Leones Negros

The club began participating in the Tercera División for two seasons and then won promotion to the Segunda División. After the 1973–74 season, the club reached the Primera División by acquiring the franchise of C.F. Torreón and moving it to Guadalajara.

During their first years in the Primera División they had several skilled Brazilian players, reason for which noted sports broadcaster Ángel Fernández started to call them "Leones Negros" (Black Lions), a nickname that stuck and remains part of the folklore of Mexican football.

UdeG finished as runners-up three times in the Primera División (1975–76, 1976–77 and 1989–90). In addition, the club won the 1978 CONCACAF Champions' Cup together with Comunicaciones from Guatemala and Defence Force from Trinidad and Tobago.

Dissolution of the franchise

After 20 years in the top division, the club was in decline, alleged questionable financial dealings, a very poor squad and hardly any local fans who are loyal to the two most popular clubs of the city (Guadalajara and Atlas). The franchise of Leones Negros UdeG was acquired by the FMF, to make way for the reduction in the number of participating clubs in the Primera División. On 27 May 1994, UdeG played its last match against Atlas, losing 2–1.

After the club's dissolution by the FMF, its reserve team known as Atlético Bachilleres continued competing in the Segunda División, the team obtained the title in the verano 1997 tournament, gaining promotion to the Primera División "A" where they stayed until the franchise was sold and moved to Orizaba, Veracruz in 2002. name it had since the 1970s when the reserve team was established.

Between 2002 and 2009, another reserve team known as Cachorros UdeG competed in the Segunda División, the team was close to gaining promotion to the Primera División "A", finishing as runners-up in the Clausura 2005 tournament. The team changed its home stadium to Estadio Municipal Santa Rosa in Ciudad Guzmán, Jalisco for the Apertura 2007 tournament, but have stated that some of their home games will still played at their traditional home in twice worldcup host Estadio Jalisco. In 2014, the team became in Leones Negros UdeG Premier.

Return of the franchise

For some time businessmen, among them Jorge Vergara, tried to return the franchise of Leones Negros UdeG to the top division of Mexican football, this was achieved through the purchase of the franchise of Tapatío for $800,000 USD from Guadalajara of which Tapatío was its affiliate team. On 21 May 2009, it was confirmed that Leones Negros UdeG entered the Primera División "A".

Promotion to Liga MX

In the Apertura 2013 tournament, Leones Negros finished 5th and entered the Liguilla, where they finished as champions of the Ascenso MX, defeating Necaxa 2–1, earning the right to compete in the Campeón de Ascenso for the promotion to Liga MX.

After a hard Clausura 2014 tournament, Leones Negros ended in 4th place, but lost in the quarterfinals against Alebrijes de Oaxaca. However, Leones Negros competed in the Campeón de Ascenso against Estudiantes Tecos, who were the Clausura 2014 Champions.

After two very disputed matches, both of them ended in a tie, the promotion was defined in a penalty shoot-out, in which goalkeeper Humberto "Gansito" Hernández scored the final and decisive penalty, giving UdeG the promotion to Liga MX.

Relegation

On 9 May 2015, Leones Negros UdeG was officially relegated after only one season in the top division of Mexican football. Despite winning the match against Cruz Azul 2–0, relegation rivals Puebla managed to obtain a 2–2 tie, thus giving them more percentage in the relegation table. As a result, UdeG returned to Ascenso MX. In the Clausura 2018 tournament, the club was close to returning to Liga MX, however, UdeG finished as runners-up, losing to Cafetaleros. On June 2020, UdeG became a member of the Liga de Expansión MX when it replaced Ascenso MX.

On October 7, 2026, the construction of a new stadium for the club was announced.