In football, every team dreams of a perfect season filled with victories. But sometimes, things don’t go as planned, and some teams end up making history for all the wrong reasons.
These are ten college teams and the only five NFL teams who have ever suffered completely winless seasons.
15. 2024 Kent State Golden Flashes (0-12)
Kent State endured a rough season, becoming the first FBS team to go 0-12 since 2019. Their offense averaged just 13.9 points per game, while their defense gave up a whopping 44.1 points per game. With a -362 point differential, it was one of the toughest seasons in school history.
14. 2020 Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks (0-10)
The ULM Warhawks struggled in the COVID-19-shortened season, losing all 10 of their games. Both their offense and defense failed to perform, and they were outscored by opponents in every single game.
13. 2019 Akron Zips (0-12)
The Akron Zips went winless in 2019, losing all 12 of their games. They were outscored by opponents 435-126 and finished at the bottom of their conference’s East Division.
12. 2017 UTEP Miners (0-12)
The UTEP Miners experienced their worst season ever in 2017, losing all 12 games. The team’s struggles led to their head coach stepping down, marking a period of change for the program.
11. 2015 UCF Knights (0-12)
Just two years after winning the Fiesta Bowl, UCF had a shocking winless season. The team went 0-12, leading to the resignation of long-time head coach George O’Leary midway through the season.
10. 2013 Miami (Ohio) RedHawks (0-12)
The Miami RedHawks suffered through a winless season in 2013, losing all 12 games under two different head coaches. They were outscored in every game, struggling on both sides of the ball.
9. 2012 Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (0-12)
Southern Miss had one of the most dramatic declines in college football history, going from a 12-2 record in 2011 to 0-12 in 2012. The team failed to win a single game, marking a stunning fall from success.
8. 2008 Washington Huskies (0-12)
The Washington Huskies became the first Pac-10 team to go 0-12. This disastrous season led to the firing of head coach Tyrone Willingham and was a major low point for the program.
7. 2003 Army Black Knights (0-13)
Army set a college football record at the time by losing 13 games in a single season. They were outscored by a combined 476 to 206, struggling on both offense and defense.
6. 1981 Colorado State Rams (0-12)
The Colorado State Rams endured a winless season in 1981, losing all 12 games. This tough season was a low point for the team and led to major changes in the following years.
5. 2017 Cleveland Browns (0-16)
The Cleveland Browns became just the second NFL team to lose all 16 games in a season. Scoring an average of only 14.6 points per game, they had the worst offense in the league that year. This season capped off a two-year stretch where the Browns went 1-31, setting an NFL record for the lowest winning percentage over two seasons.
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4. 2008 Detroit Lions (0-16)
The Detroit Lions were the first team to suffer an 0-16 season in NFL history. Their defense gave up a staggering 517 points, nearly breaking the NFL record for most points allowed in a season. With an average of 32.3 points allowed per game, the Lions’ defense became one of the worst in modern NFL history.
Read More: 10 Reasons Why the Detroit Lions Will Win the 2025 Super Bowl
3. 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-14)
In their first season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost all 14 games, setting a record for futility. They were shut out five times and lost eight games by at least 20 points. Averaging just 8.9 points per game, the Buccaneers struggled to score and finished with one of the worst offenses since the NFL-AFL merger.
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2. 1982 Baltimore Colts (0-8-1)
The Baltimore Colts went winless during the strike-shortened 1982 season, finishing with zero wins and one tie. This dismal season was part of a tough period for the team, which relocated to Indianapolis just two years later.
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1. 1960 Dallas Cowboys (0-11-1)
The Dallas Cowboys failed to win a game in their inaugural season, though they managed one tie. Despite the rough start, the Cowboys eventually grew into a powerhouse and became known as “America’s Team.”
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