List of NCAA schools with the most Division I national championships
This is a list of U.S. universities and colleges that have won the most team sport national championships that have been bestowed for the highest level of collegiate athletic competition, be that at either the varsity or club level, as determined by the governing organization of each sport.
Scope of the list
While many collegiate sports championships in the United States are now sponsored by the NCAA, historically this was not the case, and many championships were organized for decades without NCAA sponsorship. This list includes both (i) NCAA championships and (ii) titles won in competitions organized by bodies other than the NCAA.
The column in the list below that sets forth NCAA championships includes all non-football titles won at the highest level organized by the NCAA (Division I/Collegiate), as of July 1, 2017, for sports years through that date[1] and with updated results for subsequent sports year(s). (In accordance with the NCAA's own records, this column includes certain "unofficial" NCAA championships won during years the NCAA did not calculate winning team scores – boxing from 1932 through 1947, track and field from 1925–27 and wrestling in 1928 and 1931–33.)[2][3][4] Other championships are set forth in other columns. For example, women's sports were solely organized by the AIAW rather than the NCAA prior to the 1981–82 year of dual championships, and these titles are included in their own separate column.[5] Notably, the championship in the highest level of NCAA football (FBS) to date is still not sponsored by the NCAA ("Recognized Football Titles" column), nor has the oldest organized intercollegiate competition, men's rowing, ever been subject to NCAA control (included in the "Other Team Titles" column).[6]
"Other Team Titles" column
The "Other Team Titles" column includes championships won by schools in one of the 27 sports that are (or were) sponsored by the NCAA or AIAW, during years competitive championships were organized by other bodies. These 27 sports are: women's badminton; baseball; basketball; women's bowling; boxing; cross country; fencing; field hockey; golf; gymnastics; ice hockey; lacrosse; indoor rifle; outdoor rifle; women's rowing; skiing; soccer; softball; swimming; women's synchronized swimming; tennis; indoor track; outdoor track; men's trampoline; volleyball; women's beach volleyball, water polo; and wrestling. Finally, the "Other Team Titles" column also includes championships won in three other sports: men's rowing (1871–present), which has voluntarily remained outside NCAA sponsorship, and two NCAA "emerging sports" that organize championships, women's equestrian (2002–present) and women's rugby (1991–present).[7][8]
As more specifically detailed on the table of sports, below, the "Other Team Titles" column includes: (i) historic non-NCAA tournament titles compiled here, (ii) non-AIAW women's championships listed here, (iii) overall women's equestrian championships, (iv) gold medal lacrosse teams listed here and Wingate lacrosse championships, (v) pre-NCAA golf championships (NCAA started sponsoring the golf championship in 1939; the previous 41 championships conferred by the National Intercollegiate Golf Association are in the "Other" column[9][10]); (vi) pre-NCAA swimming championships; (vii) ISFA soccer championships; and (viii) USA Rugby Women’s Divisions 1 / 1 Elite championships.
It does not include Helms Athletic Foundation or Premo-Porretta Power Poll selections, which were awarded retroactively.[11][12]
Most collegiate team national championships
- As detailed on the table of sports, below, the "Other Team Titles" column includes all 27 sports that are or were at one time sponsored by the NCAA or AIAW, plus men's rowing championships (RAAC and IRA), overall women's equestrian championships, and women’s rugby championships.
- The NCAA started sponsoring the intercollegiate golf championship in 1939, but it retained the titles from the 41 championships previously conferred by the National Intercollegiate Golf Association in its records. Of these pre-NCAA titles, Yale, Princeton, Harvard, Michigan, Dartmouth and Stanford won 20, 11, 6, 2, 1 and 1, respectively. These titles are counted in the "Other Team Titles" column.
- The NCAA Committee on Infractions has vacated the following championships, which are not included in the schools' totals: Arkansas' 2004 and 2005 men's outdoor track and field championships, LSU's 2012 women's outdoor track and field championship, UCLA's 1995 softball championship, Syracuse's 1990 men's lacrosse championship, and Florida State's 2007 men's outdoor track and field championship.
- Denver's gymnastics championship at the AIAW Division II level is not included in its Total column because it was not won at the highest level of competition (Division I).
- Utah's cross-country championship at the AIAW Division II level is not included in its Total column because it was not won at the highest level of competition (Division I).
- Although not currently a NCAA Division I school, Tuskegee University won all 18 of its national championships at the highest level of competition in the United States, prior to establishment of collegiate divisions.
Table of sports
Sport | Current NCAA DI championship sport |
Years sponsored by NCAA | Years sponsored by AIAW | Titles included in "Other" column |
---|---|---|---|---|
Badminton (W) | — | 1973–82 | 1970–72, 1983–93 | |
Baseball | 1947–present | — | 1893 | |
Basketball (M) | 1939–present | — | 1904–38 (various tourney winners) 1939–50 NIT champs | |
Basketball (W) | 1982–present | 1972–82 | 1969–71 | |
Bowling (W) | 2004–present | — | 1975–2003 | |
Boxing | 1932–1960 [lower-alpha 1] | — | 1924–31 | |
Cross country (M) | 1938–present | — | 1899–1937 | |
Cross country (W) | 1982–present | 1975–81 | — | |
Equestrian (W) | — | — | 2002–present | |
Fencing (M) | co-ed since 1990 |
1941–42, 1947–present | — | 1894–1943 |
Fencing (W) | 1982–present | 1980–82 | 1929–79 | |
Field hockey | 1981–present | 1975–81 | — | |
Football, FBS | — | — | N/A: football has its own separate column | |
Golf (M) | 1939–present | — | 1897–1938 | |
Golf (W) | 1982–present | 1972–82 | 1970–71 | |
Gymnastics (M) | 1938–present | — | 1900–02, 1917, 1925, 1944 (AAU) | |
Gymnastics (W) | 1982–present | 1973–82 | 1969–72 | |
Ice hockey (M) | 1948–present | — | 1940, 1942 (AAU) | |
Ice hockey (W) | 2001–present | — | 1998–2000 | |
Lacrosse (M) | 1971–present | — | 1881, 1912, 1921, 1926–31, 1936–70 | |
Lacrosse (W) | 1982–present | 1981–82 | 1978–80 | |
Rifle (co-ed) | 1980–present | — | 1905–79 | |
Rowing (M) | — | — | 1871–present (overall points since 1952) | |
Rowing (W) | 1997–present | 1982 | 1973, 1975, 1980–81, 1983–96 | |
Rugby (W) | — | — | 1991–present | |
Skiing (M) | co-ed since 1983 |
1954–present | — | 1921–53 (various) |
Skiing (W) | 1983–present | 1977–82 | — | |
Soccer (M) | 1959–present | — | 1909–35, 1946–48, 1952–58 (ISFA champs); 1949–51 Soccer Bowl champs | |
Soccer (W) | 1982–present | 1981 | 1980 | |
Softball | 1982–present | 1973–82 (also slowpitch 1981–82) |
1969–72 | |
Swimming (M) | 1924–present [lower-alpha 2] | — | — | |
Swimming (W) | 1982–present | 1973–82 | 1968–72 | |
Synchronized swimming (W) |
— | 1977–82 | 1983–present | |
Tennis (M) | 1946–present | — | 1929–31 indoor | |
Tennis (W) | 1982–present | 1977–82 | 1968–76 | |
Track, indoor (M) | 1965–present | — | 1918, 1923–64 | |
Track, indoor (W) | 1983–present | 1980–82 | 1941–79 (AAU) | |
Track, outdoor (M) | 1921–present | — | 1876–1920 | |
Track, outdoor (W) | 1982–present | 1972–82 | 1923–26,[68] 1937–67 (AAU), 1969–71 (DGWS) | |
Trampoline (M) | 1969–70 | — | — | |
Volleyball (M) | 1970–present | — | 1949–1969 | |
Volleyball (W) | 1981–present | 1972–81 | 1969–71 | |
Volleyball, beach (W) | 2016–present | — | 2007–10, 2012–15 | |
Water polo (M) | 1969–present | — | 1913 | |
Water polo (W) | 2001–present | — | 1984–2000 | |
Wrestling | 1928–present | — | 1921 |
- The first year of NCAA sponsorship of the boxing championship was 1932. Before 1948, NCAA team boxing championships were unofficial because team points were not officially awarded.
- The first year of NCAA sponsorship of the swimming championship was 1924. Before 1937, NCAA team swimming championships were unofficial because team points were not officially awarded.
See also
References and notes
- "NCAA Combined Championship Summary (through July 1, 2017)" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
- "Discontinued NCAA Championships: Boxing Championship Records" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-02-27. (121 KiB)
- "Division I Men's Outdoor Track Championships Records Book" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
- "NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship Highlights/History" (PDF). NCAA. NCAA.org. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
- Plyley, Dale E. (1997). "The AIAW vs. the NCAA: a struggle for power to govern women's athletics in American institutions of higher education 1972-1982" (PDF). Retrieved 2014-05-31.
- "Rowing Association of American Colleges". Archived from the original on 2008-05-17. Retrieved 2009-12-16.
- "Emerging Sports for Women". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved 2019-12-25.
- National Collegiate Equestrian Association. "The Real Facts About NCEA Programs". CollegiateEquestrian.com - The Official Site of the NCEA. Archived from the original on 2018-06-24. Retrieved 2018-06-23.
- "Division I Men's Golf" (PDF). Retrieved May 1, 2013.
- Kieran, John (June 24, 1940). "The Collegiate Touch on the Links" (PDF). The New York Times. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
The intercollegiate championship is rising in importance in golf with each passing year. ... The N.C.A.A. has taken over the administration of the college fray and their delegate in charge on the field is none other than Chick Evans, the old champion and one of the greatest shot-makers the game ever knew, amateur or professional.
- Jenkins, Dan (September 11, 1967). "This Year The Fight Will Be In The Open". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
- ESPN, ed. (2009). ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Men's Game. New York, NY: ESPN Books. pp. 526, 529–87. ISBN 978-0-345-51392-2.
- "Recognized National Championships in Division I Football". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2013-11-03. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
- Hunt, Virginia (1977). Governance of Women's Intercollegiate Athletics: an Historical Perspective (Doctoral Dissertation, University of North Carolina - Greensboro, 1976). Ann Arbor, Michigan: University Microfilms. pp. 1–319.
- Willey, Suzanne (1997). The Governance of Women's Intercollegiate Athletics: Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW), 1976–1982 (Thesis (P.E.D.), Indiana University, 1996). Eugene, Oregon: Microform Publications. pp. 1–351.
- Team titles are compiled for these sports: (i) historic non-NCAA tournament titles compiled here, (ii) non-AIAW women's championships listed here, (iii) overall women's equestrian championships, (iv) gold medal lacrosse teams listed here and Wingate lacrosse championships, (v) pre-NCAA golf championships; (vi) pre-NCAA swimming championships; (vii) ISFA soccer championships; and (viii) women’s rugby championships.
- Sparks, F.; Rees, C. (1979). A Survey of Basic Mathematics. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-0-07-059902-4.
- Stanford's 14 other titles are: men's golf (1938); 4x women's rugby (1999, 2005–06, 08); 8x women's synchronized swimming (1998, 99, 2005–08, 13, 16); women's water polo (1985).
- UCLA's 11 other titles are: women's golf (1971); women's volleyball (1972); 5x men's volleyball (1953, 54, 56, 65, 67); 4x women's water polo (1996–98, 2000).
- USC's 5 other titles are: 2x men's volleyball (1949, 50); 2x beach volleyball (2009, 2015); women's water polo (1999).
- Penn State's 36 other titles are: 4x boxing (1924, 27, 29, 30); 4x men's cross country (1926–28, 30); men's gymnastics (1944); 7x men's soccer (1926, 29, 33, 49, 50, 54, 55); 2x men's indoor track (1942, 59); wrestling (1921); women's bowling (1979); 3x women's lacrosse (1978–80); women's rifle (1947); 12x women's rugby (1997, 2000, 04, 07, 09–10, 12–17.)
- Cornell's 70 other titles are: 17x men's cross country (1899, 1900, 02–11, 13, 14, 16, 20, 21); men's fencing (foils: 1911); 2x men's indoor track (1928, 30); 9x men's outdoor track (1905, 06, 08, 11, 14–16, 18, 19); 5x women's fencing (1967–69, 72, 73); 34x men's rowing (1875, 76, 80, 83, 85, 87, 89–94, 96–97, 1901–03, 05–07, 09–12, 15, 30, 55–58, 61, 62, 71, 81); women's rowing (1989); men's soccer (1934).
- Yale's 50 other titles are: men's rowing (1873, 88); baseball (1893); men's cross country (1901); 6x men's 3-weapon fencing (1925, 26, 28–30, 32); 2x men's gymnastics (1901, 02); men's indoor tennis (1931); 3x men's indoor track (1933, 54, 61); 9x men's outdoor track (1887, 89, 93–96, 1902–04); 20x men's golf (1897, 98, 1902, 05–13, 15, 24–26, 31–33, 36); 5x men's soccer (1908, 12, 28, 30, 35).
- Navy's 68 other titles are: 4x boxing (1925, 26, 28, 31); 14x men's fencing (foils: 1901, 05, 07, 10, 15–17, 20–22; 3-weapon: 1924, 25, 39, 43); men's gymnastics (1925); 12x men's rifle (1924–26, 30, 31, 34, 35, 37, 39, 48, 67, 69); men's outdoor rifle (1921); 17x men's lacrosse (1928, 29, 38, 43, 45, 46, 49, 54, 60–67, 70); 2x men's swimming (1925, 26); men's soccer (1932); 16x men's rowing (1921, 22, 25, 31, 38, 47, 52, 60, 63, 65, 82–84, 90, 93, 95).
- Princeton's 31 other titles are: 2x men's rowing (1985, 98); men's outdoor rifle (1905); men's outdoor track (1876); water polo (1913); 4x women's rowing (1990, 93–95); 4x men's lacrosse (1937, 42, 51, 53); 11x men's golf (1914, 16, 19, 20, 22, 23, 27–30, 37); 5x men's soccer (1921, 22, 25−27); 2x women's rugby (1995–96).
- Ohio State's 26 other titles are all in synchronized swimming (most recently 2018).
- Michigan's 9 other titles are: 2x men's golf (1934, 35); 7x men's swimming, unofficial NCAA (1927, 28, 31, 32, 34–36). The NCAA total includes 2 titles awarded by the NCAA in trampoline, during the only two seasons the NCAA sponsored the sport (1969, 70), after it was separated from gymnastics.
- Arizona State's 20 other titles are: women's bowling (1981); 3x women's tennis (1971, 72, 74); 11x women's badminton (1971, 84–93); softball (1972); 4x women's swimming (1968–71).
- Cal's 14 other titles are: 5x rifle (1952, 55, 57–59); 8x men's rowing (1928, 32, 34, 35, 39, 49, 2006, 16); women's rowing (1980).
- Texas' 1 other title is in beach volleyball (2008).
- Penn's 43 other titles are: men's basketball (1920); 2x men's cross-country (1917, 29); 2x men's rifle (regular season: 1919, 22); 5x men's indoor track (1918, 23, 24, 30, 31); 9x men's outdoor track (1897–1900, 07, 10, 12, 13, 20); 14x men's rowing (1882, 84, 1898–1900, 66–69, 76–78, 89, 91); 10x men's soccer (1914, 16, 19, 20, 23, 24, 30–33).
- Harvard's 39 other titles are: 2x men's cross country (1912, 31); 6x men's fencing (foils: 1894–97, 1899, 1900); 2x men's lacrosse (1881, 1912); 2x men's indoor track (1926, 27); 13x men's outdoor track (1880–86, 88, 90–92, 1901, 09); women's ice hockey (1999); 6x men's golf (1898, 99, 1901–04); 4x men's soccer (1913, 14, 26, 30); 3x men's rowing (2003–05).
- Washington's 41 other titles are: 25x men's rowing (1923, 24, 26, 33, 36, 37, 40, 41, 48, 50, 53, 59, 64, 70, 2007–15, 17-18; 6x women's rowing (1981, 83–85, 87, 88); 2x men's rifle (telegraphic: 1925, 32); 5x women's rifle (1923-25, 33, 34); 3x men's skiing (1940-42).
- "Husky Crew 1930-39". Retrieved 2009-12-14.
- "University of Washington Husky Crew 2009" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 12, 2012. Retrieved 2009-12-14.
- Wisconsin's 26 other titles are: 4x men's boxing, unofficial NCAA (1939, 42, 43, 47); 2x men's skiing (1925, 27); 17x men's rowing (1951, 72–75, 79, 80, 86–88, 92, 96, 97, 1999−2002); 2x women's rowing (1975, 86); women's badminton (1983).
- LSU's 1 other claimed title is in men's basketball, where the school won an inter-regional postseason match arranged against Pittsburgh in 1935 (the "American Legion Bowl"), prior to the creation of the NIT or NCAA basketball tournaments. LSU is the only school that officially claims a basketball national championship on the basis of a win in the American Legion Bowl, an event that made no claim to determine a national champion.
- "Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame – Louis "Buddy" Brown". lasportshall.com. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
- 2014–15 LSU Men's Basketball Media Guide (PDF). LSU Sports Information Office. 2014. p. 12. Retrieved 2015-05-21.
- Maryland's 14 other titles are: 4x men's rifle (1947, 49, 53, 54); women's rifle (1932); 9x men's lacrosse (1928, 36, 37, 39, 40, 55, 56, 59, 67).
- Georgia's 6 other titles are all in women's equestrian (2003, 04, 08–10, 14).
- NYU's 25 other titles are: AAU men's basketball (1920); 8x men's fencing (1933, 35–38, 40–42); 6x men's indoor track (1929, 32, 40, 43, 47, 48); 10x women's fencing (1929–33, 38, 49–51, 71).
- Columbia's 22 other titles are: 6x men's fencing (foils: 1898, 1913, 14, 18, 19; 3-weapon: 1934); men's gymnastics (1900); men's indoor rifle (1908); men's outdoor rifle (1924); 2x men's indoor track (1937, 38); 3x men's outdoor track (1877–79); 6x men's rowing (1874, 79, 95, 1914, 27, 29); 2x men's soccer (1909, 10).
- Denver's 3 other titles are all in men's skiing (1949, 51, 52).
- Michigan State's 10 other titles are: 5x men's cross country (1933–37); 2x men's indoor track (1949, 50); 3x rifle (regular season: 1914, 16, 17).
- Army's 25 other titles are: 11x men's fencing (foils: 1902–05, 08, 09, 12; 3-weapon: 1923, 27, 30, 31); 2x men's indoor track (1944, 45); 4x rifle (1942, 50, 65, 75); 7x men's lacrosse (1944, 45, 51, 58, 59, 61, 69); women's rugby (2011).
- Iowa's 6 other titles are: 5x rifle (regular season: 1911, 18; title meet: 29, 40, 46); women's track & field (1924).
- Nebraska's 6 other titles are: 5x women's bowling (1991, 95, 97, 99, 2001); beach volleyball (2007).
- Colorado's 1 other title is in men's basketball, when the school won the NIT tournament in 1940.
- Minnesota's 4 other titles are: 2x men's rifle (1933, 41); men's ice hockey (1940); women's ice hockey (2000).
- Virginia's 2 other titles are in men's lacrosse (1952, 70).
- Villanova's 6 other titles are all in men's indoor track (1957, 58, 60, 62–64).
- Utah's 3 other titles are: AAU men's basketball (1916); NIT men's basketball (1947); men's skiing (1947).
- Syracuse's 9 other titles are: 5x men's rowing (1904, 08, 13, 16, 20); 4x men's cross country (1919, 22, 23, 25).
- West Virginia's 5 other titles are: men's basketball (1942) and 4x rifle (regular season: 1913; title meet: 1961, 64, 66).
- Connecticut's 2 other titles are: men's soccer (1948) and women's rugby (1993).
- Tennessee State's 24 titles are: 11x women's outdoor track (1955–1960, 1962, 1963, 1965–1967) and 13x women's indoor track (1956–1960, 1962, 1965–1969, 1978, 1979).
- Illinois's 1 other title is in women's outdoor track (1970).
- Johns Hopkins' 14 other titles are all in men's lacrosse (1926, 27, 28, 41, 47, 48, 49, 50, 57, 59, 67, 68, 69, 70)
- Auburn's 5 other titles are all in women's equestrian (2006, 11, 13, 16, 18).
- Arizona's 1 other title is in synchronized swimming (1984).
- Dartmouth's 14 other titles are: 13x men's skiing (1921–23, 29, 30, 33–35, 37 (Lake Placid & Sun Valley), 43, 44, 50); men's golf (1921).
- Tuskegee Institute's 18 titles are: 14x women's outdoor track (1937–1942, 1944–1951) and 4x women's indoor track (1941, 1945, 1946, 1948).
- Florida State's 3 other titles are all in men's volleyball (1955, 57, 58).
- Texas A&M's 2 other titles are in women's equestrian (2002, 12).
- San José State's 6 other titles are: 5x women's fencing (1975–79); women's bowling (1976).
- Miami's 1 other title is in women's golf (1970). It was bestowed by the DGWS, the forerunner of the AIAW.
- Tricard, Louise Mead (1996). American Women's Track and Field – A History, 1895 through 1980. Jefferson, North Carolina, U.S.: McFarland & Co., Inc. pp. 52, 56–58.