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How many national championships has Michigan State won?
Key takeaways
- Michigan State Spartans football has won 6 national championships: 1951, 1952, 1955, 1957, 1965, 1966.
- Title seasons: 1951, 1952, 1955, 1957, 1965, 1966.
- 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 (1898-2026): 622-457-31.
6 National titles
622-457-31 Record 1898-2026
13 of 28 Bowl / playoff wins
1952 (9-0) Best season
60
seasons since Michigan State's last national championship 1966 national championship (claimed) - Finished 9-0-1.
Every national title, year by year
| Year | Title | The season |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 1951 national championship (claimed) | Finished 9-0. |
| 1952 | 1952 national championship | Finished 9-0. |
| 1955 | 1955 national championship (claimed) | Finished 9-1. |
| 1957 | 1957 national championship (claimed) | Finished 8-1. |
| 1965 | 1965 national championship | Finished 10-1. |
| 1966 | 1966 national championship (claimed) | Finished 9-0-1. |
Claimed national championships, per the program's own record book.
Michigan State postseason, 1898-2026
| Season | Record | Postseason |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11-2 | Won Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl |
| 2019 | 7-6 | Won NEW ERA PINSTRIPE BOWL |
| 2018 | 7-6 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2017 | 10-3 | Won SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION HOLIDAY BOWL |
| 2015 | 12-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2014 | 11-2 | Won GOODYEAR COTTON BOWL CLASSIC |
| 2013 | 13-1 | Won ROSE BOWL GAME PRESENTED BY VIZIO |
| 2012 | 7-6 | Won BUFFALO WILD WINGS BOWL |
| 2011 | 11-3 | Won OUTBACK BOWL |
| 2010 | 11-2 | Lost CAPITAL ONE BOWL |
| 2009 | 6-7 | Lost VALERO ALAMO BOWL |
| 2008 | 9-4 | Lost CAPITAL ONE BOWL |
| 2007 | 7-6 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2003 | 8-5 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2001 | 7-5 | Won Bowl game |
| 1999 | 10-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1997 | 7-5 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1996 | 6-6 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1995 | 6-5-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1993 | 6-6 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1990 | 8-3-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1989 | 8-4 | Won Bowl game |
| 1988 | 6-5-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1987 | 9-2-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1985 | 7-5 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1984 | 6-6 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1953 | 9-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1937 | 8-2 | Lost 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 this page | 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 State 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 State 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 State Spartans football has won 6 national championships: 1951, 1952, 1955, 1957, 1965, 1966.
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Frequently asked questions
How many national championships has Michigan State won?
6. 1951 national championship (claimed), 1952 national championship, 1955 national championship (claimed), 1957 national championship (claimed), 1965 national championship, 1966 national championship (claimed).
When did Michigan State win its first national championship?
In 1951. Finished 9-0.
When did Michigan State last win a national championship?
In 1966. Finished 9-0-1.