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Big 12 History Vault
Has Cincinnati won a national championship?
Key takeaways
- Cincinnati Bearcats football has not won a national championship.
- Across the Big 12, TCU (2), BYU (1), Colorado (1), Oklahoma State (1), UCF (1) have claimed national titles.
- All-time record in our game log (1893-2026): 440-451-15.
0 National titles
440-451-15 Record 1893-2026
9 of 22 Bowl / playoff wins
1951 (5-0) Best season
Cincinnati postseason, 1893-2026
| Season | Record | Postseason |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7-6 | Lost AutoZone Liberty Bowl |
| 2022 | 9-4 | Lost Wasabi Fenway Bowl |
| 2021 | 13-1 | Lost CFP Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic |
| 2020 | 9-1 | Lost Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl |
| 2019 | 11-3 | Won TICKETSMARTER BIRMINGHAM BOWL |
| 2018 | 11-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 2015 | 7-6 | Lost HAWAI'I BOWL |
| 2014 | 9-4 | Lost MILITARY BOWL PRESENTED BY NORTHROP GRUMMAN |
| 2013 | 9-4 | Lost BELK BOWL |
| 2012 | 10-3 | Won BELK BOWL |
| 2011 | 10-3 | Won AutoZone LIBERTY BOWL |
| 2009 | 12-1 | Lost ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL |
| 2008 | 11-3 | Lost FEDEX ORANGE BOWL |
| 2007 | 10-3 | Won Bowl game |
| 2006 | 8-5 | Won INTERNATIONAL BOWL AT TORONTO ON |
| 2004 | 7-5 | Won Bowl game |
| 2002 | 7-7 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2001 | 7-5 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2000 | 7-5 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1997 | 8-4 | Won Bowl game |
| 1950 | 3-3 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1946 | 3-2 | Won Bowl game |
Source: CollegeFootballData game results via the CFB Data Hub.
National titles across the Big 12
| Team | Titles | Last title |
|---|---|---|
 TCU Horned Frogs | 2 | 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 this page | 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 |
Current Big 12 members, claimed national championships.
Where Cincinnati sits in the Big 12
Current Big 12 programs have claimed six national titles between them: two for TCU, one for BYU, one for Colorado, one for Oklahoma State and one for UCF. The other 11 programs are still chasing a first. See how this season is shaping up on the Big 12 standings, or browse every season on the Cincinnati 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.
Cincinnati Bearcats football has not won a national championship.
About the author and reviewer
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Frequently asked questions
Has Cincinnati ever won a national championship?
Cincinnati Bearcats football has not won a national championship.
Which Big 12 teams have won national championships?
TCU (1935, 1938), BYU (1984), Colorado (1990), Oklahoma State (1945), UCF (2017).