What Is 2015 Northern Colorado Bears football

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2015 Northern Colorado Bears football team represented the University of Northern Colorado in the NCAA Division I FCS football season, finishing with a 3–8 overall record and 2–6 in Big Sky Conference play under head coach Earnest Collins Jr.

Key Facts

The 2015 Northern Colorado Bears finished the season with a 3–8 overall record
They went 2–6 in Big Sky Conference play, placing near the bottom of the standings
Head coach Earnest Collins Jr. led the team in his sixth season at the helm
The Bears played their home games at Nottingham Field in Greeley, Colorado
Northern Colorado's 2015 season included losses to FBS opponent Colorado State

Overview

The 2015 Northern Colorado Bears football team competed in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a member of the Big Sky Conference. This season marked the sixth year under head coach Earnest Collins Jr., who had been working to rebuild the program since taking over in 2010. The Bears struggled to find consistency, finishing with a losing record and failing to qualify for the FCS playoffs.

The team played its home games at Nottingham Field in Greeley, Colorado, a stadium with a capacity of approximately 8,500. Despite limited success on the field, the program continued to develop young talent and laid groundwork for future seasons. The 2015 campaign included a mix of close losses and tough defeats against both conference and non-conference opponents.

Overall record: The Bears finished the season with a 3–8 win-loss record, their third consecutive losing season under Collins.
Conference performance: In Big Sky play, they went 2–6, placing 10th out of 13 teams in the final standings.
Head coach: Earnest Collins Jr. remained head coach for his sixth season, aiming to stabilize the program amid recruiting and retention challenges.
Home stadium: Nottingham Field, located on the UNC campus, hosted all home games and has undergone incremental upgrades since 2006.
Non-conference schedule: The Bears faced FBS opponent Colorado State, losing 52–10, highlighting the gap between FCS and FBS competition.

Season Performance and Schedule

The 2015 season featured a challenging schedule that tested the Bears against both regional rivals and stronger FBS competition. Games were marked by defensive struggles and inconsistent offensive output, with the team averaging just over 20 points per game.

Season opener: Northern Colorado lost to Colorado State 52–10 on September 5, facing a Power Five conference opponent.
First win: The Bears secured their first victory on September 19, defeating Western New Mexico 62–0 in a non-conference blowout.
Big Sky debut: Their conference opener on September 26 ended in a 45–17 loss to Eastern Washington, a top-tier FCS program.
Conference wins: Wins came against Cal Poly (24–20) on October 31 and Southern Utah (31–24) on November 14.
Final game: The season concluded with a 45–21 loss to Northern Arizona on November 21, ending the year on a three-game losing streak.

Comparison at a Glance

Here's how the 2015 Bears compared to recent seasons in terms of performance and key metrics:

Season	Overall Record	Conference Record	Head Coach	Key Statistic
2015	3–8	2–6	Earnest Collins Jr.	Averaged 20.5 points per game
2014	3–8	2–6	Earnest Collins Jr.	Scored 18.9 points per game
2013	1–10	1–7	Earnest Collins Jr.	Allowed 38.6 points per game
2012	2–9	2–6	Earnest Collins Jr.	Won final two games of the season
2011	3–8	2–6	Earnest Collins Jr.	Best player was QB Joe Nemith

The 2015 season showed marginal improvement in offensive output compared to previous years, but defensive performance remained a concern. While the win total matched the previous two seasons, the Bears were unable to string together consecutive victories. The data suggests the program was stabilizing at a lower tier of the FCS, competing more effectively within the Big Sky but still struggling against top half teams.

Why It Matters

Though not a standout season, the 2015 campaign was part of a longer rebuilding effort at Northern Colorado, which had transitioned from Division II to FCS in the early 2000s. Each season contributed to the development of infrastructure, recruiting pipelines, and competitive experience at the FCS level.

Program continuity: Retaining Earnest Collins Jr. provided stability, rare in lower-division college football programs.
Recruiting foundation: The 2015 class included several players who became starters in later seasons.
Competitive growth: Beating Cal Poly and Southern Utah showed the Bears could win close conference games.
Exposure: Playing Colorado State offered national visibility and a significant financial payout for the athletic department.
Stadium development: Continued use of Nottingham Field reinforced the need for future upgrades to remain competitive.
Conference alignment: Remaining in the Big Sky kept UNC in a geographically logical and competitive FCS conference.

The 2015 Northern Colorado Bears may not have achieved postseason success, but the season served as another step in the ongoing effort to build a sustainable FCS program in a competitive conference.