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How many national championships has Minnesota won?
Key takeaways
- Minnesota Golden Gophers football has won 7 national championships: 1904, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1941, 1960.
- Title seasons: 1904, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1941, 1960.
- 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): 737-545-42.
7 National titles
737-545-42 Record 1892-2026
14 of 25 Bowl / playoff wins
1904 (13-0) Best season
66
seasons since Minnesota's last national championship 1960 national championship - Finished 8-2.
Every national title, year by year
| Year | Title | The season |
|---|---|---|
| 1904 | 1904 national championship (claimed) | Finished 13-0. |
| 1934 | 1934 national championship (claimed) | Finished 8-0. |
| 1935 | 1935 national championship (claimed) | Finished 8-0. |
| 1936 | 1936 national championship | Finished 7-1. |
| 1940 | 1940 national championship | Finished 8-0. |
| 1941 | 1941 national championship | Finished 8-0. |
| 1960 | 1960 national championship | Finished 8-2. |
Claimed national championships, per the program's own record book.
Minnesota postseason, 1892-2026
| Season | Record | Postseason |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8-5 | Won Rate Bowl |
| 2024 | 8-5 | Won Duke's Mayo Bowl |
| 2023 | 6-7 | Won Quick Lane Bowl |
| 2022 | 9-4 | Won Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl |
| 2021 | 9-4 | Won Guaranteed Rate Bowl |
| 2019 | 11-2 | Won OUTBACK BOWL |
| 2018 | 7-6 | Won QUICK LANE BOWL |
| 2016 | 9-4 | Won NATIONAL FUNDING HOLIDAY BOWL |
| 2015 | 6-7 | Won QUICK LANE BOWL |
| 2014 | 8-5 | Lost BUFFALO WILD WINGS CITRUS BOWL |
| 2013 | 8-5 | Lost TEXAS BOWL |
| 2012 | 6-7 | Lost MEINEKE CAR CARE BOWL OF TEXAS |
| 2009 | 6-7 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2008 | 7-6 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2006 | 6-7 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2005 | 7-5 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2004 | 7-5 | Won Bowl game |
| 2003 | 10-3 | Won Bowl game |
| 2002 | 8-5 | Won Bowl game |
| 2000 | 6-6 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1999 | 8-4 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1986 | 6-6 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1985 | 7-5 | Won Bowl game |
| 1977 | 7-5 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1961 | 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 this page | 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota 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.
Minnesota Golden Gophers football has won 7 national championships: 1904, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1941, 1960.
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Frequently asked questions
How many national championships has Minnesota won?
7. 1904 national championship (claimed), 1934 national championship (claimed), 1935 national championship (claimed), 1936 national championship, 1940 national championship, 1941 national championship, 1960 national championship.
When did Minnesota win its first national championship?
In 1904. Finished 13-0.
When did Minnesota last win a national championship?
In 1960. Finished 8-2.