On Monday, Indiana has a big chance to finish an incredible season by winning the national championship. If they succeed, they’ll be the first team with a perfect 16-0 record in this era of major college football, a feat only matched at the FCS level by North Dakota State.
But this isn’t the first time a team has gone undefeated. Back in 1894, the Yale Bulldogs also completed a perfect 16-0 season. They dominated their opponents, scoring an astounding 485 points while allowing just 13.
So, what made that Yale team so special? First, they played a very different kind of football. The game then was much more chaotic than today’s version. For example, the forward pass wasn’t even legal yet. Teams formed complicated formations and used intense physical tactics that often led to injuries.
Denis Crawford, a historian from the College Football Hall of Fame, likens the college football landscape of the 1890s to a “Wild West” due to the lack of scheduling rules. Teams had the freedom to schedule as many games as they wanted. Yale played a mix of college teams and local athletic clubs made up of former college players. This flexible approach helped them maintain a heavy game schedule.
Football back then was brutal. A survey from that time showed about 39 former players reported permanent injuries, and occasionally, games were so rough that players ended up hospitalized. Yale’s rivalry game against Harvard that year was described in the press as one of the most violent ever played.
Yale’s roster included standouts who would later receive All-American honors. For instance, Frank Hinkey, the team’s captain, was known for his exceptional all-around skills. The team’s success came with dedication and talent, supported by a coach, Williams Rhodes, who was only 25.
Comparing Yale’s historical dominance to Indiana’s current situation, some experts, like Bill Connelly, suggest Indiana’s potential achievement would be even more impressive. While Yale played local teams, Indiana has faced tougher opponents, giving them a stronger strength of schedule.
Since that legendary 1894 season, Yale has had ups and downs. They kept performing well for years, capturing multiple national championships. However, as football grew across the country and the NCAA formed in 1906, schools like Yale, Harvard, and Princeton began to lose their dominance. The evolution of the sport shifted the balance of power.
As Indiana aims for glory, it will be interesting to see how their legacy stacks up against the storied history of teams like Yale. One thing is clear: the journey of college football continues to unfold, blending history with the thrills of modern competition. For further reading on the evolution of football, check out this insightful article from The New York Times.
