William & Mary Football had a near-record season in 2022. 

The Tribe closed the year at 11-2 overall, which by percentage (.846), was the second-best in school history. The team’s 10 regular-season wins were a record and helped William & Mary advance to the FCS quarterfinals for the first time since 2009.

Along the way, the Tribe used a 37-26 win over longtime rival Richmond to close conference play with a 7-1 record and a co-CAA title with New Hampshire.

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William & Mary Football Schedule 2023: What To Know

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The Tribe will enter 2023 looking for their third consecutive winning season, having gone 6-5 in 2021.

CAA Football returns eight programs that finished with winning records in 2023. 

CAA football action will be streamed live on FloFootball and the FloSports app, including all of William & Mary’s CAA games.

Here’s What To Know About William & Mary Football:

What Year Did William & Mary Start Playing Football?

The William & Mary students expressed their interest in a football team, and in 1893, the intramural program received faculty approval. The first official game was played against Norfolk YMCA.

Though the Tribe lost that first game, they responded with back-to-back wins to finish their inaugural season at 2-1.

The first intercollegiate game happened a year later—a 28-0 loss to Hampden Sydney College.

The Tribe’s all-time football record is 600-587-1. 

When Did William & Mary Football Join Division I?

William & Mary has been recognized as a Division I program since such classifications were created in the 1970s.

The Tribe were Division I independent in 1977, Division I-A independent from 1978-1981 and Division I-AA independent from 1982-1992. Division I-AA later became known as NCAA Division I FCS, and that’s where William & Mary still resides. 

How Many Times Has William & Mary Football Made It To The FCS Playoffs?

William & Mary’s long football history has meant many opportunities for postseason play.

The Tribe have been to the playoffs 11 times and have compiled an 8-11 record. 

Their first appearance was in 1986, and the most recent was 2022, where they reached the quarterfinals and fell to Montana State, 55-7. Their 2022 appearance was their first since 2015.

The deepest William & Mary has ventured into the postseason was the semifinals, which happened in 2004 and 2009. 

When Did William & Mary Football Join The CAA?

William & Mary is one of the original members of CAA Football, transitioning from the Yankee Conference (1993-1996) to the Atlantic 10 (1997-2006).

CAA football’s first official season of play was 2007. Since that time, William & Mary has compiled a 58-64 conference record.

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The Tribe’s 2022 season was its best in the CAA, featuring a 7-1 record. They’ve won six games three times (2009, 2019, 2015).

Has William & Mary Ever Won The CAA title?

Yes.

The Tribe have won three CAA titles, but they have had to share the honor each time–2010 (shared with Delaware), 2015 (shared with James Madison and Richmond) and 2022 (shared with New Hampshire).

William & Mary has won 18 conference titles in all, with the first coming in 1907. While playing in the conferences that preceded the CAA, William & Mary won the Yankee Conference title in 1996 and Atlantic 10 titles in 2001 and 2004.

Who Is William & Mary Football Head Coach Mike London?

Mike London is entering his fifth season as the head football coach at William & Mary.

London made his debut in 2019 and has compiled a 23-16 record with the Tribe. 

He replaced the school’s legendary leader, Jimmye Laycock, who coached the team for 39 years and retired with 249 wins. London coached the William & Mary defensive line under Laycock’s watchful eye from 1991-1994.

Prior to 2019, London gained four decades of experience on the gridiron, first as a standout defensive back at Richmond (1979-1982). He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys in 1983 as a free agent.

As a coach, London also has served roles at Richmond, Boston College, University of Virginia, University of Maryland and Howard University. He even had a stint with the NFL’s Houston Texans.

Among the highlights for London were leading Richmond to the FCS national title in 2008, which also earned him recognition as the FCS National Coach of the Year. 

He later picked up many memorable wins with other programs, and his success even helped him to ACC Coach of the Year honors in 2011 at Virginia. 

Who Is William & Mary Football’s Biggest Rival? 

William & Mary and Richmond have met 133 times, with the first coming in 1898. 

Amazingly, the series is tied 64-64-5, with William & Mary winning the 2022 edition (37-26) on the way to a share of the CAA title.

They’ve met at least once a year in all but three seasons since the beginning, making “The Oldest Rivalry in The South” one of the longest-running matchups in history.

Richmond won the first four meetings, but William & Mary owns the longest win streak at 15 (1939-1954).

The series was named the I-64 Bowl from 1984-2008 and was renamed The Capital Cup in 2009 in reference to the two cities that have been the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Additionally, William & Mary has taken on the Virginia Military Institute 88 times, with the Tribe holding a 53-33-2 advantage. 

William & Mary also has had a few other longtime opponents—Delaware (44), James Madison (44), Randolph-Macon College (43), and Virginia (38).

Where Is The College Of William & Mary?

William & Mary is located in Williamsburg, Virginia. It is the second-oldest institution of higher learning in the United State and was chartered in 1693. 

Harvard is the oldest (1636), though plans for W&M started decades earlier.

King William III and Queen Mary II of England signed the original charter, and the school was opened as The College of William and Mary in Virginia.

It was home to the first college fraternity in the United States (1776). W&M became state supported in 1906 and transitioned to a coed school in 1918.

Notable William & Mary Alums

Since the founding of William & Mary predates the United States by almost 100 years, some of the nation’s founding fathers and other historically significant had the chance to attend. 

The list includes former U.S. Presidents Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe and John Tyler, while George Washington secured his surveyor’s license there at age 17.

Others include: 

• Glenn Close (actress)
• Jon Stewart (comedian)
• Mark Smucker (CEO of The J.M. Smucker Co.)
• Stephanie Coleman Linnartz (president and CEO of Under Armour)
•  Jill Ellis (former coach if USA women’s soccer)
• Mike Tomlin (head coach of Pittsburgh Steelers)
• Sean McDermott (Buffalo Bills head coach)

Along with Tomlin and McDermott, there are more than a dozen former Tribe players currently coaching in the NFL, while another nine or so are playing in the league. The most recent draft pick was Colby Sorsdal to the Detroit Lions in the fifth round in 2023.

William & Mary Football Schedule 2023 

• Aug. 31: at Campbell, 7 p.m. ET, FloSports
• Sept. 9: Wofford, 6 p.m. ET, FloSports
• Sept. 16: at Charleston Southern, 4 p.m. ET
• Sept. 23: Maine, 3:30 p.m. ET, FloSports
• Sept. 30: at Elon, 2 p.m. ET, FloSports
• Oct. 7: at Virginia, TBA
• Oct. 21: Towson, 3:30 p.m. ET, FloSports
• Oct. 28: Monmouth, 1 p.m. ET, FloSports
• Nov. 4: at UAlbany, 1 p.m. ET, FloSports
• Nov. 11: at Hampton, 1 p.m. ET, FloSports
• Nov. 18: Richmond, 1 p.m. ET, FloSports