UCO’s Winning Football Season  

“The best team in the nation, the good ol’ Central Blue.” That’s how the chant ends. The chant bellowed out by players, coaches—alums too—following a victory on the football field for UCO Bronchos. And it happened a lot in 2024. 

Central Oklahoma posted an 11-2 record this season, winning the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) championship, earning a spot in the NCAA Division II Football Championship, and even hosting a first-round playoff game at Chad Richison Stadium. The Bronchos set 19 school records this season and were considered one of the best teams in the nation with a high-powered offense that put up better numbers than any other squad in the country. 

Fall Camp 

“It really started in January when this group got together for offseason workouts,” third-year head football coach Adam Dorrel said, reflecting on the season. “They worked really hard all spring and did more on their own in the spring and summer to be ready for fall camp. 

“When we got to August, there were signs,” Dorrel continued. “From a measurable standpoint, this was the biggest, fastest, and strongest team we’ve had here. But also, more importantly, there was just a strong sense of camaraderie in the locker room. These guys really embraced the team mentality and that’s just as big as anything else.” 

UCO started the 2024 season with a highlight-reel victory over Langston. Renewing a storied local rivalry, Central and LU met Sept. 7 in Edmond before a likely school record of 9,374 fans. The Bronchos returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown and raced away from Langston from there to the tune of a 72-0 victory. 

Central Oklahoma kept with the trend in the early part of the season, winning 57-40 over Central Missouri to improve to 2-0 on the season. The Bronchos won on the road in Week 2 at Nebraska Kearney and then started piling up the wins. UCO beat Fort Hays State, Missouri Southern, Northwest Missouri, and Northeastern State to improve to 7-0 on the season. 

Blocked Field Goal 

While Central Oklahoma fell short for the first time all season on Oct. 26 against Pittsburg State, the Bronchos got right back to winning following the midseason game. Central Oklahoma beat Missouri Western in St. Joseph, Mo. with a 47-yard field goal in overtime to win 37-34. The following week, on the road again, UCO blocked a field goal as time expired to secure a 28-27 win at Washburn in Topeka, Kansas. 

First MIAA Title 

Those two wins set the stage for Central Oklahoma to win its first MIAA title since joining the conference in 2012. The Bronchos needed a win against Emporia State in Week 11 to take the title, and there wasn’t much question it would happen. UCO sacked the opposing quarterback five times in the first quarter, forcing a change in the lineup by the opponent. All the while, Central’s offense continued to put up its record-setting numbers, and soon enough, the stage was being assembled on the field for the trophy presentation following the win. 

With the conference championship, Central Oklahoma moved into the postseason for the first time since 2003 and hosted a playoff game for the first time since 1998. The Bronchos beat Ouachita Baptist 38-31 in overtime before traveling to Ferris State for the second round of the playoffs. That’s where the historic season would come to an end for the Bronchos with a final record of 11-2. 

Following the season, UCO ended the year with 19 new school records. The Bronchos had 18 players earn All-MIAA honors, five of whom earned All-Region accolades, and two of those were selected as All-Americans.