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Big Ten History Vault
How many national championships has Rutgers won?
Key takeaways
- Rutgers Scarlet Knights football has won 1 national championship: 1869.
- Title seasons: 1869.
- 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 (1869-2026): 524-603-25.
1 National titles
524-603-25 Record 1869-2026
7 of 13 Bowl / playoff wins
1976 (11-0) Best season
157
seasons since Rutgers's last national championship 1869 national championship (claimed) - Finished 1-1.
Every national title, year by year
| Year | Title | The season |
|---|---|---|
| 1869 | 1869 national championship (claimed) | Finished 1-1. |
Claimed national championships, per the program's own record book.
Rutgers postseason, 1869-2026
| Season | Record | Postseason |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7-6 | Lost Rate Bowl |
| 2023 | 7-6 | Won Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl |
| 2021 | 5-8 | Lost TaxSlayer Gator Bowl |
| 2014 | 8-5 | Won QUICK LANE BOWL |
| 2013 | 6-7 | Lost NEW ERA PINSTRIPE BOWL |
| 2012 | 9-4 | Lost RUSSELL ATHLETIC BOWL |
| 2011 | 9-4 | Won NEW ERA PINSTRIPE BOWL |
| 2009 | 9-4 | Won Bowl game |
| 2008 | 8-5 | Won Bowl game |
| 2007 | 8-5 | Won Bowl game |
| 2006 | 11-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 2005 | 7-5 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1978 | 9-3 | 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 | 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 this page | 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 Rutgers 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 Rutgers 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.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights football has won 1 national championship: 1869.
About the author and reviewer
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Frequently asked questions
How many national championships has Rutgers won?
1. 1869 national championship (claimed).
When did Rutgers win its first national championship?
In 1869. Finished 1-1.
When did Rutgers last win a national championship?
In 1869. Finished 1-1.