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How many national championships has UCLA won?
Key takeaways
- UCLA Bruins football has won 1 national championship: 1954.
- Title seasons: 1954.
- 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 (1925-2026): 627-428-31.
1 National titles
627-428-31 Record 1925-2026
17 of 38 Bowl / playoff wins
1954 (9-0) Best season
72
seasons since UCLA's last national championship 1954 national championship - Finished 9-0.
Every national title, year by year
| Year | Title | The season |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 | 1954 national championship | Finished 9-0. |
Claimed national championships, per the program's own record book.
UCLA postseason, 1925-2026
| Season | Record | Postseason |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 8-5 | Won Starco Brands LA Bowl |
| 2022 | 9-4 | Lost Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl |
| 2017 | 6-7 | Lost CACTUS BOWL |
| 2015 | 8-5 | Lost FOSTER FARMS BOWL |
| 2014 | 10-3 | Won VALERO ALAMO BOWL |
| 2013 | 10-3 | Won HYUNDAI SUN BOWL |
| 2012 | 9-5 | Lost BRIDGEPOINT EDUCATION HOLIDAY BOWL |
| 2011 | 6-8 | Lost KRAFT FIGHT HUNGER BOWL |
| 2009 | 7-6 | Won Bowl game |
| 2007 | 6-7 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2006 | 7-6 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2005 | 10-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 2004 | 6-6 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2003 | 6-7 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2002 | 8-5 | Won Bowl game |
| 2000 | 6-6 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1998 | 10-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1997 | 10-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1995 | 7-5 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1993 | 8-4 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1991 | 9-3 | Won Bowl game |
| 1988 | 10-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1987 | 10-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1986 | 8-3-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1985 | 9-2-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1984 | 9-3 | Won Bowl game |
| 1983 | 7-4-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1982 | 10-1-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1981 | 7-4-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1978 | 8-3-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1976 | 9-2-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1975 | 9-2-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1965 | 8-2-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1961 | 7-4 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1955 | 9-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1953 | 8-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1946 | 10-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1942 | 7-4 | 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 | 1 | 1869 |
 UCLA Bruins this page | 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 UCLA 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 UCLA 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.
UCLA Bruins football has won 1 national championship: 1954.
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Frequently asked questions
How many national championships has UCLA won?
1. 1954 national championship.
When did UCLA win its first national championship?
In 1954. Finished 9-0.
When did UCLA last win a national championship?
In 1954. Finished 9-0.