List of Minnesota Golden Gophers football seasons
The Minnesota Golden Gophers college football team competes as part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, representing the University of Minnesota in the West Division of the Big Ten Conference. Minnesota was one of seven original founding members of the Big Ten Conference, then known as the Western Conference, in 1896.
Since the team's first season in 1882, the Gophers have participated in more than 1,250 officially sanctioned games, including 20 bowl games, and have finished in the top 25 of the national polls 16 times. Minnesota claims seven national championships, most recently a consensus national championship in 1960, and has won at least a share of the conference championship 18 times, most recently in 1967.
Seasons
| National Champions † | Conference Champions * | Division Champions ‡ | Bowl game berth ^ |
| Season | Head coach | Conference | Season results | Bowl result | Final ranking | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conference finish |
Division finish [a] |
Won | Lost | Tied | Associated Press Poll [b] |
Coaches' Poll [c] | ||||
| Minnesota Golden Gophers | ||||||||||
| 1882 | No Coach | Independent | — | — | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1883 | Thomas Peebles | — | — | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A | |
| 1886 | Frederick S. Jones | — | — | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A | |
| 1887 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1888 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1889 | Al McCord, D. W. McCord, Frank Heffelfinger, Billy Morse | — | — | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A | |
| 1890 | Tom Eck | — | — | 5 | 1 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A | |
| 1891 | Edward Moulton | — | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A | |
| 1892 | No Coach | — | — | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A | |
| 1893 | Wallace Winter | — | — | 6 | 0 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A | |
| 1894 | Tom Cochrane Jr. | — | — | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A | |
| 1895 | Pudge Heffelfinger | — | — | 7 | 3 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A | |
| 1896 | Alexander Jerrems | Big Ten Conference[e] | 5th | — | 8 | 2 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1897 | 6th | — | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1898 | Jack Minds | 5th | — | 4 | 5 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A | |
| 1899 | Jack Harrison, William C. Leary | 6th | — | 6 | 3 | 2 | — | N/A | N/A | |
| 1900 * | Henry L. Williams | T–1st | — | 10 | 0 | 2 | — | N/A | N/A | |
| 1901 | 3rd | — | 9 | 1 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1902 | 3rd | — | 9 | 2 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1903 * | T–1st | — | 14 | 0 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1904 † | T–1st | — | 13 | 0 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1905 | 2nd | — | 10 | 1 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1906 * | T–1st | — | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1907 | 5th | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1908 | 7th | — | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1909 * | T–1st | — | 6 | 1 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1910 * | T–1st | — | 6 | 1 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1911 * | T–1st | — | 6 | 0 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1912 | 4th | — | 4 | 3 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1913 | 2nd | — | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1914 | 2nd | — | 6 | 1 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1915 * | T–1st | — | 6 | 0 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1916 | 3rd | — | 6 | 1 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1917 | 2nd | — | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1918 | 4th | — | 5 | 2 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1919 | 4th | — | 4 | 2 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1920 | 10th | — | 1 | 6 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1921 | 7th | — | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1922 | William H. Spaulding | 5th | — | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A | |
| 1923 | 4th | — | 5 | 1 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1924 | 6th | — | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1925 | Clarence Spears | 7th | — | 5 | 2 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A | |
| 1926 | 6th | — | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1927 * | T–1st | — | 6 | 0 | 2 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1928 | 3rd | — | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1929 | 3rd | — | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1930 | Fritz Crisler | 6th | — | 3 | 4 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A | |
| 1931 | 5th | — | 7 | 3 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1932 | Bernie Bierman | 6th | — | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A | |
| 1933 * | T–1st | — | 4 | 0 | 4 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1934 † | T–1st | — | 8 | 0 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1935 † | T–1st | — | 8 | 0 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A | ||
| 1936 † | 2nd | — | 7 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | N/A | ||
| 1937 * | T–1st | — | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | 5 | N/A | ||
| 1938 * | T–1st | — | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | 10 | N/A | ||
| 1939 | 7th | — | 3 | 4 | 1 | — | — | N/A | ||
| 1940 † | T–1st | — | 8 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | N/A | ||
| 1941 † | T–1st | — | 8 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | N/A | ||
| 1942 | George Hauser | 5th | — | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | 19 | N/A | |
| 1943 | 5th | — | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | — | N/A | ||
| 1944 | 4th | — | 5 | 3 | 1 | — | — | N/A | ||
| 1945 | Bernie Bierman | 8th | — | 4 | 5 | 0 | — | — | N/A | |
| 1946 | 5th | — | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | — | N/A | ||
| 1947 | 3rd | — | 6 | 3 | 0 | — | — | N/A | ||
| 1948 | 3rd | — | 7 | 2 | 0 | — | 16 | N/A | ||
| 1949 | 3rd | — | 7 | 2 | 0 | — | 8 | N/A | ||
| 1950 | 7th | — | 1 | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | ||
| 1951 | Wes Fesler | 7th | — | 2 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | |
| 1952 | 5th | — | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | ||
| 1953 | 5th | — | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | ||
| 1954 | Murray Warmath | 4th | — | 7 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 20 | |
| 1955 | 8th | — | 3 | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1956 | 3rd | — | 6 | 1 | 2 | — | 12 | 9 | ||
| 1957 | 8th | — | 4 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1958 | 9th | — | 1 | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1959 | 10th | — | 2 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1960 † | T–1st | — | 8 | 2 | 0 | Lost Rose Bowl vs. Washington, 7-17 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 1961 | 2nd | — | 8 | 2 | 0 | Won Rose Bowl vs. UCLA, 21-3 | 6 | 6 | ||
| 1962 | 2nd | — | 6 | 2 | 1 | — | 10 | 10 | ||
| 1963 | 9th | — | 3 | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1964 | 4th | — | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1965 | 3rd | — | 5 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | ||
| 1966 | 5th | — | 4 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | ||
| 1967 * | T–1st | — | 8 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 14 | ||
| 1968 | 3rd | — | 6 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1969 | 4th | — | 4 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | ||
| 1970 | 7th | — | 3 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | ||
| 1971 | 7th | — | 4 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1972 | Cal Stoll | 6th | — | 4 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | |
| 1973 | 3rd | — | 7 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1974 | 7th | — | 4 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1975 | 7th | — | 6 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1976 | 3rd | — | 6 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1977 | 5th | — | 7 | 5 | 0 | Lost Hall of Fame Classic vs. Maryland, 7-17 | — | — | ||
| 1978 | 5th | — | 5 | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1979 | Joe Salem | 6th | — | 4 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | |
| 1980 | 5th | — | 5 | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1981 | 6th | — | 6 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1982 | 10th | — | 3 | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1983 | 10th | — | 1 | 10 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1984 | Lou Holtz | 8th | — | 4 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | |
| 1985 | 6th | — | 7 | 5 | 0 | Won Independence Bowl vs. Clemson, 20-13 | — | — | ||
| 1986 | John Gutekunst | 3rd | — | 6 | 6 | 0 | Lost Liberty Bowl vs. Tennessee, 14-21 | — | — | |
| 1987 | 6th | — | 6 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1988 | 10th | — | 2 | 7 | 2 | — | — | — | ||
| 1989 | 5th | — | 6 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1990 | 6th | — | 6 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1991 | 10th | — | 2 | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1992 | Jim Wacker | 10th | — | 2 | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | |
| 1993 | 9th | — | 4 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1994 | 10th | — | 3 | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1995 | 10th | — | 3 | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | ||
| 1996 | 9th | — | 4 | 7 | —[d] | — | — | — | ||
| 1997 | Glen Mason | 9th | — | 3 | 9 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1998 | 7th | — | 5 | 6 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999 | 5th | — | 8 | 4 | — | Lost Sun Bowl vs. Oregon, 20-24 | 18 | 17 | ||
| 2000 | 5th | — | 6 | 6 | — | Lost MicronPC.com Bowl vs. NC State, 30-38 | — | — | ||
| 2001 | 10th | — | 4 | 7 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002 | 7th | — | 8 | 5 | — | Won Music City Bowl vs. Arkansas, 29-14 | — | — | ||
| 2003 | 4th | — | 10 | 3 | — | Won Sun Bowl vs. Oregon, 31-30 | 20 | 17 | ||
| 2004 | 8th | — | 7 | 5 | — | Won Music City Bowl vs. Alabama, 20-16 | — | — | ||
| 2005 | 7th | — | 7 | 5 | — | Lost Music City Bowl vs. Virginia, 31-34 | — | — | ||
| 2006 | 6th | — | 6 | 7 | — | Lost Insight Bowl vs. Texas Tech, 41-44 | — | — | ||
| 2007 | Tim Brewster | 11th | — | 1 | 11 | — | — | — | — | |
| 2008 | 6th | — | 7 | 6 | — | Lost Insight Bowl vs. Kansas, 21-42 | — | — | ||
| 2009 | 8th | — | 6 | 7 | — | Lost Insight Bowl vs. Iowa State, 13-14 | — | — | ||
| 2010 | Tim Brewster / Jeff Horton | 9th | — | 3 | 9 | — | — | — | — | |
| 2011 | Jerry Kill | — | 6th | 3 | 9 | — | — | — | — | |
| 2012 | — | 5th | 6 | 7 | — | Lost Car Care Bowl vs. Texas Tech, 31-34 | — | — | ||
| 2013 | — | 6th | 8 | 5 | — | Lost Texas Bowl vs. Syracuse, 17-21 | — | — | ||
| 2014 | — | 2nd | 8 | 5 | — | Lost Citrus Bowl vs. Missouri, 17-33 | — | — | ||
| 2015 | Jerry Kill / Tracy Claeys | — | T–5th | 6 | 7 | — | Won Quick Lane Bowl vs. Central Michigan, 21-14 | — | — | |
| 2016 | Tracy Claeys | — | T–4th | 9 | 4 | — | Won Holiday Bowl vs. Washington State, 17-12 | — | — | |
| 2017 | P. J. Fleck | — | 6th | 5 | 7 | — | — | — | — | |
| 2018 | — | T–5th | 7 | 6 | — | Won Quick Lane Bowl vs. Georgia Tech, 34-10 | — | — | ||
| 2019‡ | T-2nd | T–1st | 11 | 2 | — | Won Outback Bowl vs. Auburn, 31-24 | 10 | 10 | ||
| 2020 | — | 4th | 3 | 4 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021 | — | T-2nd | 8 | 4 | — | Guaranteed Rate Bowl vs. West Virginia | — | — | ||
| Total | 703 | 523 | 44 | (Regular Season Record) | ||||||
| 9 | 12 | 0 | (Bowl Game Record) | |||||||
| 712 | 535 | 44 | (Overall Record) | |||||||
Notes
a The Big Ten Conference introduced divisional play in 2011; the divisional winners advance to the Big Ten Championship Game to determine the conference champion.[1]
b The Associated Press began conducting a weekly college football poll in 1936.[2]
c The college football coaches' poll has been sponsored by multiple organizations since its creation in 1950. Its current sponsor is USA Today.[2]
d Overtime rules in college football were introduced in 1996, making ties impossible.[3]
e Prior to 1950, the Big Ten was unofficially called the Western Conference or the Big Nine.[4]
References
- ^ "Big Ten Announces Football Division Alignments and 2011 and 2012 Conference Schedules". Big Ten.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-12. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
- ^ a b "Football Bowl Subdivision Records" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
- ^ "Overtime system still excites coaches". USA Today.com. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
- ^ http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/minn/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2011-12/misc_non_event/2012-FB-Media-Guide.pdf