While NCAA football is filled to the brim with talented programs across all divisions, only nine schools — all of which are members of either the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) or the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) — have eclipsed 900 wins.
Although some programs have been tested more often than others because they are members of more competitive conferences, 900 wins is quite impressive nonetheless. With 130 college teams in NCAA Division I football, those that have amassed 900 wins have reached elite status.. Here’s a look at the nine football programs that have either reached or surpassed this remarkable milestone.
Penn State Nittany Lions (900-398-41)
Established in 1887, Penn State earned its 900th victory with a 23-7 win over Rutgers on Dec. 5, 2020. After back-to-back seven-win seasons in 2014 and 2015, the Nittany Lions put together consecutive 11-win seasons in 2016 and 2017.
Following a slight hiccup in 2018 with just nine wins, Penn State finished the 2019 campaign with an 11-2 record and captured a Cotton Bowl victory.
Nebraska Cornhuskers (904-398-41)
Nebraska played its first college football game in 1890, just three years after Penn State. While the Cornhuskers have only recently joined the “900 Club,” the program is trying to recapture the success it had in the 1970s through the 1990s. During this span, they won five national championships.
Oklahoma Sooners (915-329-53)
Since 2000, the Oklahoma Sooners have averaged roughly 11 wins per season and have qualified for the College Football Playoffs four out of the last five years. Established in 1895, Oklahoma has produced some of the greatest talent the NFL has ever seen.
Yale Bulldogs (917-380-55)
As the only FCS program to reach 900 wins, the Yale Bulldogs have proven that brains and brawn are a potent combination on the football field.
In fact, Yale played its first football game at least seven years before any other program on this list. They joined the Ivy League in 1956 and won the conference in 2019.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (918-326-42)
As of Week 15 of the 2020 season, Notre Dame is ranked No. 2 in the nation with a 10-0 record. With 918 wins, they are tied with Ohio State for the highest winning percentage in college football history (.730).
Since the Associated Press began certifying the national championship in 1936, the Fighting Irish have won eight of them.
Texas Longhorns (922-377-34)
Despite the Longhorns struggles over the last 10 years, they’ve still been able to amass over 920 wins since the program was established in 1893. Prior to the team’s recent spiral, Texas averaged 11 wins per season from 2000-09.
They appear to be moving in the right direction, however, after winning the 2018 Sugar Bowl with a 10-4 record and the 2019 Alamo Bowl with a record of 8-5.
Alabama Crimson Tide (925-331-43)
After a disappointing stint in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins, Nick Saban returned to college football in 2007 to coach Alabama. Since his arrival, the Crimson Tide have won five national championships in nine years.
With 925 wins to date and their continued success, Alabama may be the first program in college football to eclipse 1,000 wins.
Ohio State Buckeyes (927-326-53)
Established in 1890, the Ohio State Buckeye football program won the inaugural College Football Playoff in 2014 with a 42-20 victory over the Oregon Ducks. Ohio State has averaged more than 12 wins per season since 2011 and have mostly been championship contenders since the mid-90s.
Since 1995, the Buckeyes have finished in the top six of the AP rankings 15 times with two national championships and two runner-up finishes.
Michigan Wolverines (964-350-36)
As the second oldest football program on this list, The Michigan Wolverines have captured 11 national championships with 964 wins — almost 40 more than their long-time rival Ohio State Buckeyes.
While the Wolverines have the most storied program in college football, the team is still searching for its first Big Ten title since 2004. With rumors that coach Jim Harbaugh is looking to return to the NFL, Michigan’s future hangs in the balance.