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This is a list of Pittsburgh Panthers football seasons. The Pittsburgh Panthers football team is the American football team of the University of Pittsburgh, which is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as members of the Big East Conference. The Panthers have been members of the Big East since 1991. Before 1991 they competed as an Independent.

The Panthers began play in 1890. In total, the University officially recognizes nine national championships based on research published by Sports Illustrated in 1970.[1] The NCAA's record book lists Pittsburgh as being selected for a National Championship by "major selectors" in eleven different seasons.[2] Research by College Football Data Warehouse (CFBDW) has found that Pitt was selected as a national champion in 16 different seasons by at least one selector of championships.[3] Of these, CFBDW officially recognizes six as national championship seasons for the University of Pittsburgh.[4]

Season records[]

Season Record Bowl Results Awards AP Rank National Championships References
Overall Conference
W L T Membership W L T Peak Final Selectors Source
1890 1 2 0
1891 2 5 0
1892 4 2 0
1893 1 4 0
1894 1 1 0
1895 1 6 0
1896 3 6 0
1897 1 3 0
1898 5 2 1
1899 3 1 1
1900 5 4 0
1901 7 2 1
1902 5 6 1
1903 0 8 1
1904 10 0 0
1905 10 2 0
1906 4 6 0
1907 9 1 0
1908 8 3 0
1909 6 2 1
1910 9 0 0 NCF CFBDW, NCAA
1911 4 3 1
1912 3 6 0
1913 6 2 1
1914 8 1 0
1915 8 0 0 PD NCAA, Pitt
1916 8 0 0 BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD CFBDW, NCAA, Pitt
1917 9 0 0
1918 4 1 0 HAF, HS, NCF CFBDW, NCAA, Pitt
1919 6 2 1
1920 6 0 2
1921 5 3 1
1922 8 2 0
1923 5 4 0
1924 5 3 1
1925 8 1 0
1926 5 2 2
1927 8 1 1 Rose Bowl
1928 6 2 1
1929 9 1 0 Rose Bowl PD NCAA, Pitt
1930 6 2 1
1931 8 1 0 PD NCAA, Pitt
1932 8 1 2 Rose Bowl
1933 8 1 0
1934 8 1 0 PD Pitt
1935 7 1 2
1936 8 1 1 Rose Bowl #2 #3 BS, CFRA, HS CFBDW, NCAA, Pitt
1937 9 0 1 #1 #1 AP, BR, BS, CFRA, DiS, HS, L, NCF, PS, SR, WS CFBDW, NCAA, Pitt
1938 8 2 0 #1 #8
1939 5 4 0 #1
1940 3 4 1
1941 3 6 0
1942 3 6 0
1943 3 5 0
1944 4 5 0
1945 3 7 0
1946 3 5 1
1947 1 8 0
1948 6 3 0
1949 6 3 0 #15
1950 1 8 0
1951 3 7 0
1952 6 3 0 #14
1953 3 5 1 #15
1954 4 5 0 #20
1955 7 4 0 Sugar Bowl #7 #11
1956 7 3 1 Gator Bowl #7 #13
1957 4 6 0 #16
1958 5 4 1 #7
1959 6 4 0 #16 #20
1960 4 3 3 #12
1961 3 7 0
1962 5 5 0
1963 9 1 0 #3 #4
1964 3 5 2
1965 3 7 0
1966 1 9 0
1967 1 9 0
1968 1 9 0
1969 4 6 0
1970 5 5 0 #15
1971 3 8 0
1972 1 10 0
1973 6 5 1 Fiesta Bowl #20
1974 7 4 0 #8
1975 8 4 0 Sun Bowl #15 #15
1976 12 0 0 Sugar Bowl #1 #1 AP, FN, FWAA, HAF, NCF, NFF, PS, R(FACT), SN, SR, UPI CFBDW, NCAA, Pitt
1977 9 2 1 Gator Bowl #8 #8
1978 8 4 0 Tangerine Bowl #9
1979 11 1 0 Fiesta Bowl #7 #7
1980 11 1 0 Gator Bowl #2 #2 CFRA, DeS, NYT, R(FACT), SR NCAA
1981 11 1 0 Sugar Bowl #1 #4 NCF NCAA
1982 9 3 0 Cotton Bowl Classic #1 #10
1983 8 3 1 Fiesta Bowl #15 #18
1984 3 7 1 #17
1985 5 5 1
1986 6 4 1
1987 8 4 0 Bluebonnet Bowl #16
1988 6 5 0 #16
1989 8 3 1 Sun Bowl #7 #17
1990 3 7 1     #13
1991 6 5 0 Big East 3 2 0 #12
1992 3 9 0 Big East 1 3 0
1993 3 8 0 Big East 2 5 0
1994 3 8 0 Big East 2 5 0
1995 2 9 0 Big East 0 7 0
1996 4 7     Big East 3 4    
1997 6 6 Big East 4 3 Liberty Bowl
1998 2 9 Big East 0 7
1999 5 6 Big East 2 5
2000 7 5 Big East 4 3 Insight.com
2001 7 4 Big East 4 3 Tangerine Bowl
2002 9 4 Big East 5 2 Insight Bowl #17 #19
2003 8 5 Big East 5 2 Continental Tire Bowl #9
2004 8 4 Big East 4 2 Fiesta Bowl #19 #25
2005 5 6 Big East 4 3 #21
2006 6 6 Big East 2 5
2007 5 7 Big East 3 4
2008 9 4 Big East 5 2 Sun Bowl #17
2009 10 3 Big East 5 2 Meineke Car Care Bowl #8 #15
2010 8 5 Big East 5 2 BBVA Compass Bowl
2011 6 7 Big East 4 3 BBVA Compass Bowl
2012 6 7 Big East 3 4 BBVA Compass Bowl
2013 - - ACC - -

Legend[]

CFBDW recognized National Championships[4]
NCAA record book listed & Pitt claimed National Championships
National Championship listed in the NCAA record book but not claimed by Pitt
National Championship claimed by Pitt but not listed in the NCAA record book
Big East Conference Championship
(1991–present)
Undefeated Season

Polls have been the most prominent form of championship selection since the inception of the AP Poll in 1936. The following systems have at one point in their history have named Pitt as a national champion or are still active today. Retroactive designations are marked in italics.

Selector Name Years   Selector Name Years
Mathematical Poll
BCS* Bowl Championship Series 1998–present AP Associated Press 1936–present
BR Billingsley Report 1869–1870, 1872–1969, 1970–2006 CFRA College Football Researchers Association 1919–1935, 1936–1981, 1982–1992
BS Boand System 1919–1929, 1930–1960 FN Football News 1958–2002
CCR Congrove Computer Rankings 1993–Present FWAA Football Writers Association of America 1954–present
DeS DeVold System 1939–1944, 1945–2006 HAF Helms Athletic Foundation 1883–1935, 1936–1940, 1941–1982
DiS Dickinson System 1924–1925, 1926–1940 NCF National Championship Foundation 1869–1870, 1872–1935, 1936–1979, 1980–2000
HS Houlgate System 1885, 1887–1905, 1907–1926, 1927–1949 NFF National Football Foundation 1959–1990, 1995–present
L Litkenhous 1934–1972, 1974, 1978, 1981–1984 SN Sporting News 1975–2006
NYT New York Times 1979–2004 UPI* United Press International 1950–1990, 1993–1995
PS Poling System 1924–1934, 1935–1955, 1957–1984 USAT*†‡ USA Today 2006–present
R(FACT) Rothman (FACT) 1968–2006 * The USA Today (USAT) Coaches' Poll is used as part of the BCS formula.
† The NFF merged with UPI from 1991–1992 and was known as the UPI/NFF. Prior to 1991 the UPI had published the Coaches' Poll, which has been published by USA Today under various names and sponsorships since 1991.[5]
‡ The USA Today Poll was sponsored by CNN from 1982–1996, known as CNN/USA Today, and ESPN from 1997–2005, known as the ESPN/USA Today. The NFF briefly merged with USA Today poll from 1993–1994 and was known as the USAT/NFF.
SR Sagarin Ratings 1919–1977, 1978–2006
WS Williamson System 1931, 1932–1963
Research
PD Parke H. Davis 1869–1870, 1872–1909, 1911–1916, 1919–1932, 1933

National Championships[]

File:Pittkiosk2.jpg

Kiosk in the Great Hall at Heinz Field celebrating Pitt's 1976 National Championship

The University of Pittsburgh claims nine National Championships for the Panthers football team: 4 that are mostly unanimous, (1916, 1918, 1937, and 1976) and 5 shared titles (1915, 1929, 1931, 1934, 1936).

The University bases its claim for the first 8 national championships on a study conducted in 1970 by Sports Illustrated.[6] These championships, together with its unanimous championship of 1976, are the basis for the university's claim of 9 national championship seasons.

Furthermore, according to research conducted by College Football Data Warehouse,[7] in 8 additional years at least one selector of national championships has declared Pitt as its National Champion. Combined with the Sports Illustrated study, Pitt has been recognized as the National Champion by at least one selector in 17 different seasons. According to the Official NCAA Division 1 Football Records Book, Pitt has been named a national champion by a "Major Selector" in 12 separate seasons.[8]

Note: The table lists all known National Championship selections for the University of Pittsburgh. The list of national championship selecting organizations choosing Pitt for any particular year is not necessarily comprehensive. For more information see College Football Data Warehouse Total National Championships Additional notations include the following:

Pitt: National Championship selections are officially recognized by the University[9]
NCAA: Selection as National Champions by organizations designated as "Major Selectors" in the offiical NCAA football records book[10]
CFBDW: Designation as "CFBDW Recognized National Champions"[11] according to College Football Data Warehouse.
Pitt Panthers National Championships
Season Coach Record Selectors Recognized
1910 Joseph H. Thompson 9-0-0 1st-N-Goal
Century Football Index
Cliff Morgan
Mel Smith
National Championship Foundation
Patrick Premo
NCAA
CFBDW
1915 Glenn "Pop" Warner 8-0-0 Bill Libby
Jim Koger
Mel Smith
Parke H. Davis
NCAA
Pitt
1916 Glenn Warner 8-0-0 consensus NCAA
Pitt
CFBDW
1917 Glenn Warner 10-0-0 Alexander Weyand
David Wilson
Earl Jessen
Jim Koger
Mel Smith
Nutshell Sports Football Ratings
1918 Glenn Warner 4-1-0 consensus NCAA
Pitt
CFBDW
1925 Jock Sutherland 8-1-0 Soren Sorensen
1927 Jock Sutherland 8-1-1 Esso Gas
1929 Jock Sutherland 9-1-0 Parke H. Davis NCAA
Pitt
1931 Jock Sutherland 8-1-0 1st-N-Goal
Bob Kirlin
Parke H. Davis
NCAA
Pitt
1933 Jock Sutherland 8-1-0 Bob Kirlin
1934 Jock Sutherland 8-1-0 Parke H. Davis Pitt
1936 Jock Sutherland 8-1-1 1st-N-Goal
Angelo Louisa
Boand System
Bob Kirlin
College Football
Researchers Association
Earl Jessen
Esso Gas
Houlgate System
Jim Koger
Loren Maxwell
Patrick Premo
NCAA
Pitt
CFBDW
1937 Jock Sutherland 9-0-1 consensus NCAA
Pitt
CFBDW
1938 Jock Sutherland 8-2-0 Patrick Premo
1976 Johnny Majors 12-0-0 consensus NCAA
Pitt
CFBDW
1980 Jackie Sherrill 11-1-0 1st-N-Goal
Angelo Louisa
ARGH Power Ratings
College Football Researchers Association
Foundation for the Analysis of Competitions and Tournaments
Harry DeVold
James Howell
Jeff Self
New York Times
Quality Champions
Sagarin Ratings
Steve Eck
The Fleming System
NCAA
1981 Jackie Sherrill 11-1-0 Montgomery Full Season Championship
National Championship Foundation
NCAA

The following table summarizes the source and totals for Pitt's national championship seasons.

Source Championships Years
AP/Coaches' Poll (1936–present) Two 1937, 1976
CFBDW (recognized)[4] Six 1910, 1916, 1918, 1936, 1937, 1976
Sports Illustrated (1970 study)[12] Nine 1915, 1916, 1918, 1929, 1931, 1934, 1936, 1937
NCAA ("major" selectors)[5] Eleven 1910, 1915, 1916, 1918, 1929, 1931, 1936, 1937, 1976, 1980, 1981
CFBDW (all)[3] Sixteen 1910, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1925, 1927, 1929, 1931, 1933, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1976, 1980, 1981
Total unique seasons Seventeen 1910, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1925, 1927, 1929, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1976, 1980, 1981
Claimed by Pitt[12] Nine 1915, 1916, 1918, 1929, 1931, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1976

References[]

  1. "Pitt football media guide 2006" (PDF). p. 176. http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/pitt/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/06guide-pantherhistory.pdf. Retrieved 2008-01-29.
  2. "Official 2001 NCAA Division I Football Records Book" (PDF). p. 78. http://www.ncaapublications.com/Uploads/PDF/FullFBPDFcedfc79a-1762-4a85-a013-57dc2b7eb624.pdf. Retrieved 2009-01-29.[dead link]
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Pittsburgh All National Championships". College Football Data Warehouse. http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/bigeast/pittsburgh/all_national_champs.php. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 College Football Data Warehouse: Recognized National Championships by Team: Pittsburgh, accessdate=2009-01-29
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Official 2008 NCAA Division 1 Records Book" (PDF). NCAA. 2008. http://www.ncaapublications.com/Uploads/PDF/FullFBPDFcedfc79a-1762-4a85-a013-57dc2b7eb624.pdf. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "ncaa-record-book" defined multiple times with different content
  6. Pitt Panthers media guide
  7. College Football Data Warehouse: Pittsburgh All National Championships, accessdate=2008-11-28
  8. The National Collegiate Athletic Association, Official 2008 NCAA Division 1 Football Records Book, 2008-08, pg 76, ISSN0735-5475, accessdate=2008-11-28
  9. 2007 Pitt Football Media Guide, p176
  10. Official 2007 NCAA Division 1 Records Book, p.74
  11. CFBDW Recognized National Champions
  12. 12.0 12.1 The University of Pittsburgh officially claims 9 National Championships for the Panthers football team. The University of Pittsburgh bases its claim for the first 8 national championships on a study conducted in 1970 by Sports Illustrated. These championships, together with its unanimous championship of 1976, are the basis for the university's claim of 9 national championship seasons. 2006 University of Pittsburgh 2006 Football Media Guide

External links[]

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