Coached by former Auburn standout, Alabama team snaps 101-game losing streak

Columbia’s losing streak, which went back to 2015, was the longest in the nation.

Columbia of Huntsville, Alabama, ended the longest all-time high school football losing streak with a victory Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. The second-longest losing streak belongs to Glascock County, which lost 82 straight games from 1990 to 1999. (Jason Getz/AJC 2023)

By Caitlyn Stroh-Page

56 minutes ago

The nation’s longest losing streak in high school football ended Friday night.

Columbia High School, out of Huntsville, Alabama, had lost 101 games in a row. Coached by former Auburn star receiver Sammie Coates, Columbia defeated Greensboro (Alabama) 41-14 in its season opener, giving the team its first win since October 2015.

“This is amazing,” Coates said to AL.com after the win. “I’m glad these kids are experiencing it. This is a great experience for them. Now they can go see what it feels like, and now we can add to it.

According to MaxPreps, Columbia’s run was the longest all-time losing streak. Glascock County in Georgia claims the second-longest streak all time at 82 (1990-1999).

Coates, a third-round NFL draft pick in 2015, was hired in January 2025. The team went 0-10 in his first season.

Gus Malzahn, who coached Coates at Auburn, posted on X saying: “Bigtime proud of you @sammiecoates11″