While it’s not the highest level of college football, there is something special about Ivy League football. Of course, the history of Ivy League football could never be written without the Princeton Tigers. Even if it’s relatively easy to find cheap Princeton football tickets compared to most college football programs, that doesn’t take away the incredible history of the program. The recent history of the program isn’t too bad either, as the Tigers are contenders in the Ivy League most years, helping to keep up the demand for last-minute Princeton football tickets.

The First Time

Princeton is credited by most historians as being part of the first college football game ever played. In 1869, the Tigers lost to in-state foe Rutgers 6-4, only to win the rematch 8-0 the following week. While they played a different type of football than we see today, it’s considered the first college football game.

The Trophy Case

Princeton football lays claim to 28 national titles. The first came in 1869, when college football was first played. Most of those 28 titles came during the 19th century or the early part of the 20th century. In fact, Princeton’s latest national championship came in 1950, which was before the Ivy League formed in 1955. Of course, the Tigers were instantly one of the top teams in the Ivy League, winning four conference titles between 1963 and 1969, dominating their Ivy League rivals during the 1960s.

21st Century Tigers

After more than 150 years of playing football, Princeton is still going strong. In 2010, Bob Surace took over a struggling program that went 1-9 in his first two seasons. However, by his fourth season in charge, Surace had led the Tigers to a share of the Ivy League championship. The Tigers continued to find themselves at the top of the Ivy League, winning conference titles in 2016, 2018, and 2021, asserting themselves as one of the best college football programs in the Ivy League, giving Princeton football a future that’s just as bright as its past.