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Big 12 History Vault
Big 12 national championships by team
Key takeaways
- Current Big 12 programs have claimed 6 national titles between them.
- TCU leads with two national titles, and BYU, Colorado, Oklahoma State and UCF have one national title. The other 11 programs are still chasing a first.
- 11 of the 16 programs are still chasing a first.
National titles, by team
| Team | Titles | Years |
|---|---|---|
 TCU Horned Frogs | 2 | 1935, 1938 |
 BYU Cougars | 1 | 1984 |
 Colorado Buffaloes | 1 | 1990 |
 Oklahoma State Cowboys | 1 | 1945 |
 UCF Knights | 1 | 2017 |
 Arizona Wildcats | 0 | None yet |
 Arizona State Sun Devils | 0 | None yet |
 Baylor Bears | 0 | None yet |
 Cincinnati Bearcats | 0 | None yet |
 Houston Cougars | 0 | None yet |
 Iowa State Cyclones | 0 | None yet |
 Kansas Jayhawks | 0 | None yet |
 Kansas State Wildcats | 0 | None yet |
 Texas Tech Red Raiders | 0 | None yet |
 Utah Utes | 0 | None yet |
 West Virginia Mountaineers | 0 | None yet |
Claimed national championships of current Big 12 members, per each program's record book.
The title seasons
TCU Horned Frogs - 2 titles
- 1935: Beat LSU 3-2 in the Sugar Bowl behind quarterback Sammy Baugh.
- 1938: Went 11-0, finished No. 1 in the AP poll and had Heisman winner Davey O’Brien.
BYU Cougars - 1 title
- 1984: Went 13-0 and finished No. 1 in both the AP and Coaches polls after beating Michigan in the Holiday Bowl.
Colorado Buffaloes - 1 title
- 1990: Finished No. 1 in the AP poll after beating Notre Dame 10-9 in the Orange Bowl.
Oklahoma State Cowboys - 1 title
- 1945: Went 9-0 as Oklahoma A&M and beat Saint Mary’s in the Sugar Bowl.
UCF Knights - 1 title
- 2017: Went 13-0 and beat Auburn 34-27 in the Peach Bowl.
Editorial note
Before the BCS (1998) and the College Football Playoff (2014), national champions were named by polls and selectors, so programs claim titles from different sources. This table lists the titles each program claims.
Current Big 12 programs have claimed 6 national championships. TCU leads with two national titles, and BYU, Colorado, Oklahoma State and UCF have one national title. The other 11 programs are still chasing a first.
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Frequently asked questions
Which Big 12 team has the most national championships?
TCU Horned Frogs, with two (1935, 1938).
How many national championships do Big 12 teams have in total?
6. TCU leads with two national titles, and BYU, Colorado, Oklahoma State and UCF have one national title. The other 11 programs are still chasing a first.
Which Big 12 teams have never won a national championship?
Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, Cincinnati, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Texas Tech, Utah, West Virginia.