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Has Iowa State won a national championship?
Key takeaways
- Iowa State Cyclones 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 (1895-2026): 569-681-45.
0 National titles
569-681-45 Record 1895-2026
6 of 19 Bowl / playoff wins
1898 (1-0) Best season
Iowa State postseason, 1895-2026
| Season | Record | Postseason |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11-3 | Won Pop-Tarts Bowl |
| 2023 | 7-6 | Lost AutoZone Liberty Bowl |
| 2021 | 7-6 | Lost Cheez-It Bowl |
| 2020 | 9-3 | Won PlayStation Fiesta Bowl |
| 2019 | 7-6 | Lost CAMPING WORLD BOWL |
| 2018 | 8-5 | Lost VALERO ALAMO BOWL |
| 2017 | 8-5 | Won Bowl game |
| 2012 | 6-7 | Lost AutoZone LIBERTY BOWL |
| 2011 | 6-7 | Lost NEW ERA PINSTRIPE BOWL |
| 2009 | 7-6 | Won Bowl game |
| 2005 | 7-5 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2004 | 7-5 | Won Bowl game |
| 2002 | 7-7 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2001 | 7-5 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2000 | 9-3 | Won Bowl game |
| 1978 | 8-4 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1977 | 8-4 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1972 | 5-6-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1971 | 8-4 | Lost 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 | 0 | None yet |
 Iowa State Cyclones this page | 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 Iowa State 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 Iowa State 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.
Iowa State Cyclones football has not won a national championship.
About the author and reviewer
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Frequently asked questions
Has Iowa State ever won a national championship?
Iowa State Cyclones 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).