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Big Ten History Vault
How many national championships has Michigan won?
Key takeaways
- Michigan Wolverines football has won 12 national championships: 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1918, 1923, 1932, 1933, 1947, 1948, 1997, 2023.
- Title seasons: 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1918, 1923, 1932, 1933, 1947, 1948, 1997, 2023.
- That is the most of any current Big Ten program.
- All-time record in our game log (1881-2026): 998-360-35.
12 National titles
998-360-35 Record 1881-2026
19 of 49 Bowl / playoff wins
2023 (15-0) Best season
3
seasons since Michigan's last national championship 2023 national championship - Finished 15-0.
Every national title, year by year
| Year | Title | The season |
|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 1901 national championship (claimed) | Finished 11-0. |
| 1902 | 1902 national championship (claimed) | Finished 11-0. |
| 1903 | 1903 national championship (claimed) | Finished 11-0-1. |
| 1904 | 1904 national championship (claimed) | Finished 10-0. |
| 1918 | 1918 national championship (claimed) | Finished 5-0. |
| 1923 | 1923 national championship (claimed) | Finished 8-0. |
| 1932 | 1932 national championship (claimed) | Finished 8-0. |
| 1933 | 1933 national championship (claimed) | Finished 7-0-1. |
| 1947 | 1947 national championship (claimed) | Finished 10-0. |
| 1948 | 1948 national championship | Finished 9-0. |
| 1997 | 1997 national championship | Finished 12-0. |
| 2023 | 2023 national championship | Finished 15-0. |
Claimed national championships, per the program's own record book.
Michigan postseason, 1881-2026
| Season | Record | Postseason |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9-4 | Lost Cheez-It Citrus Bowl |
| 2024 | 8-5 | Won ReliaQuest Bowl |
| 2022 | 13-1 | Lost CFP Semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl |
| 2021 | 12-2 | Lost CFP Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl |
| 2019 | 9-4 | Lost VRBO CITRUS BOWL |
| 2018 | 10-3 | Lost CHICK-FIL-A PEACH BOWL |
| 2017 | 8-5 | Lost OUTBACK BOWL |
| 2016 | 10-3 | Lost Capital One Orange Bowl |
| 2015 | 10-3 | Won BUFFALO WILD WINGS CITRUS BOWL |
| 2013 | 7-6 | Lost BUFFALO WILD WINGS BOWL |
| 2012 | 8-5 | Lost OUTBACK BOWL |
| 2011 | 11-2 | Won ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL |
| 2010 | 7-6 | Lost PROGRESSIVE GATOR BOWL |
| 2007 | 9-4 | Won Bowl game |
| 2006 | 11-2 | Lost ROSE BOWL AT PASADENA CA |
| 2005 | 7-5 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2004 | 9-3 | Lost ROSE BOWL |
| 2003 | 10-3 | Lost ROSE BOWL PRESENTED BY CITI |
| 2002 | 10-3 | Won OUTBACK BOWL |
| 2001 | 8-4 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2000 | 9-3 | Won Bowl game |
| 1999 | 10-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1998 | 10-3 | Won Bowl game |
| 1996 | 8-4 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1995 | 9-4 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1994 | 8-4 | Won Bowl game |
| 1993 | 8-4 | Won Bowl game |
| 1992 | 9-0-3 | Won Bowl game |
| 1991 | 10-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1990 | 9-3 | Won Bowl game |
| 1989 | 10-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1988 | 9-2-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1987 | 8-4 | Won Bowl game |
| 1986 | 11-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1985 | 10-1-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1984 | 6-6 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1983 | 9-3 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1982 | 8-4 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1981 | 9-3 | Won Bowl game |
| 1980 | 10-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1979 | 8-4 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1978 | 10-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1977 | 10-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1976 | 10-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1975 | 8-2-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1971 | 11-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1969 | 8-3 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1964 | 9-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1950 | 6-3-1 | Won Bowl game |
Source: CollegeFootballData game results via the CFB Data Hub.
National titles across the Big Ten
| Team | Titles | Last title |
|---|---|---|
 Michigan Wolverines this page | 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 | 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 Michigan 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 Michigan 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.
Michigan Wolverines football has won 12 national championships: 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1918, 1923, 1932, 1933, 1947, 1948, 1997, 2023.
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Frequently asked questions
How many national championships has Michigan won?
12. 1901 national championship (claimed), 1902 national championship (claimed), 1903 national championship (claimed), 1904 national championship (claimed), 1918 national championship (claimed), 1923 national championship (claimed), 1932 national championship (claimed), 1933 national championship (claimed), 1947 national championship (claimed), 1948 national championship, 1997 national championship, 2023 national championship.
When did Michigan win its first national championship?
In 1901. Finished 11-0.
When did Michigan last win a national championship?
In 2023. Finished 15-0.