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How many national championships has Illinois won?
Key takeaways
- Illinois Fighting Illini football has won 5 national championships: 1914, 1919, 1923, 1927, 1951.
- Title seasons: 1914, 1919, 1923, 1927, 1951.
- Across the Big Ten, Michigan (12), USC (11), Ohio State (9), Minnesota (7), Michigan State (6), Illinois (5), Nebraska (5), Penn State (2), Washington (2), Indiana (1), Iowa (1), Maryland (1), Rutgers (1), UCLA (1) have claimed national titles.
- All-time record in our game log (1892-2026): 643-634-49.
5 National titles
643-634-49 Record 1892-2026
9 of 21 Bowl / playoff wins
1923 (8-0) Best season
75
seasons since Illinois's last national championship 1951 national championship (claimed) - Finished 9-0-1.
Every national title, year by year
| Year | Title | The season |
|---|---|---|
| 1914 | 1914 national championship (claimed) | Finished 7-0. |
| 1919 | 1919 national championship (claimed) | Finished 6-1. |
| 1923 | 1923 national championship (claimed) | Finished 8-0. |
| 1927 | 1927 national championship (claimed) | Finished 7-0-1. |
| 1951 | 1951 national championship (claimed) | Finished 9-0-1. |
Claimed national championships, per the program's own record book.
Illinois postseason, 1892-2026
| Season | Record | Postseason |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9-4 | Won Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl |
| 2024 | 10-3 | Won Cheez-It Citrus Bowl |
| 2022 | 8-5 | Lost ReliaQuest Bowl |
| 2019 | 6-7 | Lost REDBOX BOWL |
| 2014 | 6-7 | Lost ZAXBY'S HEART OF DALLAS BOWL |
| 2011 | 7-6 | Won KRAFT FIGHT HUNGER BOWL |
| 2010 | 7-6 | Won TEXAS BOWL |
| 2007 | 9-4 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2001 | 10-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1999 | 8-4 | Won Bowl game |
| 1994 | 7-5 | Won Bowl game |
| 1992 | 6-5-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1991 | 6-6 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1990 | 8-4 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1989 | 10-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1988 | 6-5-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1985 | 6-5-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1983 | 10-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1982 | 7-5 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1963 | 8-1-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1946 | 8-2 | Won Bowl game |
Source: CollegeFootballData game results via the CFB Data Hub.
National titles across the Big Ten
| Team | Titles | Last title |
|---|---|---|
 Michigan Wolverines | 12 | 2023 |
 USC Trojans | 11 | 2004 |
 Ohio State Buckeyes | 9 | 2024 |
 Minnesota Golden Gophers | 7 | 1960 |
 Michigan State Spartans | 6 | 1966 |
 Illinois Fighting Illini this page | 5 | 1951 |
 Nebraska Cornhuskers | 5 | 1997 |
 Penn State Nittany Lions | 2 | 1986 |
 Washington Huskies | 2 | 1991 |
 Indiana Hoosiers | 1 | 2025 |
 Iowa Hawkeyes | 1 | 1958 |
 Maryland Terrapins | 1 | 1953 |
 Rutgers Scarlet Knights | 1 | 1869 |
 UCLA Bruins | 1 | 1954 |
 Northwestern Wildcats | 0 | None yet |
 Oregon Ducks | 0 | None yet |
 Purdue Boilermakers | 0 | None yet |
 Wisconsin Badgers | 0 | None yet |
Current Big Ten members, claimed national championships.
Where Illinois sits in the Big Ten
Current Big Ten programs have claimed 64 national titles between them: 12 for Michigan, 11 for USC, nine for Ohio State, seven for Minnesota, six for Michigan State, five for Illinois, five for Nebraska, two for Penn State, two for Washington, one for Indiana, one for Iowa, one for Maryland, one for Rutgers and one for UCLA. The other four programs are still chasing a first. See how this season is shaping up on the Big Ten standings, or browse every season on the Illinois record by year page.
Editorial note
College football crowned national champions by polls and selectors before the BCS (1998) and the College Football Playoff (2014). The titles here are the ones each program claims in its own record book.
Illinois Fighting Illini football has won 5 national championships: 1914, 1919, 1923, 1927, 1951.
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Frequently asked questions
How many national championships has Illinois won?
5. 1914 national championship (claimed), 1919 national championship (claimed), 1923 national championship (claimed), 1927 national championship (claimed), 1951 national championship (claimed).
When did Illinois win its first national championship?
In 1914. Finished 7-0.
When did Illinois last win a national championship?
In 1951. Finished 9-0-1.