The Youngstown State Penguins football team represents Youngstown State University, competing in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference, with home games played at Stambaugh Stadium ("The Ice Castle") since 1982. A true FCS powerhouse, the program has won four national championships under legendary coach Jim Tressel, ranking third all-time in titles behind North Dakota State and Georgia Southern, and has made 14 playoff appearances since 1978. The team's history began in 1938 under coach Dwight "Dike" Beede, who also left a permanent mark on the sport by inventing the penalty flag, first used on October 17, 1941. In the late 1970s, coach Bill Narduzzi led the Penguins to their first playoff victories, culminating in a 1979 NCAA Division II championship game appearance against Delaware. Since joining the MVFC in 1997, Youngstown State has maintained its reputation as one of the most consistent and competitive programs in FCS football. With a legacy spanning over 85 years, the Penguins remain a proud and historically significant institution in college football.