One win. Two records. Endless history.
Linfield University’s football program reached rarefied air on Saturday, securing its 69th consecutive winning season and setting an all-divisions college football record for most consecutive wins over one opponent with its 47th straight victory over Lewis & Clark College.
The 2025 Wildcats extended “The Streak” — the longest run of winning seasons in all levels of college football — with a decisive 29-21 home win that also made history in their century-old rivalry. The triumph broke a record that had stood since 1913, when Yale concluded a 46-game winning streak against Wesleyan (Conn.).
See full game story on GoLinfieldWildcats.com.
Two records, one rivalry
Saturday’s game marked the 90th meeting between Linfield and Lewis & Clark, a series dating back to 1901. The Wildcats now hold a 70-19-1 advantage, having not lost to the Pioneers since 1973.
It also marked the final meeting between the schools before Lewis & Clark adopts its new mascot, the River Otters, in 2026 — adding another historic layer to a rivalry that’s seen nearly 125 years of Oregon football.
Linfield’s most dominant win in the series remains an 84-7 victory in 2013, still the highest-scoring game in program history.
The legacy continues
The Linfield football program’s 69-season streak began in 1956, a span that has included multiple national championships, countless conference titles and an unbroken chain of winning teams representing one of the most consistent programs in college sports history.
For a Division III school rooted in McMinnville, Oregon, the accomplishment stands as a model of sustainability, tradition and excellence.
The Wildcats now turn their focus to continued play in the Northwest Conference, with momentum — and history — firmly on their side.
Linfield’s Archives and Special Collections created an oral history project about The Streak in 2021, after the 65th winning season. The collection features videos, photos and transcripts from interviews with members of the 1956 football team. To learn more about The Streak and access the digital collection, visit linfield.edu/thestreak.
