Although Troy began competing in intercollegiate football in 1909,[1] the school's official record book considers the "modern era" to have begun in 1966. Records from before this year are often incomplete and inconsistent, and they are generally not included in these lists.
These lists are dominated by more recent players for several reasons:
Since the 1960s, seasons have increased from 10 games to 11 and then 12 games in length.
The NCAA didn't allow freshmen to play varsity football until 1972 (with the exception of the World War II years), allowing players to have four-year careers.
Bowl games only began counting toward single-season and career statistics in 2002.[2] The Trojans have played in nine bowl games since this decision, and will play a 10th in 2023, giving many recent players an extra game to accumulate statistics.
The SBC has held a championship game since 2018. Troy played in the 2022 and 2023 editions, giving players in those seasons yet another game to accumulate statistics.
Due to COVID-19 issues, the NCAA ruled that the 2020 season would not count against the athletic eligibility of any football player, giving everyone who played in that season the opportunity for five years of eligibility instead of the normal four.[3]
