In 1962, the Bronchos went 11–0 on the season and defeated Lenoir–Rhyne University (NC) 28–13 in the Camellia Bowl to claim its first NAIA national championship.

[8] The Bronchos did not field a team in 1903, but they resumed play the following year in 1904 after securing their first head coach, Boyd Hill.

[10] After ten years of inconsistent play, the school, then known as Central State, landed coach Charles W. Wantland.

Wantland took over as the head coach in 1912, and guided the program to 102 victories, six conference championships, and Central State's first undefeated season in 1915, during his 18 years at the helm.

The Bronchos were impressive that season, beating its opponents by a combined score of 184–25, including a 14–6 victory over Oklahoma A&M in Stillwater.

[7][15] In addition to the stadium, Central State memorialized Coach Wantland by naming the physical education building in his honor.

[17] Claude Reeds, a former Oklahoma All-American fullback, left West Texas State and took over the CSTC program in 1931.

He picked up right where Wantland left off by winning eight Oklahoma Collegiate Conference championships in his ten years in charge.

During this time Hamilton spent two tours of duty in the armed forces, and Gene Smith filled in during the Korean War in 1950 and 1951, winning an OCC title.

[21] In 1962, Central State went a perfect 11–0, finished third in the final small college AP poll and defeated Lenoir–Rhyne 28–13 in the Camellia Bowl, en route to the programs first NAIA national championship.

[22][23] Blevins left CSC after the 1963 season, and later coached minor league football in Oklahoma City.

The Bronchos left the reconstituted Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference in 1976 and made a transition to the NCAA Division II level.

He oversaw the program's transition from a brief period in NCAA Division II back to NAIA competition, as an independent.

In 1985, the Bronchos lost in the first round to Henderson State in the institution's final NAIA playoff appearance.

In 1996, Central Oklahoma posted a 9–3 record, finished second in the Lone Star Conference, and made the program's first appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs.

[29] In 1998 the Bronchos finished the regular season undefeated, won their first Lone Star Conference Championship, and was the number one ranked team going into the playoffs.

[33] However, Langston's time at UCO would be marred with NCAA violations, including paying for a recruits surgery, and funding a player's remedial classes at Rose State.

In his first year as head coach the Bronchos had a 7–4 record and won the LSCs South Division Championship.

The decline in performance coincided with the NCAA's decision to place the Bronchos on three years probation for "lack of institutional control," starting in 2008 from the infractions that occurred under Langston.

After the 2010 season, UCO left the Lone Star Conference in anticipation to move to the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.

That season's campaign began with three straight losses before an upset win over top-ten ranked Washburn.

[42][43] During that season the Bronchos were as high as 22nd in the D2football.com rankings before finishing third in the MIAA with an 8–3 record and a Mineral Water Bowl appearance.

[50] In December 2021, UCO hired former Northwest Missouri State and Abilene Christian head coach Adam Dorrel to the same position.

[53] In those seasons, four coaches have led the Bronchos to postseason playoff appearances: Al Blevins, Phil Ball, Gary Howard, and Chuck Langston.

Eight coaches have won conference championships with the Bronchos: Charles W. Wantland, Claude Reeds, Dale E. Hamilton, Gene Smith, Blevins, Ball, Howard, and Adam Dorrel.

The Lone Star Conference was split into two divisions from the 1997 to the 2010 season with Central Oklahoma competing in the LSC North.

The Bronchos have played their home football games at Chad Richison Stadium, located on the north side of the UCO campus, since 1965.

[55] The stadium underwent renovations in 2005 with the addition of a three-level press box that includes club seating and new stands on both sides of the field.

In 2017, the university began construction of a 45,000 square foot sports performance center located along the north end zone.

[57] The 2022 renovation expanded the visitors grandstand and replaced a staircase behind the south end zone with a waterfall.