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How many national championships has Ohio State won?
Key takeaways
- Ohio State Buckeyes football has won 9 national championships: 1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002, 2014, 2024.
- Title seasons: 1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002, 2014, 2024.
- 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 (1897-2026): 888-287-40.
9 National titles
888-287-40 Record 1897-2026
20 of 49 Bowl / playoff wins
2002 (14-0) Best season
2
seasons since Ohio State's last national championship 2024 national championship - Finished 14-2.
Every national title, year by year
| Year | Title | The season |
|---|---|---|
| 1942 | 1942 national championship | Finished 9-1. |
| 1954 | 1954 national championship | Finished 10-0. |
| 1957 | 1957 national championship | Finished 9-1. |
| 1961 | 1961 national championship (claimed) | Finished 8-0-1. |
| 1968 | 1968 national championship | Finished 10-0. |
| 1970 | 1970 national championship (claimed) | Finished 9-1. |
| 2002 | 2002 national championship | Finished 14-0. |
| 2014 | 2014 national championship | Finished 14-1. |
| 2024 | 2024 national championship | Finished 14-2. |
Claimed national championships, per the program's own record book.
Ohio State postseason, 1897-2026
| Season | Record | Postseason |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12-2 | Lost College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic |
| 2023 | 11-2 | Lost Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic |
| 2022 | 11-2 | Lost CFP Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl |
| 2021 | 11-2 | Won Rose Bowl Game Pres. by Capital One Venture X |
| 2020 | 7-1 | Lost CFP National Championship pres. by AT&T |
| 2019 | 13-1 | Lost PLAYSTATION FIESTA BOWL - CFP SEMIFINAL |
| 2018 | 13-1 | Won ROSE BOWL GAME PRESENTED BY NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL |
| 2017 | 12-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 2016 | 11-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2015 | 12-1 | Won BATTLEFROG FIESTA BOWL |
| 2013 | 12-2 | Lost DISCOVER ORANGE BOWL |
| 2011 | 6-7 | Lost TAXSLAYER.com GATOR BOWL |
| 2010 | 12-1 | Won ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL |
| 2009 | 11-2 | Won ROSE BOWL GAME PRESENTED BY CITI |
| 2008 | 10-3 | Lost TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL |
| 2007 | 11-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2006 | 12-1 | Lost BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AT GLENDALE AZ |
| 2005 | 10-2 | Won Tostitos Fiesta Bowl |
| 2004 | 8-4 | Won Bowl game |
| 2003 | 11-2 | Won TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL |
| 2001 | 7-5 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2000 | 8-4 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1998 | 11-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1997 | 10-3 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1996 | 11-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1995 | 11-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1994 | 9-4 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1993 | 10-1-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1992 | 8-3-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1991 | 8-4 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1990 | 7-4-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1989 | 8-4 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1986 | 10-3 | Won Bowl game |
| 1985 | 9-3 | Won Bowl game |
| 1984 | 9-3 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1983 | 9-3 | Won Bowl game |
| 1982 | 9-3 | Won Bowl game |
| 1981 | 9-3 | Won Bowl game |
| 1980 | 9-3 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1979 | 11-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1978 | 7-4-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1977 | 9-3 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1976 | 9-2-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1975 | 11-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1974 | 10-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1973 | 10-0-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1972 | 9-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1949 | 7-1-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1920 | 7-1 | 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 this page | 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 Ohio 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 Ohio 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.
Ohio State Buckeyes football has won 9 national championships: 1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002, 2014, 2024.
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Frequently asked questions
How many national championships has Ohio State won?
9. 1942 national championship, 1954 national championship, 1957 national championship, 1961 national championship (claimed), 1968 national championship, 1970 national championship (claimed), 2002 national championship, 2014 national championship, 2024 national championship.
When did Ohio State win its first national championship?
In 1942. Finished 9-1.
When did Ohio State last win a national championship?
In 2024. Finished 14-2.