How Many National Championships Does Oregon Have in Football?

By Sarah Miller · March 3, 2029

The University of Oregon has won 2 national championships in football, both recognized by NCAA-designated major selectors: one in 1917 and another in 2014.

Oregon Football National Championships Overview

The Oregon Ducks football program, while historically gaining widespread prominence in the 21st century, claims two national titles based on historical polls and selector systems recognized by the NCAA. Unlike sports with a unified NCAA tournament, college football national champions were historically determined by polls and expert panels until the College Football Playoff (CFP) era began in 2014.

What Constitutes a National Championship in College Football?

National titles before 1998 were awarded by polling organizations like the AP Poll or Coaches Poll, or by independent mathematical systems.
The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) governed title games from 1998–2013.
Since 2014, the College Football Playoff (CFP) selects four teams to compete in a bracket-style tournament for the official NCAA-recognized champion.
Schools may claim championships based on "major selectors" acknowledged in the NCAA Records Book.

Detailed History of Oregon's National Championships

1917 National Championship

In 1917, Oregon went 6–1–1 under head coach Hugo Bezdek and was retroactively named national champion by the Billingsley Report and Boand System, two NCAA-recognized selectors. The team won the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC) title and defeated Pennsylvania 14–0 in the Rose Bowl—the first appearance for either program in that game.

2014 National Championship Appearance

While Oregon did not win the 2014 CFP National Championship, they played in it after winning the inaugural playoff semifinal (the Rose Bowl) against Florida State. They faced Ohio State in the final, losing 42–20. However, Oregon was awarded a national title for the 2014 season by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and Helms Athletic Foundation due to their No. 1 ranking in those polls before the bowl games. But the official CFP champion was Ohio State.

Clarification: Oregon officially recognizes the 2014 season as a national championship based on the FWAA selector, even though they lost the CFP final. This is consistent with how many programs claim titles based on pre-bowl or non-BCS/CFP selectors.

Officially Recognized National Titles by Season

Year	Record	Head Coach	Championship Selector	Bowl Result
1917	6–1–1	Hugo Bezdek	Billingsley Report, Boand System	W 14–0 vs. Penn (Rose Bowl)
2014	13–2	Marcus Mariota (Player), Mark Helfrich (HC)	FWAA, Helms Athletic Foundation	L 20–42 vs. Ohio State (CFP National Championship)

Table data source:NCAA, FWAA, University of Oregon Athletics

The table highlights Oregon's two claimed national championships based on NCAA-recognized selectors. While the 1917 title came from retroactive systems, the 2014 claim stems from being ranked No. 1 in select polls prior to the CFP final. Ohio State is universally recognized as the 2014 CFP champion.

Common Questions About Oregon's Football National Championships

Does Oregon have 2 national championships in football?

Yes, the University of Oregon officially claims two national championships in football: one from 1917 based on the Billingsley Report and Boand System, and another from the 2014 season awarded by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), despite losing the CFP National Championship game to Ohio State.

Why does Oregon claim a 2014 national title if they lost the championship game?

Oregon claims the 2014 title because the FWAA and Helms Athletic Foundation named them national champions in their final polls, which were released before the College Football Playoff final. Some programs recognize titles from major selectors even if they didn't win the final game, especially in transitional eras.

Has Oregon ever won a consensus national championship?

No, Oregon has not won a consensus national championship. A consensus title requires winning both the AP Poll and Coaches Poll (or CFP). In 2014, Ohio State won both the CFP and the final polls, making them the undisputed champion.

How many times has Oregon played for a national title?

Oregon has played for a national title once—in the 2015 CFP National Championship Game (concluding the 2014 season)—where they lost to Ohio State 42–20.

What are the major selectors for college football national championships?

Major selectors include the Associated Press (AP) Poll, Coaches Poll, College Football Playoff, Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Helms Athletic Foundation, and various NCAA-recognized mathematical systems like the Billingsley Report and Sagarin Ratings. Schools often claim titles when named champion by any of these entities.