More than 60 years later, the 1960 Missouri Tigers will be recognized as national champions.
On Friday, the school announced plans to formally honor Missouri's 1960 football team as national title winner during halftime of the Tigers' Sept. 19 game against Troy. The ceremony will also coincide with a 100th anniversary celebration of Missouri's Memorial Stadium.
The move comes weeks after Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., introduced a measure recognizing the Tigers' claim to the 1960 national championship and the lone undefeated season in program history in the United States Senate on Aug. 6. The resolution passed with no objections, setting the table for Missouri to officially honor the 1960 Tigers, led by legendary coach Dan Devine, as national title winner.
"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," Missouri athletic director Laird Veatch said in a news 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."
According to Missouri's official record book, the Tigers finished 11-0 in 1960, rising to No. 1 in the Associated Press poll and eventually claiming a Big Eight conference title. However, Missouri's unbeaten campaign came to an end when the Tigers suffered a 23-7 defeat to "Border War" rival Kansas on Nov. 19, 1960. The Jayhawks later forfeited the contest after it was discovered that Kansas had fielded an ineligible player, running back Bert Coan, in the victory.
Missouri went on to beat Navy and Heisman Trophy winner Joe Bellino in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 2, 1961. The Tigers closed the 1960 season ranked fifth in the final AP poll.
While Missouri had never previously claimed that year's title before this month, the Tigers now stand among five programs that recognize their 1960 teams as national champions.
The AP and United Press International polls ultimately tabbed Minnesota as 1960 national champion before the Gophers' 17-7 defeat to Washington in the Rose Bowl. The Football Writers Association of America, which held its voting after bowl season, selected Ole Miss. Washington and Iowa also claim national titles in 1960 via recognition from other voting bodies.
The ceremony honoring the 1960 Tigers next month will be part of the centennial celebration of Memorial Stadium, where the program is set to unveil a $250 million renovation of the venue's north end zone this fall. Missouri will wear special throwback uniforms vs. Troy.