The 1985 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa in the 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Hayden Fry and played their home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
Season
Chuck Long declared that he would return for his senior season. He became an instant Heisman Trophy candidate, and Iowa was a preseason top five team. After three weeks in 1985, the Hawkeyes ascended to #1 in the national rankings for the second time in team history (1960).
Three weeks later, in the sixth game of the season, #1 Iowa faced #2 Michigan in Kinnick Stadium. Iowa trailed 10-9 as the Hawkeyes regained possession of the football at their own 22-yard line with just 5:27 remaining in the game. Long drove the Iowa team to the 12-yard line with two seconds remaining to set up kicker Rob Houghtlin's game winning field goal as time expired. After a rout of Northwestern, the Hawkeyes were upset by the #8 Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus.
The loss to Ohio State cost Iowa their #1 ranking, but the Hawkeyes still won the Big Ten title outright for the first time in 27 years.[3] Chuck Long won many major national awards as a senior, including the 1985 Maxwell Award, given to the nation's top player and the Davey O'Brien Award, given to the nation's top quarterback. He was the Big Ten Player of the Year and a consensus first team All-American. Finally, Chuck Long was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy to Bo Jackson of Auburn in what used to be the closest margin in Heisman history, losing by just 45 points.
Iowa lost in Chuck Long's final game in the 1986 Rose Bowl. Long's Iowa teams compiled a 35-13-1 record. He graduated with 10,461 passing yards and 74 touchdowns on 782 completions.
Schedule
Date |
Opponent# |
Rank# |
Site |
TV |
Result |
Attendance |
September 14 |
Drake* |
No. 5 |
Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, Iowa |
|
W 58–0 |
66,135 |
September 21 |
Northern Illinois* |
No. 4 |
Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, Iowa |
|
W 48–20 |
66,014 |
September 28 |
at Iowa State* |
No. 3 |
Cyclone Stadium • Ames, Iowa (Cy-Hawk Trophy) |
Raycom |
W 57–3 |
53,202 |
October 5 |
Michigan State |
No. 1 |
Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, Iowa |
CBS |
W 35–31 |
66,044 |
October 12 |
at Wisconsin |
No. 1 |
Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, Wisconsin (Rivalry) |
|
W 23–13 |
79,023 |
October 19 |
No. 2 Michigan |
No. 1 |
Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, Iowa |
CBS |
W 12–10 |
66,350 |
October 26 |
at Northwestern |
No. 1 |
Dyche Stadium • Evanston, Illinois |
|
W 49–10 |
47,269 |
November 2 |
at No. 8 Ohio State |
No. 1 |
Ohio Stadium • Columbus, Ohio |
CBS |
L 13–22 |
90,467 |
November 9 |
Illinois |
No. 6 |
Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, Iowa |
|
W 59–0 |
66,120 |
November 16 |
at Purdue |
No. 5 |
Ross-Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, Indiana |
CBS |
W 27–24 |
57,762 |
November 23 |
Minnesota |
No. 3 |
Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, Iowa (Floyd of Rosedale) |
TBS |
W 31–9 |
66,020 |
January 1 |
vs. No. 13 UCLA* |
No. 4 |
Rose Bowl • Pasadena, California (1986 Rose Bowl) |
NBC |
L 28–45 |
103,292 |
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll. All times are in Central Time. |
[4]
Rankings
Ranking Movement
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. ( ) = First place votes.
| Week |
Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Final |
AP |
4 (7) |
4 (5) |
5 (5) |
4 (5) |
3 (5) |
1 (35) |
1 (34) |
1 (27) |
1 (60) |
1 (58) |
6 |
5 |
3 |
2 (3) |
3 (3) |
4 (2) |
10 |
Coaches' |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
9 |
[5]
Game notes
Drake
Drake at #5 Iowa
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
Bulldogs |
0 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
0 |
• Hawkeyes |
0 |
14 | 37 | 7 |
58 |
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
2 |
| IOWA | Clark 6-yard pass from Long (Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 7-0 |
|
2 |
| IOWA | Helverson 4-yard pass from Long (Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 14-0 |
|
3 |
| IOWA | R. Harmon 2-yard run (Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 21-0 |
|
3 |
| IOWA | R. Harmon 6-yard run (kick failed) | IOWA 27-0 |
|
3 |
| IOWA | Rob Houghtlin 46-yard field goal | IOWA 30-0 |
|
3 |
| IOWA | K. Harmon 2-yard run (Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 37-0 |
|
3 |
| IOWA | Hudson 10-yard run (Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 44-0 |
|
3 |
| IOWA | Helverson 31-yard pass from Vlasic (Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 51-0 |
|
4 |
| IOWA | Bayless 1-yard run (Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 58-0 |
|
[6]
Northern Illinois
[7]
Iowa State
#3 Iowa at Iowa State
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
• Hawkeyes |
7 |
34 | 9 | 7 |
57 |
Cyclones |
0 |
0 | 0 | 3 |
3 |
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
1 |
| IOWA | Bush 4-yard run (Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 7-0 |
|
2 |
| IOWA | Rob Houghtlin 47-yard field goal | IOWA 10-0 |
|
2 |
| IOWA | R. Harmon 2-yard run (Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 17-0 |
|
2 |
| IOWA | R. Harmon 23-yard run (Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 24-0 |
|
2 |
| IOWA | Rob Houghtlin 41-yard field goal | IOWA 27-0 |
|
2 |
| IOWA | Mike Flagg 3-yard pass from Chuck Long (Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 34-0 |
|
2 |
0:47 | IOWA | Smith 9-yard pass from Chuck Long (Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 41-0 |
|
3 |
| IOWA | Scott Helverson 46-yard pass from Chuck Long (kick failed) | IOWA 47-0 |
|
3 |
2:10 | IOWA | Rob Houghtlin 27-yard field goal | IOWA 50-0 |
|
4 |
| IOWA | Scott Helverson 26-yard pass from Vlassic (Cook kick) | IOWA 57-0 |
|
4 |
9:21 | ISU | Frank 52-yard field goal | IOWA 57-3 |
|
The Hawkeyes earned the third of 15 consecutive wins over their in-state rivals. To date, this remains the largest margin of victory in the series. The convincing win vaulted Iowa to the #1 ranking in the country, a spot they would occupy for five consecutive weeks.
[9]
Michigan State
Spartans at #1 Hawkeyes
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
Michigan State |
0 |
10 | 14 | 7 |
31 |
• Iowa |
7 |
6 | 15 | 7 |
35 |
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
1 |
10:23 | IOWA | Robert Smith 60-yard pass from Chuck Long (Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 7-0 |
|
2 |
13:12 | IOWA | Mike Flagg 17-yard pass from Chuck Long (kick failed) | IOWA 13-0 |
|
2 |
11:34 | MSU | Chris Caudell 32-yard field goal | IOWA 13-3 |
|
2 |
9:15 | MSU | Andre Rison 50-yard pass from Bobby McAllister (Caudell kick) | IOWA 13-10 |
|
3 |
12:30 | MSU | Lorenzo White 23-yard run (Caudell kick) | MSU 17-13 |
|
3 |
7:01 | MSU | Lorenzo White 1-yard run (Caudell kick) | MSU 24-13 |
|
3 |
6:16 | IOWA | Robert Smith 4-yard pass from Chuck Long (Flagg pass from Long for two-point conversion) | MSU 24-21 |
|
3 |
| IOWA | Mike Flagg 12-yard pass from Chuck Long (Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 28-24 |
|
4 |
4:06 | MSU | Craig Johnson 25-yard run (Caudell kick) | MSU 31-28 |
|
4 |
0:27 | IOWA | Chuck Long 2-yard run (Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 35-31 |
|
In their first game since ascending to the #1 ranking, the Hawkeyes survived a wild, back and forth thriller. The teams combined for well over 1,000 yards of total offense. Chuck Long (30-39, 380 yards, 4 TD) scored the winning touchdown on a 2-yard bootleg with 27 seconds remaining.
[10]
Wisconsin
#1 Hawkeyes at Badgers
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
• Iowa |
3 |
7 | 10 | 3 |
23 |
Wisconsin |
0 |
0 | 10 | 3 |
13 |
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
1 |
| IOWA | Rob Houghtlin 30-yard field goal | IOWA 3-0 |
|
2 |
| IOWA | Bill Happel 8-yard pass from Chuck Long (Rob Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 10-0 |
|
3 |
| WIS | Joe Armentrout 3-yard pass from Bud Keyes (Todd Gregoire kick) | IOWA 10-7 |
|
3 |
| IOWA | Rob Houghtlin 40-yard field goal | IOWA 13-7 |
|
3 |
| WIS | Todd Gregoire 27-yard field goal | IOWA 13-10 |
|
3 |
| IOWA | Ronnie Harmon 12-yard run (Rob Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 20-10 |
|
4 |
| WIS | Todd Gregoire 24-yard field goal | IOWA 20-13 |
|
4 |
| IOWA | Rob Houghtlin 35-yard field goal | IOWA 23-13 |
|
[11]
Michigan
#2 Wolverines at #1 Hawkeyes
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
Michigan |
0 |
7 | 0 | 3 |
10 |
• Iowa |
0 |
6 | 0 | 6 |
12 |
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
2 |
| IOWA | Houghtlin 25-yard field goal | IOWA 3-0 |
|
2 |
| MICH | White 6-yard pass from Harbaugh (Gillette kick) | MICH 7-3 |
|
2 |
| IOWA | Houghtlin 27-yard field goal | MICH 7-6 |
|
4 |
| IOWA | Houghtlin 36-yard field goal | IOWA 9-7 |
|
4 |
| MICH | Gillette 40-yard field goal | MICH 10-9 |
|
4 |
| IOWA | Houghtlin 29-yard field goal | IOWA 12-10 |
|
Rob Houghtlin kicked a 29-yard field goal as time expired to lift the top-ranked Hawkeyes to victory over the #2 Wolverines.
[12]
[13]
[14]
Northwestern
#1 Hawkeyes at Wildcats
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
• Iowa |
7 |
21 | 7 | 14 |
49 |
Northwestern |
3 |
0 | 0 | 7 |
10 |
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
1 |
| IOWA | Bill Happel 28-yard pass from Chuck Long (Rob Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 7-0 |
|
1 |
| NW | John Duvic 21-yard field goal | IOWA 7-3 |
|
2 |
| IOWA | Ronnie Harmon 44-yard pass from Chuck Long (Rob Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 14-3 |
|
2 |
| IOWA | Robert Smith 89-yard pass from Chuck Long (Rob Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 21-3 |
|
2 |
| IOWA | Bill Happel 35-yard pass from Chuck Long (Rob Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 28-3 |
|
3 |
| IOWA | Bill Happel 25-yard pass from Chuck Long (Rob Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 35-3 |
|
4 |
| IOWA | Craig Clark 4-yard pass from Chuck Long (Rob Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 42-3 |
|
4 |
| IOWA | Kevin Harmon 2-yard run (Rob Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 49-3 |
|
4 |
2:02 | NW | Marc Bumgarner 4-yard pass from Mike Greenfield (John Duvic kick) | IOWA 49-10 |
|
On a windy day in Evanston, Chuck Long went 19-26 for 399 yards and a Big Ten record-tying 6 TDs. Bill Happel hauled in 3 TDs, finishing with 117 yards on 5 receptions.
[15]
[16]
[17]
Ohio St.
#1 Hawkeyes at #8 Buckeyes
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
Iowa |
0 |
7 | 0 | 6 |
13 |
• Ohio State |
5 |
10 | 0 | 7 |
22 |
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
1 |
| OSU | Rich Spangler 28-yard field goal | OSU 3-0 |
|
1 |
| OSU | Safety, Sonny Gordan blocked punt out of end zone | OSU 5-0 |
|
2 |
| OSU | John Woolridge 57-yard run (Spangler kick) | OSU 12-0 |
|
2 |
| OSU | Rich Spangler 26-yard field goal | OSU 15-0 |
|
2 |
| Iowa | Ronnie Harmon 3-yard run (Rob Houghtlin kick) | OSU 15-7 |
|
4 |
| OSU | Vince Workman 4-yard run (Spangler kick) | OSU 22-7 |
|
4 |
| Iowa | David Hudson 2-yard run (run failed) | OSU 22-13 |
|
[18]
Illinois
Illinois at #6 Iowa
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
Fighting Illini |
0 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
0 |
• Hawkeyes |
35 |
14 | 0 | 10 |
59 |
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
1 |
| IOWA | R. Smith 49-yard pass from Long (Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 7-0 |
|
1 |
| IOWA | Hudson 1-yard run (Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 14-0 |
|
1 |
7:28 | IOWA | R. Smith 43-yard pass from Long (Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 21-0 |
|
1 |
| IOWA | R. Harmon ?-yard run (Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 28-0 |
|
1 |
0:59 | IOWA | Hudson 10-yard run (Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 35-0 |
|
2 |
5:16 | IOWA | Flagg 1-yard pass from Long (Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 42-0 |
|
2 |
| IOWA | Helverson 8-yard pass from Long (Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 49-0 |
|
4 |
| IOWA | Rob Houghtlin 37-yard field goal | IOWA 52-0 |
|
4 |
| IOWA | Goodman 16-yard run (Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 59-0 |
|
[19]
[20]
Purdue
#5 Iowa at Purdue
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
• Hawkeyes |
7 |
17 | 0 | 3 |
27 |
Boilermakers |
7 |
10 | 0 | 7 |
24 |
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
1 |
| Purdue | Griffin 49-yard pass from Jim Everett (kick) | Purdue 7-0 |
|
1 |
| Iowa | Ronnie Harmon 2-yard run (Rob Houghtlin kick) | Tied 7-7 |
|
2 |
| Iowa | Hudson 1-yard run (Rob Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 14-7 |
|
2 |
| Purdue | Medlock 1-yard run (kick) | Tied 14-14 |
|
2 |
| Iowa | Hudson 1-yard run (Rob Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 21-14 |
|
2 |
| Purdue | field goal | IOWA 21-17 |
|
2 |
0:00 | Iowa | Rob Houghtlin 33-yard field goal | IOWA 24-17 |
|
4 |
| Purdue | Medlock 2-yard run (kick) | Tied 24-24 |
|
4 |
1:08 | Iowa | Rob Houghtlin 25-yard field goal | IOWA 27-24 |
|
[21]
Minnesota
Minnesota at #3 Iowa
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
Golden Gophers |
3 |
0 | 0 | 6 |
9 |
• Hawkeyes |
7 |
10 | 7 | 7 |
31 |
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
1 |
9:48 | Iowa | Ronnie Harmon 5-yard run (Rob Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 7-0 |
|
1 |
1:54 | Minn | Chip Lohmiller 35-yard field goal | IOWA 7-3 |
|
2 |
5:15 | Iowa | Rob Houghtlin 26-yard field goal | IOWA 10-3 |
|
2 |
1:40 | Iowa | Mike Flagg 4-yard pass from Chuck Long (Rob Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 17-3 |
|
3 |
9:39 | Iowa | Kevin Harmon 10-yard run (Rob Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 24-3 |
|
4 |
14:11 | Iowa | Rick Bayless 5-yard run (Rob Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 31-3 |
|
4 |
2:01 | Minn | Gailord 16-yard pass from Holt (conversion failed) | IOWA 31-9 |
|
In the battle for the Floyd of Rosedale, Iowa beat the Golden Gophers in Lou Holtz's last game as Minnesota's head coach. Chuck Long, in his final game at Kinnick Stadium, became the first player in Big Ten history to eclipse 10,000 career passing yards.
[22]
[23]
Rose Bowl
#13 UCLA vs. #4 Iowa
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
• Bruins |
10 |
14 | 7 | 14 |
45 |
Hawkeyes |
7 |
3 | 7 | 11 |
28 |
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
1 |
| IOWA | David Hudson 1-yard run (Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 7-0 |
|
1 |
| UCLA | Eric Ball 30-yard run (Lee kick) | Tied 7-7 |
|
1 |
| UCLA | John Lee 42-yard field goal | UCLA 10-7 |
|
2 |
| IOWA | Rob Houghtlin 24-yard field goal | Tied 10-10 |
|
2 |
| UCLA | Eric Ball 40-yard run (Lee kick) | UCLA 17-10 |
|
2 |
| UCLA | Eric Ball 6-yard run (Lee kick) | UCLA 24-10 |
|
3 |
| IOWA | Chuck Long 4-yard run (Houghtlin kick) | UCLA 24-17 |
|
3 |
| UCLA | Mike Sherrard 6-yard pass from Matt Stevens (J. Lee kick) | UCLA 31-17 |
|
4 |
| UCLA | Eric Ball 32-yard run (Lee kick) | UCLA 38-17 |
|
4 |
| IOWA | Rob Houghtlin 52-yard field goal | UCLA 38-20 |
|
4 |
| UCLA | Matt Stevens 1-yard run (Lee kick) | UCLA 45-20 |
|
4 |
| IOWA | Bill Happel 11-yard pass from Chuck Long (Harmon run) | UCLA 45-28 |
|
[24]
Awards and honors
Team players in the 1986 NFL Draft
[27]
References
- ↑ The University of Iowa Athletic Communications. "University of Iowa Football 2011 Media Fact Book: IOWA MVPs" (PDF). The University of Iowa Athletic Communications. p. 145. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
- ↑ The University of Iowa Athletic Communications. "University of Iowa Football 2011 Media Fact Book: IOWA Captains" (PDF). The University of Iowa Athletic Communications. p. 146. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
- ↑ Big Ten Football Media Guide. Note that Michigan had a 6-1-1 record in second place to Iowa's 7-1 record. Michigan also had tied with Illinois.
- ↑ "1985 Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule and Results". sports-reference.com. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
- ↑ "Iowa 1985 AP Football Rankings". collegepollarchive.com. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
- ↑ "Iowa, Long Route Drake". Chicago Tribune. September 15, 1985. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
- ↑ "Iowa rain falls only on NIU". Chicago Tribune. September 22, 1985. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
- ↑ "Third-ranked Iowa crushes Iowa State". The Salina Journal. September 29, 1985. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
- ↑ "Big Ten Roundup : Iowa Routs Iowa State, 57-3, to Stay Unbeaten". Los Angeles Times. September 29, 1985. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
- ↑ "Last-Minute Score Gives Iowa Victory". New York Times. October 5, 1985. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
- ↑ "Top-ranked Iowa eases past Wisconsin". Gainesville Sun. October 13, 1985. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
- ↑ "Iowa Saves Biggest Noise For Finish". Chicago Tribune. October 20, 1985. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
- ↑ "Iowa Beats Michigan On Last Play, 12-10". Washington Post. October 20, 1985. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
- ↑ "Iowa's Last-second Kick Defeats Michigan, 12-10". Orlando Sentinel. October 20, 1985. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
- ↑ "Iowa Rolls, 49-10; Long Ties Record". New York Times. October 27, 1985. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
- ↑ "Iowa's Long Ball Rips NU". Chicago Tribune. October 27, 1985. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
- ↑ "Long Throws for Six Scores as Iowa Routs Northwestern, 49-10". Los Angeles Times. October 27, 1985. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
- ↑ "Ohio State Upsets Top-Ranked Iowa". New York Times. November 3, 1985. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
- ↑ "Iowa Hits Illini Early, Often". Chicago Tribune. November 10, 1985. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
- ↑ "A Long Day For Illinois, 59-0 : Quarterback Throws 4 Touchdown Passes in Iowa Rout". Los Angeles Times. November 10, 1985. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
- ↑ "Iowa Wins, 27-24 on Late Field Goal". New York Times. November 17, 1985. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
- ↑ "Believe It--Iowa Rules Big 10". Chicago Tribune. November 24, 1985. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
- ↑ "Long Achieves Dream of Leading Hawkeyes Back to the Rose Bowl". Los Angeles Times. November 24, 1985. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
- ↑ "ROSE BOWL; U.C.L.A. WALLOPS IOWA". New York Times. January 2, 1986. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
- 1 2 ""College Football Awards - 1985"". espn.com. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
- 1 2 "Consensus All-America Teams (1980-1989); 1985". sports-reference.com. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
- ↑ "1986 NFL Draft". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
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Big Ten | |
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Big Nine | |
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Big Ten | |
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National championships in bold |
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Venues | |
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Bowls & rivalries | |
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Culture & lore | |
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People | |
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Seasons | |
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National championship seasons in bold |