Claremont-Mudd-Scripps athletics photo

The Whittier College Board of Trustees approved the return of football at Whittier for the fall of 2026, bringing the sport back after what will be a three-season absence. The Poets last took the field in 2022, dropping the sport after two consecutive 0-9 seasons.

The return of the football program was made possible through the support of Whittier alumni, whose grassroots fundraising efforts raised more than $814,000.

"We are thrilled to welcome football back to Whittier College," college president Kristine Dillon said in a school news release. "This program has been an integral part of our history, and its return will energize campus life, reengage our alumni, and offer prospective students another compelling reason to join the Poet family. It's an exciting time to be a Poet."

The $814,000 raised will go towards hiring a head coach, hiring the ensuing staff, branding, and initiatives to recruit the athletes who will make up that restored roster ahead of the 2026-27 season.

This is the second Division III school to bring back its football program after a short break. Maine Maritime announced in 2023 that it was bringing back football after having shuttered it in August 2020. The Mariners are on track to play varsity games in the fall of 2025.

When Whittier returns, it will return carrying a 23-game losing streak.