The Northwestern State - Stephen F. Austin rivalry is notable for being one of the most popular college football rivalries in present times. The two teams in this rivalry are the Northwestern State Demons of Northwestern State University and the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks of Stephen F. Austin State University. The teams compete in the Southland Conference (SLC) in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
The Northwestern State Demons and the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks used to compete for the Chief Caddo trophy till 2019. This trophy was notable for being the largest sports trophy in the world with a height of 7’6” and weighing more than 320 pounds. This was changed for a new trophy named “The Chief” from the 2024 season. Both teams have encountered one another in college football games 77 times as of 2024. The Northwestern State Demons play at the Harry Turpin Stadium in Natchitoches, Louisiana and the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks play at the Homer Bryce Stadium in Nacogdoches, Texas.
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Northwestern State vs Stephen F Austin Football Rivalry History
The Northwestern State Demons and the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks have carried on their rivalry for 77 years, as of 2024. The first game between these two teams was played on November 7, 1924, when Northwestern State (then called Louisiana Normal) defeated Stephen F. Austin 7-3. However, Stephen F. Austin bounced back the very next year and defeated Northwestern State (Louisiana Normal) 7-6 on November 6, 1925.
With the introduction of the Chief Caddo trophy in 1960, Northwestern State was the first to win the trophy while Stephen F. Austin won it for the first time in 1963. The battle for the trophy was last fought in 2019 with Stephen F. Austin being the last winner of the trophy. However, both teams introduced a new trophy called “The Chief” and started competing for it in 2024, as per Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. Northwestern State is leading the rivalry with a record of 45-29-3, as of 2024.
Northwestern State vs Stephen F. Austin Football Rivalry Head-to-Head Stats
The following table displays the head-to-head record in the football rivalry between the Northwestern State Demons and the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks -
| Stats | NorthWestern State Demons | Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks | Tie |
| Total Games | 77 | 77 | - |
| First Meeting Score (1924) | 7 (Louisiana Normal) | 3 | - |
| All-time Series Wins | 45 | 29 | 3 |
| Largest Victory | 52-0 (November 23, 1991) | 59-17 (October 5, 2024) | - |
| Longest Win Streak | 7 (1927 to 1933 and 1976 to 1982) | 4 (1983 to 1986 and 2009 to 2012) | - |
| Chief Caddo Trophy Wins | 32 | 21 | 1 |
| The Chief Trophy Wins (Since 2024) | 0 | 1 | - |
Northwest State vs Stephen F Austin Winner Year-by-Year
The following table displays all the scores of the rivalry between Northwestern State and Stephen F. Austin from the beginning till 2024 -
| No. | Date | Location | Winning Team | Score |
| 1 | November 7, 1924 | Nacogdoches, TX | Louisiana Normal | 7–3 |
| 2 | November 6, 1925 | Natchitoches, LA | Stephen F. Austin | 7–6 |
| 3 | November 6, 1926 | Nacogdoches, TX | Stephen F. Austin | 28–0 |
| 4 | November 5, 1927 | Nacogdoches, TX | Louisiana Normal | 26–0 |
| 5 | November 3, 1928 | Shreveport, LA | Louisiana Normal | 26–0 |
| 6 | October 26, 1929 | Natchitoches, LA | Louisiana Normal | 41–6 |
| 7 | November 8, 1930 | Nacogdoches, TX | Louisiana Normal | 21–20 |
| 8 | November 6, 1931 | Natchitoches, LA | Louisiana Normal | 19–0 |
| 9 | November 5, 1932 | Nacogdoches, TX | Louisiana Normal | 39–0 |
| 10 | November 3, 1933 | Natchitoches, LA | Louisiana Normal | 39–0 |
| 11 | November 2, 1934 | Nacogdoches, TX | Tie | 0–0 |
| 12 | November 8, 1935 | Natchitoches, LA | Stephen F. Austin | 13–6 |
| 13 | November 6, 1936 | Nacogdoches, TX | Louisiana Normal | 20–7 |
| 14 | November 5, 1937 | Natchitoches, LA | Stephen F. Austin | 2–0 |
| 15 | November 4, 1938 | Nacogdoches, TX | Louisiana Normal | 6–0 |
| 16 | November 3, 1939 | Natchitoches, LA | Louisiana Normal | 20–6 |
| 17 | November 2, 1940 | Nacogdoches, TX | Stephen F. Austin | 14–7 |
| 18 | November 29, 1946 | Natchitoches, LA | Northwestern State | 27–6 |
| 19 | September 15, 1956 | Shreveport, LA | Stephen F. Austin | 14–12 |
| 20 | September 14, 1957 | Shreveport, LA | Northwestern State | 20–7 |
| 21 | September 12, 1959 | Shreveport, LA | Tie | 14–14 |
| 22 | September 17, 1960 | Shreveport, LA | Northwestern State | 14–0 |
| 23 | September 16, 1961 | Shreveport, LA | Northwestern State | 35–19 |
| 24 | September 15, 1962 | Shreveport, LA | Northwestern State | 23–6 |
| 25 | September 14, 1963 | Shreveport, LA | Stephen F. Austin | 10–0 |
| 26 | September 19, 1964 | Shreveport, LA | Northwestern State | 34–14 |
| 27 | September 19, 1970 | Nacogdoches, TX | Northwestern State | 9–7 |
| 28 | September 18, 1971 | Nacogdoches, TX | Northwestern State | 18–7 |
| 29 | September 16, 1972 | Natchitoches, LA | Northwestern State | 20–7 |
| 30 | September 21, 1974 | Natchitoches, LA | Stephen F. Austin | 14–13 |
| 31 | September 20, 1975 | Nacogdoches, TX | Stephen F. Austin | 17–13 |
| 32 | September 18, 1976 | Natchitoches, LA | Northwestern State | 47–0 |
| 33 | September 24, 1977 | Nacogdoches, TX | Northwestern State | 20–6 |
| 34 | September 16, 1978 | Nacogdoches, TX | Northwestern State | 21–14 |
| 35 | September 15, 1979 | Natchitoches, LA | Northwestern State | 27–21 |
| 36 | September 20, 1980 | Nacogdoches, TX | Northwestern State | 22–3 |
| 37 | September 19, 1981 | Natchitoches, LA | Northwestern State | 42–13 |
| 38 | September 18, 1982 | Nacogdoches, TX | Northwestern State | 28–14 |
| 39 | October 1, 1983 | Natchitoches, LA | Stephen F. Austin | 27–25 |
| 40 | November 17, 1984 | Nacogdoches, TX | Stephen F. Austin | 22–18 |
| 41 | November 23, 1985 | Natchitoches, LA | Stephen F. Austin | 19–10 |
| 42 | November 22, 1986 | Nacogdoches, TX | Stephen F. Austin | 28–14 |
| 43 | November 21, 1987 | Natchitoches, LA | Northwestern State | 33–21 |
| 44 | November 19, 1988 | Nacogdoches, TX | Northwestern State | 20–17 |
| 45 | September 18, 1989 | Natchitoches, LA | Tie | 17–17 |
| 46 | November 17, 1990 | Natchitoches, LA | Northwestern State | 20–3 |
| 47 | November 23, 1991 | Natchitoches, LA | Northwestern State | 52–0 |
| 48 | November 21, 1992 | Nacogdoches, TX | Northwestern State | 24–10 |
| 49 | November 20, 1993 | Natchitoches, LA | Stephen F. Austin | 51–20 |
| 50 | November 19, 1994 | Nacogdoches, TX | Stephen F. Austin | 34–13 |
| 51 | November 16, 1995 | Natchitoches, LA | Stephen F. Austin | 25–20 |
| 52 | November 23, 1996 | Nacogdoches, TX | Northwestern State | 17–10 |
| 53 | November 20, 1997 | Natchitoches, LA | Northwestern State | 38–24 |
| 54 | November 21, 1998 | Nacogdoches, TX | Northwestern State | 35–21 |
| 55 | November 20, 1999 | Natchitoches, LA | Stephen F. Austin | 29–14 |
| 56 | November 18, 2000 | Nacogdoches, TX | Stephen F. Austin | 17–3 |
| 57 | November 17, 2001 | Natchitoches, LA | Northwestern State | 31–17 |
| 58 | November 23, 2002 | Nacogdoches, TX | Northwestern State | 42–35 |
| 59 | November 22, 2003 | Natchitoches, LA | Stephen F. Austin | 44–14 |
| 60 | November 20, 2004 | Nacogdoches, TX | Northwestern State | 37–16 |
| 61 | November 17, 2005 | Natchitoches, LA | Northwestern State | 41–21 |
| 62 | November 16, 2006 | Nacogdoches, TX | Stephen F. Austin | 20–11 |
| 63 | November 17, 2007 | Natchitoches, LA | Northwestern State | 31–12 |
| 64 | November 22, 2008 | Nacogdoches, TX | Northwestern State | 34–24 |
| 65 | November 21, 2009 | Natchitoches, LA | Stephen F. Austin | 19–10 |
| 66 | November 20, 2010 | Nacogdoches, TX | Stephen F. Austin | 36–13 |
| 67 | November 19, 2011 | Natchitoches, LA | Stephen F. Austin | 33–0 |
| 68 | November 17, 2012 | Nacogdoches, TX | Stephen F. Austin | 34–17 |
| 69 | November 23, 2013 | Natchitoches, LA | Northwestern State | 40–27 |
| 70 | November 22, 2014 | Nacogdoches, TX | Stephen F. Austin | 27–24 |
| 71 | November 21, 2015 | Natchitoches, LA | Northwestern State | 33–17 |
| 72 | November 19, 2016 | Nacogdoches, TX | Stephen F. Austin | 45–31 |
| 73 | November 18, 2017 | Natchitoches, LA | Northwestern State | 38–21 |
| 74 | November 15, 2018 | Nacogdoches, TX | Northwestern State | 35–23 |
| 75 | November 21, 2019 | Natchitoches, LA | Stephen F. Austin | 32–20 |
| 76 | September 16, 2023 | Natchitoches, LA | Stephen F. Austin | 41–7 |
| 77 | October 5, 2024 | Nacogdoches, TX | Stephen F. Austin | 59–17 |
FAQs on Northwestern State vs Stephen F Austin Football Rivalry
A. Stephen F. Austin are the rivals of the Northwestern State.
A. The new trophy, introduced in 2024 is called “The Chief” as a tribute to the previous trophy, Chief Caddo.
A. Stephen F. Austin is a member of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
A. No, Stephen F. Austin has not yet won a national championship in their career.
A. Yes, Northwestern State is a NCAA Division I college.
