Mizzou will recognize 1960 football team as National Champions
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The 1960 Mizzou football team, which goes down as one of the most accomplished in program history, will be honored as National Champions at Faurot Field on Sept. 19.
On Friday, Tiger Athletics announced that it will be formally honoring that 1960 squad as the national champions during a halftime ceremony when MU faces Troy in the Memorial Stadium 100th Anniversary Game. This comes after a unanimous resolution earlier this month by the United State Senate recognizing the accomplishments of the 1960 Tigers.
Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt first introduced the resolution to the Senate floor on Aug. 6, leading to that unanimous passage by the Senate.
"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,” Mizzou Athletic Director Laird Veatch said in a press release. “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."
Mizzou Athletics' recognition of this title is based on the Poling System, which is one of the several historical national selectors recognized by the NCAA, naming Mizzou as its 1960 champ.
The Tigers were led by legendary head coach Dan Devine in that season, as they won the Big Eight championship and climbed all the way up to No. 1 in the Associated Press poll, headed into the regular-season finale.
Mizzou was undefeated going into its final game of the year against Kanas, but lost 23-7 to the Jayhawks. However, KU ended up having to forfeit that win after using an ineligible player. And with Mizzou's victory over Navy in the Orange Bowl, the Tigers were able to claim an undefeated season, 11-0, as a result.
“Coach Dan Devine and Danny LaRose led the Mizzou Tigers to an undefeated season in 1960 — and now, the Senate has unanimously recognized them as the 1960 College Football National Champions,” Sen. Schmitt said in a press release. “For too long, fans and players who proudly represent their school in the Black and Gold have been deprived of this glory. More than six decades later, the Tigers are now taking their rightful place in history. Their championship was earned. Their record remains perfect. And Kansas still lost.”
"We have a unique opportunity this year to recognize the Tigers who built the history and tradition of Mizzou Football while keeping our eyes firmly on the future,” Veatch added. “As we celebrate 100 years of Memorial Stadium and open the Centennial Project, we want to properly honor the 1960 team and its legacy in Mizzou history. While we celebrate where we've been, our priority is where we’re going next — supporting the 2026 Tigers and striving to capture the next Mizzou national championship."
Mizzou's 100th anniversary game against Troy will kick off at 6 p.m. at Faurot Field.
