While the road to the championship game has produced a minefield of challengers, for the ninth consecutive year, the Pumas C.U. of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and the Auténticos Tigres of the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon (UANL) will face each other in the ONEFA (Organización Nacional Estudiantil de Futbol Americano) title game, this year at Olympic Stadium in Mexico City.
Both teams enter the game with identical 8-1 records. The only loss suffered by the Pumas was to the defending CONADEIP champions, the UDLAP Aztecas, 27-21 in overtime.
So the stage is set.
In the eight previous meetings in the championship game between these two the Tigres have come out on top five teams. The Pumas last win was in 2014 when they won by a touchdown 21-14 at Olympic Stadium, the venue for this year’s game.
The Tigres are seeking to three-peat, and if they do they would join the Condors of the UNAM (1978-80, 1983-86), Aztecas of the UDLAP (1995-97) and Borregos Salvajes ITESM-Monterrey (2004-08).
Before 1978, the only teams with three or more consecutive championships were the Mexican Athletic Center (1930-32), Pumas de la UNAM (1933-44), Burros Blancos of the IPN (1953-55) and Poli Guinda (1963-65).
Scores of previous finals between these two teams
2009: UANL Auténticos Tigres 42 – UNAM Pumas 21 / University Stadium
2010: UNAM Pumas 31 – UANL Auténticos Tigres 21 / Olympic Stadium
2011: UANL Auténticos Tigres 16 – CU UNAM Pumas 15 / University Stadium
2012: UANL Auténticos Tigres 34 – CU UNAM Pumas 20 / Olympic Stadium
2013: UANL Auténticos Tigres 16 – CU UNAM Pumas 28 / Stadium University
2014: UNAM Pumas 21 – UANL Auténticos Tigres 14 / Olympic Stadium
2015: UANL Auténticos Tigres 16 – CU UNAM Pumas 7
2016: UANL Auténticos Tigres 20 – CU UNAM Pumas 16
The only team to have won a final between the two as visitors was the Pumas.