Elon Football had a solid 2022 season and is looking to continue that momentum in 2023.

The Phoenix posted a 6-2 record in Coastal Athletic Association play, an 8-3 regular-season mark and an 8-4 final record. They closed the 2022 regular season ranked nationally in the Stats Perform FCS Media Poll (No. 14) and the AFCA Coaches Poll (No. 18).

The year started with a 5-1 run, before suffering back-to-back losses on the road. Business picked back up, however, and Elon found itself back in the FCS Playoffs for the first time since 2018.

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The extra life was short-lived, as the Phoenix fell to Furman in the opening round of the postseason, 31-6, ending their season earlier than hoped, but with a respectable overall record.

Tony Trisciani will be back in charge for Elon in 2023, marking his fifth season as the team’s head coach.

CAA Football returns eight programs that finished with winning records in 2022. That includes William & Mary, which went 11-2 overall and tied with New Hampshire atop of the CAA standings with a 7-1 record. 

CAA Football action will be streamed live on FloFootball and the FloSports app, including all of Elon’s CAA games.

Here’s What To Know About Elon Football:

What Year Did Elon Start Playing Football?

The first official football game at Elon was played on the lawn of one of the school’s dorms in 1909. It was an 11-6 win over Bingham Military.

It would be a decade before the team played again, and the return was marked with a 12-6 win against the Lexington Athletic Association.

What Is The Largest Margin Of Victory For The Elon Football Team?

Success continued for the Elon football team, which defeated Atlantic Christian 88-0 in 1920, a record that still stands more than a century later.

When Did Elon Football Join Division I College Football? 

Elon made a brief jump to the NCAA Division II level in 1997 and took another noteworthy step in 1999, joining the NCAA Division I-AA ranks.

The team now competes in what became the NCAA Division I FCS.

How Many Times Has Elon Football Made It To The FCS Playoffs?

Elon has advanced to the FCS Playoffs four times, but the Phoenix still are searching for their first postseason win.

They’ve lost to Richmond (2009), Furman (2017, 2022) and Wofford (2018).

Has Elon Had Any Success In Conference Play?

Elon picked up the first of its 19 conference titles in 1930, but the most recent came in the South Atlantic Conference in 1981. 

As the Phoenix have continued to climb through the ranks, they’ve played independently (1997-2001) and in a trio of conferences—Big South (2002), Southern Conference (2003-2013) and the CAA (2014-present).

When Did Elon Football Join The CAA?

Elon became a member of the CAA for the 2014 season, joining as an all-sports member. That gave the CAA 10 schools for basketball and 12 for football (at the time). The College of Charleston joined at the same time.

Since joining the CAA, Elon has won 29 conference games and has a 29-38 conference record. 

The best years in CAA play for the Phoenix were in 2017 and 2022, when they went 6-2. They finished third in 2017 and tied for third in 2022 (with Richmond).

Elon previously played independently (1909-1931), in the Conference Carolinas (1932-1974), in the South Atlantic Conference (1975-1996), Division II independent (1997-1998), Division I-AA independent (1999-2001), in the Big South Conference (2002) and in the Southern Conference (2003-2013).

Has Elon Football Ever Won A CAA Football Title?

No. 

Has Elon Football Ever Won A National Title?

Elon won a pair of NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) championships in 1980 and 1981, while coached by Jerry Tolley. The Phoenix defeated Northeastern State (Oklahoma) and Pittsburg State (Kansas), respectively.

In 1980, Elon finished a school-best 13-1, one of six 10-win seasons in school history. 

In 1981, Elon finished 11-1-1, and Tolley was named the NAIA Division I National Football Coach of the Year.

Who Is The Elon Football Coach?

Tony Trisciani is entering his fifth season as the head coach and eighth season overall at Elon. He previously was defensive assistant (2006) and the defensive coordinator (2017, 2018).

The first-time head coach is 20-20 at Elon and 15-13 in conference games.

Trisciani had a stellar playing career at Springfield College, where he was a four-year starter and two-year captain. He remained there for three seasons as a graduate assistant, then moved on to stints at New Hampshire, Alfred and Lehigh in a variety of roles, before landing at Elon for the first time.

Prior to his latest stint with the Phoenix, Trisciani was the secondary/recruiting coordinator for Villanova. 

What Is The Elon Football All-Time Record?

The Phoenix have played 1,018 games, compiling a 528-472-18 record. They’ve had 52 winning seasons. 

Elon’s football games are played at Rhodes Stadium, where the team has played 119 games (56-63).

A Historic Rivalry Renewed For Elon

Prior to moving to the CAA, Elon and Appalachian State had a long and heated rivalry that dated to 1937 and was held every year through 1971, except for during World War II.

They rekindled the rivalry from 2003-2013, when Elon made the move to the CAA.

They played again in 2021, with Appalachian State cruising to a 44-10 win and 33-9-1 record all-time. Elon hasn’t won since 1964.

Who Has Elon Played The Most In Football?

The team Elon has played more than any other in football is Lenoir-Rhyne. The two programs have met 69 times, with Elon leading the series 38-30-1.

They played for the first time in 1921 and last played in 1997.

Where Is Elon University?

Elon is located in Elon, North Carolina, not too far from Greensboro, home of North Carolina A&T. 

The university was established on land first inhabited by Native American tribes, most notably, the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, which still is part of the current community and culture.

In 1889, the North Carolina Legislature issued a charter for Elon College, a four-year coed school.

When the number of students grew to more than 4,000, and as the number of degrees offered expanded, it was decided to change the name of the school. In 2001, Elon College became Elon University.

Notable Elon Alums

Alumni include: Actors Chris Wood, Lauren Adams and Grant Gustin, Emmy Award-winning writer Rich Blomquist, Isabella Cannon (the first female mayor of Raleigh), vocal consultant Nick Cooper, former MLB manager Jack McKeon and more than a dozen players who have been picked in the NFL Draft.

Elon Football Schedule 2023 

• Aug. 31: at Wake Forest, 7 p.m. EST
• Sept. 9: at Gardner-Webb, 6 p.m. EST
• Sept. 16: North Carolina A&T, 6 p.m. EST, FloSports
• Sept. 23: at Campbell, 6 p.m. EST, FloSports
• Sept. 30: William & Mary, 2 p.m. EST, FloSports
• Oct. 7: North Carolina Central, 2 p.m. EST, FloSports
• Oct. 14: at Villanova, 1 p.m. EST, FloSports
• Oct. 21: Monmouth, 2 p.m. EST, FloSports
• Nov. 4: at Delaware, 1 p.m. EST, FloSports
• Nov. 11: at Richmond, 2 p.m. EST, FloSports
• Nov. 18: Hampton, 1 p.m. EST, FloSports

How To Watch Elon Football In 2023?

All CAA football games will stream on FloFootball and the FloSports app this fall. Some non-conference games may not be available on FloSports.