What Is 2014 Portland State Vikings football

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2014 Portland State Vikings football team represented Portland State University in the NCAA Division I FCS football season, finishing with a 5–6 overall record under head coach Nigel Burton. They competed in the Big Sky Conference and played home games at Providence Park.

Key Facts

The 2014 Portland State Vikings finished the season with a 5–6 overall record
They were 3–5 in Big Sky Conference play during the 2014 season
Head coach Nigel Burton led the team in his sixth season at the helm
The Vikings played their home games at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon
Quarterback Tyler Davis started most games and threw for 1,837 yards

Overview

The 2014 Portland State Vikings football team represented Portland State University in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Competing in the Big Sky Conference, the team was led by head coach Nigel Burton, who was in his sixth year at the university. Despite high hopes for improvement, the Vikings ended the season with a losing record.

The team struggled with consistency on both offense and defense, failing to qualify for the FCS playoffs. Their home games were played at Providence Park, a downtown Portland venue that offered a unique urban stadium experience. The 2014 season was marked by close losses and underwhelming performances against conference rivals.

Record: The Vikings finished the 2014 season with a 5–6 overall record, falling short of a winning season.
Conference play: They went 3–5 in Big Sky Conference games, placing them near the bottom half of the league standings.
Head coach: Nigel Burton remained head coach for the sixth consecutive year, facing increasing pressure to improve team performance.
Home stadium: All home games were held at Providence Park, which has a capacity of approximately 25,000 for football.
Key player: Quarterback Tyler Davis led the offense, throwing for 1,837 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season.

How It Works

The 2014 season followed the standard NCAA FCS football structure, with an 11-game regular season schedule and no postseason appearance. The team operated within the Big Sky Conference framework, which governs scheduling, eligibility, and competition rules for member schools.

Season structure: The Vikings played an 11-game regular season, including eight conference matchups and three non-conference games.
Offensive scheme: Portland State ran a spread offense, emphasizing passing and tempo under offensive coordinator Todd Sturdy.
Defensive alignment: The team primarily used a 4–3 base defense, focusing on aggressive front-seven play and zone coverage.
Roster size: The squad consisted of approximately 105 players, including walk-ons and scholarship athletes.
Recruiting class: The 2014 signing class included 22 new players, mostly from the Pacific Northwest region.
Game preparation: Practices followed a weekly cycle, with film study, strength training, and situational drills leading up to game day.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2014 Portland State Vikings compared to select Big Sky Conference peers:

Team	Overall Record	Conference Record	Head Coach	Key Statistic
Portland State	5–6	3–5	Nigel Burton	22.8 PPG
Eastern Washington	7–4	6–2	Beau Baldwin	43.6 PPG
Montana State	6–5	5–3	Rob Ash	28.4 PPG
Idaho State	3–8	2–6	Mike Kramer	18.7 PPG
UC Davis	7–4	5–3	Bob Biggs	26.5 PPG

The Vikings ranked in the lower half of the Big Sky Conference in both scoring and defensive efficiency. While they outperformed Idaho State in wins, they were overshadowed by stronger programs like Eastern Washington and UC Davis. The team’s 22.8 points per game placed them near the middle of the pack, but defensive lapses often proved costly. Their non-conference schedule included tough matchups against FBS-level opponents, which impacted their overall record.

Why It Matters

The 2014 season was a pivotal moment in the trajectory of Portland State’s football program, highlighting both challenges and areas for growth. It underscored the difficulty of competing in a deep and competitive Big Sky Conference.

Program stability: The losing record intensified discussions about head coach Nigel Burton’s future, leading to his departure after the 2014 season.
Recruiting impact: A subpar season made it harder to attract top-tier high school talent to the program.
Stadium legacy: Playing at Providence Park continued to offer visibility, but scheduling conflicts limited practice time.
Conference parity: The season illustrated the increasing competitiveness of the Big Sky, where even mid-tier teams could challenge any opponent.
Player development: Several underclassmen gained valuable experience, setting the stage for future roster improvements.
Fan engagement: Attendance dipped slightly compared to previous years, reflecting fan frustration with on-field performance.

The 2014 campaign ultimately served as a turning point, prompting administrative changes and a renewed focus on rebuilding the football program from the ground up in subsequent seasons.