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How many national championships has Iowa won?
Key takeaways
- Iowa Hawkeyes football has won 1 national championship: 1958.
- Title seasons: 1958.
- 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 (1894-2026): 685-562-35.
1 National titles
685-562-35 Record 1894-2026
18 of 37 Bowl / playoff wins
1922 (7-0) Best season
68
seasons since Iowa's last national championship 1958 national championship (claimed) - Finished 8-1-1.
Every national title, year by year
| Year | Title | The season |
|---|---|---|
| 1958 | 1958 national championship (claimed) | Finished 8-1-1. |
Claimed national championships, per the program's own record book.
Iowa postseason, 1894-2026
| Season | Record | Postseason |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9-4 | Won ReliaQuest Bowl |
| 2024 | 8-5 | Lost TransPerfect Music City Bowl |
| 2023 | 10-4 | Lost Cheez-It Citrus Bowl |
| 2022 | 8-5 | Won TransPerfect Music City Bowl |
| 2021 | 10-4 | Lost Vrbo Citrus Bowl |
| 2019 | 10-3 | Won SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION HOLIDAY BOWL |
| 2018 | 9-4 | Won OUTBACK BOWL |
| 2017 | 8-5 | Won NEW ERA PINSTRIPE BOWL |
| 2016 | 8-5 | Lost OUTBACK BOWL |
| 2015 | 12-2 | Lost ROSE BOWL GAME PRES. BY NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL |
| 2014 | 7-6 | Lost TAXSLAYER BOWL |
| 2013 | 8-5 | Lost OUTBACK BOWL |
| 2011 | 7-6 | Lost INSIGHT BOWL |
| 2010 | 8-5 | Won INSIGHT BOWL |
| 2009 | 11-2 | Won FedEx ORANGE BOWL |
| 2008 | 9-4 | Won OUTBACK BOWL |
| 2006 | 6-7 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2005 | 7-5 | Lost Outback Bowl |
| 2004 | 10-2 | Won CAPITAL ONE BOWL |
| 2003 | 10-3 | Won OUTBACK BOWL |
| 2002 | 11-2 | Lost ORANGE BOWL |
| 2001 | 7-5 | Won Bowl game |
| 1997 | 7-5 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1996 | 9-3 | Won Bowl game |
| 1995 | 8-4 | Won Bowl game |
| 1993 | 6-6 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1991 | 10-1-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1990 | 8-4 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1988 | 6-4-3 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1987 | 10-3 | Won Bowl game |
| 1986 | 9-3 | Won Bowl game |
| 1985 | 10-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1984 | 8-4-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1983 | 9-3 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1982 | 8-4 | Won Bowl game |
| 1981 | 8-4 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1956 | 9-1 | 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 | 5 | 1951 |
 Nebraska Cornhuskers | 5 | 1997 |
 Penn State Nittany Lions | 2 | 1986 |
 Washington Huskies | 2 | 1991 |
 Indiana Hoosiers | 1 | 2025 |
 Iowa Hawkeyes this page | 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 Iowa 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 Iowa 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.
Iowa Hawkeyes football has won 1 national championship: 1958.
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Frequently asked questions
How many national championships has Iowa won?
1. 1958 national championship (claimed).
When did Iowa win its first national championship?
In 1958. Finished 8-1-1.
When did Iowa last win a national championship?
In 1958. Finished 8-1-1.