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Big 12 History Vault
Has Houston won a national championship?
Key takeaways
- Houston Cougars 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 (1946-2026): 479-390-15.
0 National titles
479-390-15 Record 1946-2026
14 of 31 Bowl / playoff wins
2015 (13-1) Best season
Houston postseason, 1946-2026
| Season | Record | Postseason |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10-3 | Won Kinder's Texas Bowl |
| 2022 | 8-5 | Won Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl |
| 2021 | 12-2 | Won TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl |
| 2020 | 3-5 | Lost New Mexico Bowl |
| 2018 | 8-5 | Lost LOCKHEED MARTIN ARMED FORCES BOWL |
| 2017 | 7-5 | Lost HAWAI'I BOWL |
| 2016 | 9-4 | Lost LAS VEGAS BOWL PRESENTED BY GEICO |
| 2015 | 13-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 2014 | 8-5 | Won LOCKHEED MARTIN ARMED FORCES BOWL |
| 2013 | 8-5 | Lost BBVA COMPASS BOWL |
| 2011 | 13-1 | Won TICKETCITY BOWL |
| 2009 | 10-4 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2008 | 8-5 | Won Bowl game |
| 2007 | 8-5 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2006 | 10-4 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2005 | 6-6 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2003 | 7-6 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1996 | 7-5 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1988 | 9-3 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1984 | 7-5 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1981 | 7-4-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1980 | 7-5 | Won Bowl game |
| 1979 | 11-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1978 | 9-3 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1976 | 10-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1974 | 8-3-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1973 | 11-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1971 | 9-3 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1969 | 9-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1962 | 7-4 | Won Bowl game |
| 1951 | 6-5 | 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 | 0 | None yet |
 Houston Cougars this page | 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 Houston 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 Houston 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.
Houston Cougars football has not won a national championship.
About the author and reviewer
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Frequently asked questions
Has Houston ever won a national championship?
Houston Cougars 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).