bowl and had undefeated seasons at the Division I level in 1929, 1939, and 1941. The Dukes even claim the 1941 national championship.

Return to the Top

For must of the second half of the 20th century, Duquesne football was at the club or Division III level. But the Dukes joined the FCS level in 1993 and were successful almost right away under head coach Greg Gattuso. Duquesne won the MAAC in 1995 and 1996 before rattling off nine straight conference titles from 1999 to 2007. During that time, Gattuso passed the torch to Jerry Schmitt while the Dukes won 39 straight games against MAAC opponents. Schmitt continued Duquesne’s success after the program moved to the Northeast Conference in 2008. The Dukes won five conference titles between 2011 and 2018, making two appearances in the FCS Playoffs during that time. In less than 30 years, Gattuso and Schmitt won over a dozen conference championships, making Duquesne arguably the most successful football team in the city of Pittsburgh during that time.