Portland State Vikings football

For information on all Portland State University sports, see Portland State Vikings.
Portland State Vikings football
2025 Portland State Vikings football team
First season1947 (1947)
Head coachChris Fisk
1st season, 0–0 (–)
StadiumHillsboro Stadium
(capacity: 7,600)
LocationPortland, Oregon
NCAA divisionDivision I FCS
ConferenceBig Sky
All-time record372–439–10 (.459)
Conference championships
OCC: 1963, 1964
WFC: 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992
RivalriesEastern Washington (rivalry)
Montana
Idaho State
ColorsGreen, white, and silver[1]
     
Websitegoviks.com

The Portland State Vikings football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the Portland State University located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a member of the Big Sky Conference. The school's first football team was fielded in 1947. The team plays its home games at the 7,600 seat Hillsboro Stadium. Viking football practice takes place on campus at the Peter W. Stott Field.

History

Classifications

Conference affiliations

Head coaches

Tenure Coach Years Record Pct.
1947–1954 Joe Holland 8 20–42–3 .331
1955–1956 Ralph Davis 2 4–11–1 .281
1957–1958 Les Leggett 2 6–11–0 .353
1959–1961 Hugh Smithwick 3 6–17–2 .280
1962–1962 Tom DeSylvia 1 4–4 .500
1963–1967 Jerry Lyons 5 21–24–1 .338
1968–1971 Don Read† 4 20–19 .513
1972–1974 Ron Stratten 3 9–24 .273
1975–1980 Mouse Davis 6 42–24 .636
1981–1985 Don Read† 5 19–33–1 .368
1986–1992 Pokey Allen 7 63–26–2 .703
1993–2006 Tim Walsh 14 90–68 .570
2007–2009 Jerry Glanville 3 9–24 .273
2010–2014 Nigel Burton 5 21–36 .368
2015–2025 Bruce Barnum 11 39–75 .342
2026–present Chris Fisk 1 0–0 –

† Read's combined statistics: 9 seasons, with a record of 39–52–1 (.429).

Championships

Conference championships

Year Coach Conference Overall record Conference record
1963 Jerry Lyons Oregon Collegiate Conference 6–2–1 5–1
1964† 7–2 5–1
1984 Don Read Western Football Conference 8–3 3–0
1987 Pokey Allen 11–2–1 4–1–1
1988 11–3–1 6–0
1989 9–4 4–1
1991 11–3 5–0
1992 9–4 4–1
Conference championships 8

† Co-champions

Playoff results

Division I-AA/FCS

The Vikings have appeared in the I-AA/FCS playoffs two times. Their overall record is 0–2.

Year Round Opponent Result
2000 First Round Delaware L, 14–49
2015 Second Round Northern Iowa L, 17–29

Division II

The Vikings appeared in the Division II playoffs eight times from 1987 through 1995 with an overall record of 12–8.

Year Round Opponent Result
1987 Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National Championship Game		 Minnesota State–Mankato
Northern Michigan
Troy State		 W, 27–21
W, 13–7
L, 17–31
1988 First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National Championship Game		 Bowie State
Jacksonville State
Texas A&I
North Dakota State		 W, 34–17
W, 20–13
W, 35–27
L, 21–35
1989 First Round
Quarterfinals
 West Chester
Indiana (PA)		 W, 56–50 3OT
L, 0–17
1991 First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals		 Northern Colorado
Minnesota State–Mankato
Pittsburg State		 W, 27–7
W, 37–27
L, 21–53
1992 First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals		 UC Davis
Texas A&I
Pittsburg State		 W, 42–28
W, 35–30
L, 38–41
1993 First Round Texas A&M–Kingsville L, 15–50
1994 First Round
Quarterfinals		 Angelo State
Texas A&M–Kingsville		 W, 29–0
L, 16–21
1995 First Round
Quarterfinals		 East Texas State
Texas A&M–Kingsville		 W, 56–35
L, 3–30

Rivalries

Eastern Washington

Games played PSU wins PSU losses Ties Win% First meeting Last meeting Next scheduled meeting
46 22 23 1 .489 W 19–13 (1968) L 35–27 (2025) November 21, 2026
See also: The Dam Cup

The Vikings have a rivalry with the Eastern Washington Eagles in all sports, starting in 2010 called The Dam Cup. Eastern Washington won the first rivalry match between the two schools in 2010 with a score of 55–17. The purpose of the Dam Cup is to create a rivalry between Portland State University and Eastern Washington University and provide a sense of pride between alumni in the Portland, OR and Spokane, WA areas. Other goals include increasing attendance at events between both schools and building school spirit among each institutions' student body.

‡ The Dam Cup rivalry with Portland State was officially established in 2010, but both teams have played against each other since the date listed above.

Montana

Games played PSU wins PSU losses Win% First meeting Last meeting Next scheduled meeting
49 13 36 .265 L 7–33 (1965) L 17–63 (2024) November 7, 2026

The Vikings and the Montana Grizzlies have played each other 49 times since the 1965 football season. Coach Bruce Barnum and Griz coach Bobby Hauck have a friendly rivalry based in part on Hershey-owned Dot's Homestyle Pretzels.[2] The 49 matchups are the most games Portland State has played anyone. Montana is one of Portland State's two protected Big Sky Conference rivalries (along with Northern Colorado) when the conference shifted to one division in 2022, meaning they will play every year. The University of Montana leads the all-time series 36–13 as of 2025.[3]

Idaho State

Games played PSU wins PSU losses Win% First meeting Last meeting Next scheduled meeting
47 20 27 .426 L 7–27 (1965) W 42–38 (2024) October 24, 2026

Portland State first joined the Big Sky Conference in 1996, and have played Idaho State a total of 47 times. Before Portland State joined the conference, the two teams competed 21 times in non-conference play, the first being in 1965.[4] In 2011, the Big Sky Conference released its football schedules for the 2012-2015 seasons, which assigned each team two protected opponents that they would play on a yearly basis, with Portland State and Idaho State being assigned to each other.[5]

Ahead of the 2022 season, the protected matchups assigned to each team were changed, with Montana and Northern Colorado now being Portland State's annual guaranteed matchups.[6] As a result, Portland State and Idaho State now play each other twice every three years under the current rotation.

Individual awards and honors

Retired numbers

See also: List of NCAA football retired numbers
Portland State Vikings retired numbers
No. Name Position Career No. ret. Ref.
11 Neil Lomax[n 1] Quarterback 1977–1980 [8]
18 Peter W. Stott[n 2] — — 2014 [9]
Notes
  1. ^ Lomax had the greatest records of any passer up to his time and statistics that topped all divisions. He led the nation in total offense three times, 1978-1980. He led the nation in passing in 1978 . In a 1980 game against Delaware State, Lomax threw seven touchdown passes in the first quarter. This was on the way to a 105–0 victory. His passing yardage in 1980 was 4,094 in 11 games.[7] That year Lomax finished seventh in the Heisman voting and was most valuable player in the Senior Bowl.
  2. ^ Peter W. Stott has been an advocate of Portland State Athletics during its growth and development at the Division I level. His contributions to Portland State Athletics, through time, effort, donations, and his outstanding contributions to the Viking program for over 30 years by having the number 18 retired by Viking athletics in his honor.[9]

National award winners

Bruce Barnum (2015)

Conference award winners

  • Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year
Bruce Barnum (2015)

College Football Hall of Fame

The Vikings have one player inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.[10]

Year inducted Player Position Seasons at Portland State
1996 Neil Lomax Quarterback 1977–1980

Notable former players

Notable alumni include:

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of May 19, 2025.[11]

2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
Tarleton State at San Diego State at Oregon State at Stanford at Oregon at South Dakota
at BYU North Dakota at San Jose State
at North Dakota at Oregon
at Hawaii

References

  1. ^ "Portland State University Color Palette". Portland State University Athletics Brand Identity (PDF). May 12, 2015. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  2. ^ "Barny & Friend". April 16, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  3. ^ "University of Montana Athletics Football History vs Portland State University". University of Montana Athletics. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  4. ^ "Opponent History (Alphabetical)" (PDF). January 6, 2025.
  5. ^ "Documents 2011-4-28 Future Football 2012 | PDF | Ncaa Division I | Ncaa Division I Conferences". Scribd. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  6. ^ Schaack, Steve; Athletics, Idaho State (November 22, 2025). "Future Big Sky Conference Football Schedules Announced". Idaho State University Athletics. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  7. ^ Portland State, Lomax Weren’t Quiet as a Mouse When They Roared For 105 Points - APR 6, 2022 by CRAIG HALEY
  8. ^ Neil Lomax bio on oregonencyclopedia.org
  9. ^ a b "Peter W. Stott honored with Retired Number". May 20, 2014. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  10. ^ Hall of Fame. "Inductees by College". CFBHOF. Archived from the original on November 7, 2014. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  11. ^ "Portland State Vikings Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
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