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How many national championships has Washington won?
Key takeaways
- Washington Huskies football has won 2 national championships: 1960, 1991.
- Title seasons: 1960, 1991.
- 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 (1915-2026): 689-452-32.
2 National titles
689-452-32 Record 1915-2026
18 of 41 Bowl / playoff wins
1991 (12-0) Best season
35
seasons since Washington's last national championship 1991 national championship - Finished 12-0.
Every national title, year by year
| Year | Title | The season |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1960 national championship (claimed) | Finished 10-1. |
| 1991 | 1991 national championship | Finished 12-0. |
Claimed national championships, per the program's own record book.
Washington postseason, 1915-2026
| Season | Record | Postseason |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9-4 | Won Bucked Up LA Bowl |
| 2024 | 6-7 | Lost Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl |
| 2023 | 14-1 | Lost CFP National Championship Pres. by AT&T |
| 2022 | 11-2 | Won Valero Alamo Bowl |
| 2019 | 8-5 | Won MITSUBISHI MOTORS LAS VEGAS BOWL |
| 2018 | 10-4 | Lost ROSE BOWL GAME PRESENTED BY NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL |
| 2017 | 10-3 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2016 | 12-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2015 | 7-6 | Won ZAXBY'S HEART OF DALLAS BOWL |
| 2014 | 8-6 | Lost TICKETCITY CACTUS BOWL |
| 2013 | 9-4 | Won FIGHT HUNGER BOWL |
| 2012 | 7-6 | Lost MAACO BOWL LAS VEGAS |
| 2011 | 7-6 | Lost VALERO ALAMO BOWL |
| 2010 | 7-6 | Won BRIDGEPOINT EDUCATION HOLIDAY BOWL |
| 2002 | 7-6 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2001 | 8-4 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2000 | 11-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1999 | 7-5 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1998 | 6-6 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1997 | 8-4 | Won Bowl game |
| 1996 | 9-3 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1995 | 7-4-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1992 | 9-3 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1990 | 10-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1989 | 8-4 | Won Bowl game |
| 1987 | 7-4-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1986 | 8-3-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1985 | 7-5 | Won Bowl game |
| 1984 | 11-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1983 | 8-4 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1982 | 10-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1981 | 10-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1980 | 9-3 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1979 | 9-3 | Won Bowl game |
| 1977 | 8-4 | Won Bowl game |
| 1963 | 6-5 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1959 | 10-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1943 | 1-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1936 | 7-2-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1925 | 10-1-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1923 | 10-1-1 | 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 | 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 this page | 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 Washington 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 Washington 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.
Washington Huskies football has won 2 national championships: 1960, 1991.
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Frequently asked questions
How many national championships has Washington won?
2. 1960 national championship (claimed), 1991 national championship.
When did Washington win its first national championship?
In 1960. Finished 10-1.
When did Washington last win a national championship?
In 1991. Finished 12-0.