The First College Football Game Is Played

Setting the scene

American colleges were experimenting with kicking-and-carrying games derived from soccer and rugby, and Rutgers and Princeton wanted a friendly contest to settle bragging rights between New Jersey rivals.

What happened

The first college football game was played on November 6, 1869, in New Brunswick; Rutgers defeated Princeton 6-4 in a match closer to soccer—no forward passes, 25 players per side.

Why it still matters

That muddy afternoon is recognized as the birth of intercollegiate American football, though the sport's rules would evolve radically within decades. Memorable detail: each score was worth only one point under the day's rules.

Background

Rutgers won 6-4 in a contest closer to soccer than modern football.