Mizzou Claims 1960 National Title, 66 Years After Undefeated Season
Missouri football fans have waited more than a decade for an SEC championship. Now the Tigers have something even bigger to celebrate, a national title from six decades ago that the program officially claimed this week.
On August 28, Mizzou Athletics announced it would honor the 1960 squad as national champions. That team went undefeated under legendary coach Dan Devine, but never received official recognition at the time. The move came just weeks after U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt pushed a Senate resolution through Washington to honor the team.
For Iowa sports fans, the story carries familiar echoes. The 1960 championship picture included the Iowa Hawkeyes, who finished that season ranked No. 3 in the final poll with an 8-1 record. Iowa is one of five schools with a claim to the 1960 title, alongside Missouri, Ole Miss, Minnesota, and Washington.
How Missouri made the championship official
The push started in the U.S. Senate, not on the football field. On August 6, Senator Schmitt introduced and passed a resolution honoring the 1960 Missouri team. That political recognition gave athletic directors the cover they needed to review the historical record and make the title official.
Mizzou Athletic Director Laird Veatch explained the decision in a statement released through the university.
We appreciate Sen. Schmitt and the U.S. Senate for recognizing the accomplishments of our 1960 football team and for bringing renewed attention to a remarkable group of Tigers. The 1960 team has an important place in Mizzou history, and after reviewing the historical record, we believe it is appropriate to honor that team as national champions.
The 1960 season that almost was
The 1960 Tigers put together one of the best seasons in program history. They won the Big Eight title and climbed to No. 1 in the country before a late-season matchup against rival Kansas.
Missouri lost that game 23-7, but the loss did not stand. Kansas later forfeited the game for using an ineligible player, giving Missouri the win and restoring a perfect record. The Tigers capped the season with an 11-0 mark after beating Heisman Trophy winner Joe Bellino and Navy in the Orange Bowl.
It remains the only undefeated season in Mizzou history.
Why a title can be claimed 66 years later
College football in 1960 had no playoff system and no single championship game. Instead, multiple mathematical polling systems rated teams after the season. Missouri is using the NCAA-recognized Polling System, which ranked the Tigers No. 1, as the basis for its claim.
That system is the same one that gives four other schools a claim to the 1960 title. Ole Miss finished 10-0-1 with a Sugar Bowl victory and the No. 2 spot in the final poll. Minnesota went 8-2 with a Rose Bowl loss but held the No. 1 spot in a different poll. Washington went 10-1 with a Rose Bowl win. Iowa finished 8-1 and No. 3.
Missouri stands alone among the five with a perfect record on paper, including the forfeit win over Kansas and a bowl victory.
What this means for the SEC
In the SEC, national championship banners carry real weight in recruiting. Alabama, Georgia, and LSU have built dynasties on their trophy cases. Missouri now brings its own claim to the table, giving the program a historic talking point in the nation's toughest conference.
Senator Schmitt celebrated the recognition with a pointed message for Tigers fans.
Kansas still lost.
When Missouri will unveil the banner
The Tigers will raise the 1960 national championship banner on September 19, 2026, during halftime of their home game against Troy at Memorial Stadium. The team will wear 1960 throwback uniforms to open the renovated $250 million end zone project, tying the celebration to the stadium's 100th anniversary.
Whether the newly claimed title carries the same weight as Alabama's multiple championships is open to debate. But Missouri now officially calls itself a national champion.
FAQ
Why did Missouri claim a national championship from 1960?
Missouri used the NCAA-recognized Polling System from that era, which ranked the 1960 Tigers No. 1, to justify the claim. The team went 11-0 with a forfeit win over Kansas and a victory over Navy in the Orange Bowl.
Which other schools claim the 1960 national title?
Ole Miss, Iowa, Minnesota, and Washington also claim the 1960 national title, each based on a different poll or selector. Missouri and Ole Miss share the distinction of 1960 being their only claimed national championship.
When will Missouri celebrate the championship?
Missouri will unveil the banner on September 19, 2026, during halftime of its home game against Troy at Memorial Stadium, as part of the stadium's 100th anniversary celebration.