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Big Ten History Vault
How many national championships has Nebraska won?
Key takeaways
- Nebraska Cornhuskers football has won 5 national championships: 1970, 1971, 1994, 1995, 1997.
- Title seasons: 1970, 1971, 1994, 1995, 1997.
- 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): 902-414-38.
5 National titles
902-414-38 Record 1892-2026
22 of 50 Bowl / playoff wins
1997 (13-0) Best season
29
seasons since Nebraska's last national championship 1997 national championship - Finished 13-0.
Every national title, year by year
| Year | Title | The season |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1970 national championship | Finished 11-0-1. |
| 1971 | 1971 national championship | Finished 13-0. |
| 1994 | 1994 national championship | Finished 13-0. |
| 1995 | 1995 national championship | Finished 12-0. |
| 1997 | 1997 national championship | Finished 13-0. |
Claimed national championships, per the program's own record book.
Nebraska postseason, 1892-2026
| Season | Record | Postseason |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7-6 | Lost SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl |
| 2024 | 7-6 | Won Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl |
| 2016 | 9-4 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2015 | 6-7 | Won FOSTER FARMS BOWL |
| 2014 | 9-4 | Lost NATIONAL UNIVERSITY HOLIDAY BOWL |
| 2013 | 9-4 | Won TAXSLAYER.com GATOR BOWL |
| 2012 | 10-4 | Lost CAPITAL ONE BOWL |
| 2011 | 9-4 | Lost CAPITAL ONE BOWL |
| 2010 | 10-4 | Lost BRIDGEPOINT EDUCATION HOLIDAY BOWL |
| 2009 | 10-4 | Won Bowl game |
| 2008 | 9-4 | Won GATOR BOWL |
| 2006 | 9-5 | Lost COTTON BOWL AT DALLAS TX |
| 2005 | 8-4 | Won Bowl game |
| 2003 | 10-3 | Won Bowl game |
| 2002 | 7-7 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2001 | 11-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2000 | 10-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1999 | 12-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1998 | 9-4 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1996 | 11-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1993 | 11-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1992 | 9-3 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1991 | 9-2-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1990 | 9-3 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1989 | 10-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1988 | 11-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1987 | 10-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1986 | 10-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1985 | 9-3 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1984 | 10-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1983 | 12-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1982 | 12-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1981 | 9-3 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1980 | 10-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1979 | 10-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1978 | 9-3 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1977 | 9-3 | Won Bowl game |
| 1976 | 9-3-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1975 | 10-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1974 | 9-3 | Won Bowl game |
| 1973 | 9-2-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1972 | 9-2-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1969 | 9-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1966 | 9-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1965 | 10-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1964 | 9-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1963 | 10-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1962 | 9-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1954 | 6-5 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1940 | 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 | 6 | 1966 |
 Illinois Fighting Illini | 5 | 1951 |
 Nebraska Cornhuskers this page | 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 Nebraska 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 Nebraska 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.
Nebraska Cornhuskers football has won 5 national championships: 1970, 1971, 1994, 1995, 1997.
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Frequently asked questions
How many national championships has Nebraska won?
5. 1970 national championship, 1971 national championship, 1994 national championship, 1995 national championship, 1997 national championship.
When did Nebraska win its first national championship?
In 1970. Finished 11-0-1.
When did Nebraska last win a national championship?
In 1997. Finished 13-0.