The program boasts a back-to-back Walter Payton Award winner, Armanti Edwards, the first ever to win in consecutive years (2008, 2009).

[13] The Mountaineers competed as an independent before joining the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) North State Conference as a charter member in 1931.

Brewer's 1937 squad is best remembered for going unbeaten and unscored upon during the regular season, outscoring opponents 206–0 before losing a postseason game to Southern Miss, 7–0.

During Duggins' eight years as coach, the Mountaineers claimed three more North State Conference championships and played in seven bowl games.

[18] Brakefield led the Mountaineers to three losing seasons in four years en route to a 47–48–4 record at Appalachian State,[19][20] however, a 3–8 campaign in 1979[21] resulted in his dismissal.

However, Brown chose to leave Appalachian State to accept the position of offensive coordinator at Oklahoma under head coach Barry Switzer.

Appalachian State won the first of nine Southern Conference championships in 1986 under Woods, who also led the Mountaineers into the playoffs for the first time that year.

[29] Woods, who compiled a 38–19–2 record at Appalachian State, left to accept the head coaching position at South Carolina after five seasons.

In addition, the Mountaineers posted 19 winning campaigns to go with one losing season during his tenure, allowing Moore to claim Southern Conference Coach of the Year honors a record six times.

[34] Under the stewardship of Moore, players such as two-time Buck Buchanan Award winner Dexter Coakley have gone on to play in the National Football League.

[42] The win helped Appalachian State become the first FCS team to ever receive votes in the final Associated Press (AP) college football poll on January 8, 2008.

[44] The conclusion of the 2008 season saw quarterback Armanti Edwards win Appalachian's first Walter Payton Award, presented annually to the most outstanding offensive player.

[45] On December 2, 2012, after a first-round home playoff loss to Illinois State, athletics director Charlie Cobb announced that Moore would not return for the 2013 season.

[50] After their 1–1 start, the Mountaineers won six straight but fell short to the eventual Sun Belt champion, Arkansas State, on November 5.

[65] After a 12–1 regular season including a dramatic last-second win (on a blocked field goal) over Mack Brown's in-state flagship UNC Tar Heels program[66] and a win over Louisiana in the Sun Belt Championship Game for a fourth consecutive Sun Belt championship, Drinkwitz left after just one season to become the new head coach at Missouri.

[68] Clark's first full season as head coach of the Mountaineers was met with complications from the COVID-19 Pandemic, which caused many changes to schedules and football operations around the country.

[69][70] Clark had thus led the Mountaineers to their 5th and 6th consecutive bowl wins since Appalachian State joined the FBS tier of Division I.

The Mountaineers rebounded winning their next five games including defeating previously undefeated James Madison University while College GameDay was on campus.

The Mountaineers became the fifth program in FCS history to reach the national title game three straight years joining Eastern Kentucky (1979–82), Georgia Southern (1988–90 and 1998–2000), Marshall (1991–93) and Youngstown State (1991–94).

[84][85] Known as Deeper than Hate, Appalachian State enjoys a fierce Sun Belt Conference rivalry with Georgia Southern.

The rivalry resumed annual play in the 2020 season and is set to continue as Marshall joins Appalachian State in the Sun Belt Conference East Division in 2022.

[5] After a 2002 First Round I-AA playoff loss to Maine,[5] Appalachian compiled a 30-game unbeaten streak at Kidd Brewer Stadium that ended on October 20, 2007.

Most significantly, rising behind the west (home) stands and replacing the former pressbox facilities, the 100,000 square feet (9,300 m2) KBS Complex was completed before the start of the 2009 season.

[93] On February 28, 2017, the Appalachian State athletics office announced a construction project to increase the size of the video display board in Kidd-Brewer Stadium.

[95] The Miracle on the Mountain took place at Kidd Brewer Stadium on October 12, 2002, and was selected as the "ABC Sports Radio Call of the Year.

"[96] In a low-scoring affair, the Paladins elected to attempt a two-point conversion after scoring the go-ahead touchdown with 7 seconds left in the game.

[97] On September 1, 2007, the Appalachian State football team traveled to Ann Arbor to play their season opener at the University of Michigan.

On December 1, 2018, Appalachian State played in and won the first ever Sun Belt Championship Game, hosting the Ragin' Cajuns of University of Louisiana at Lafayette at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

App State linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither burst through the line and tipped the ball to solidify the Mountaineer victory.

On December 7, 2019, Appalachian State also played in and won the second ever Sun Belt Championship Game, again hosting the Ragin' Cajuns of University of Louisiana at Lafayette at Kidd Brewer Stadium.