Having competed a 3-9 season, Stanford football has played 115 seasons through 2021, dating back to 1891.
The Cardinal did not play any games from 1906 to 1917, when the school played rugby instead, and from 1943 to 1945, due to World War II.
Stanford participated in the first-ever Rose Bowl against Michigan in 1902, in which they were routed 49-0. Its annual Big Game against California is the oldest and most storied rivalry in the Pac-12 and western United States.
The Cardinal claimed national championships in 1926 and 1940. In 1926, led by legendary coach Glenn “Pop” Warner, the team was undefeated in the regular season and tied Alabama in the 1927 Rose Bowl.
The 1940 team went unbeaten and untied after defeating Nebraska 21–13 in the 1941 Rose Bowl, but the team ranked No. 2 in the final AP poll released before the game was played.
The table below gives season rundowns with Conference, W-L record, win percentage, coach, and bowl game, if any, for each year
| Year | Conf | W | L | T | Pct | Coach | Bowl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Pac-12 | 3 | 9 | 0 | .250 | David Shaw | |
| 2020 | Pac-12 | 4 | 2 | 0 | .667 | David Shaw | |
| 2019 | Pac-12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | .333 | David Shaw | |
| 2018 | Pac-12 | 9 | 4 | 0 | .692 | David Shaw | Sun Bowl-W |
| 2017 | Pac-12 | 9 | 5 | 0 | .643 | David Shaw | Alamo Bowl-L |
| 2016 | Pac-12 | 10 | 3 | 0 | .769 | David Shaw | Sun Bowl-W |
| 2015 | Pac-12 | 12 | 2 | 0 | .857 | David Shaw | Rose Bowl-W |
| 2014 | Pac-12 | 8 | 5 | 0 | .615 | David Shaw | Foster Farms Bowl-W |
| 2013 | Pac-12 | 11 | 3 | 0 | .786 | David Shaw | Rose Bowl-L |
| 2012 | Pac-12 | 12 | 2 | 0 | .857 | David Shaw | Rose Bowl-W |
| 2011 | Pac-12 | 11 | 2 | 0 | .846 | David Shaw | Fiesta Bowl-L |
| 2010 | Pac-10 | 12 | 1 | 0 | .923 | Jim Harbaugh | Orange Bowl-W |
| 2009 | Pac-10 | 8 | 5 | 0 | .615 | Jim Harbaugh | Sun Bowl-L |
| 2008 | Pac-10 | 5 | 7 | 0 | .417 | Jim Harbaugh | |
| 2007 | Pac-10 | 4 | 8 | 0 | .333 | Jim Harbaugh | |
| 2006 | Pac-10 | 1 | 11 | 0 | .083 | Walt Harris | |
| 2005 | Pac-10 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Walt Harris | |
| 2004 | Pac-10 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Buddy Teevens | |
| 2003 | Pac-10 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Buddy Teevens | |
| 2002 | Pac-10 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | Buddy Teevens | |
| 2001 | Pac-10 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | Tyrone Willingham | Seattle Bowl-L |
| 2000 | Pac-10 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Tyrone Willingham | |
| 1999 | Pac-10 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | Tyrone Willingham | Rose Bowl-L |
| 1998 | Pac-10 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Tyrone Willingham | |
| 1997 | Pac-10 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Tyrone Willingham | |
| 1996 | Pac-10 | 7 | 5 | 0 | .583 | Tyrone Willingham | Sun Bowl-W |
| 1995 | Pac-10 | 7 | 4 | 1 | .625 | Tyrone Willingham | Liberty Bowl-L |
| 1994 | Pac-10 | 3 | 7 | 1 | .318 | Bill Walsh | |
| 1993 | Pac-10 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Bill Walsh | |
| 1992 | Pac-10 | 10 | 3 | 0 | .769 | Bill Walsh | Blockbuster Bowl-W |
| 1991 | Pac-10 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | Dennis Green | Aloha Bowl-L |
| 1990 | Pac-10 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Dennis Green | |
| 1989 | Pac-10 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Dennis Green | |
| 1988 | Pac-10 | 3 | 6 | 2 | .364 | Jack Elway | |
| 1987 | Pac-10 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Jack Elway | |
| 1986 | Pac-10 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | Jack Elway | Gator Bowl-L |
| 1985 | Pac-10 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Jack Elway | |
| 1984 | Pac-10 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Jack Elway | |
| 1983 | Pac-10 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | Paul Wiggin | |
| 1982 | Pac-10 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Paul Wiggin | |
| 1981 | Pac-10 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Paul Wiggin | |
| 1980 | Pac-10 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Paul Wiggin | |
| 1979 | Pac-10 | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | Ron Dowhower | |
| 1978 | Pac-10 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | Bill Walsh | Bluebonnet Bowl-W |
| 1977 | Pac-8 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | Bill Walsh | Sun Bowl-W |
| 1976 | Pac-8 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Jack Christiansen | |
| 1975 | Pac-8 | 6 | 4 | 1 | .591 | Jack Christiansen | |
| 1974 | Pac-8 | 5 | 4 | 2 | .545 | Jack Christiansen | |
| 1973 | Pac-8 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | Jack Christiansen | |
| 1972 | Pac-8 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Jack Christiansen | |
| 1971 | Pac-8 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | John Ralston | Rose Bowl-W |
| 1970 | Pac-8 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | John Ralston | Rose Bowl-W |
| 1969 | Pac-8 | 7 | 2 | 1 | .750 | John Ralston | |
| 1968 | Pac-8 | 6 | 3 | 1 | .650 | John Ralston | |
| 1967 | AAWU | 5 | 5 | 0 | .500 | John Ralston | |
| 1966 | AAWU | 5 | 5 | 0 | .500 | John Ralston | |
| 1965 | AAWU | 6 | 3 | 1 | .650 | John Ralston | |
| 1964 | AAWU | 5 | 5 | 0 | .500 | John Ralston | |
| 1963 | AAWU | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | John Ralston | |
| 1962 | AAWU | 5 | 5 | 0 | .500 | Jack Curtice | |
| 1961 | AAWU | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | Jack Curtice | |
| 1960 | AAWU | 0 | 10 | 0 | .000 | Jack Curtice | |
| 1959 | AAWU | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | Jack Curtice | |
| 1958 | PCC | 2 | 8 | 0 | .200 | Jack Curtice | |
| 1957 | PCC | 6 | 4 | 0 | .600 | Chuck Taylor | |
| 1956 | PCC | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | Chuck Taylor | |
| 1955 | PCC | 6 | 3 | 1 | .650 | Chuck Taylor | |
| 1954 | PCC | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | Chuck Taylor | |
| 1953 | PCC | 6 | 3 | 1 | .650 | Chuck Taylor | |
| 1952 | PCC | 5 | 5 | 0 | .500 | Chuck Taylor | |
| 1951 | PCC | 9 | 2 | 0 | .818 | Chuck Taylor | Rose Bowl-L |
| 1950 | PCC | 5 | 3 | 2 | .600 | Marchy Schwartz | |
| 1949 | PCC | 7 | 3 | 1 | .682 | Marchy Schwartz | |
| 1948 | PCC | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | Marchy Schwartz | |
| 1947 | PCC | 0 | 9 | 0 | .000 | Marchy Schwartz | |
| 1946 | PCC | 6 | 3 | 1 | .650 | Marchy Schwartz | |
| 1942 | PCC | 6 | 4 | 0 | .600 | Marchy Schwartz | |
| 1941 | PCC | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | Clark Shaughnessy | |
| 1940 | PCC | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | Clark Shaughnessy | Rose Bowl-W |
| 1939 | PCC | 1 | 7 | 1 | .167 | Tiny Thornhill | |
| 1938 | PCC | 3 | 6 | 0 | .333 | Tiny Thornhill | |
| 1937 | PCC | 4 | 3 | 2 | .556 | Tiny Thornhill | |
| 1936 | PCC | 2 | 5 | 2 | .333 | Tiny Thornhill | |
| 1935 | PCC | 8 | 1 | 0 | .889 | Tiny Thornhill | Rose Bowl-W |
| 1934 | PCC | 9 | 1 | 1 | .864 | Tiny Thornhill | Rose Bowl-L |
| 1933 | PCC | 8 | 2 | 1 | .773 | Tiny Thornhill | Rose Bowl-L |
| 1932 | PCC | 6 | 4 | 1 | .591 | Pop Warner | |
| 1931 | PCC | 7 | 2 | 2 | .727 | Pop Warner | |
| 1930 | PCC | 9 | 1 | 1 | .864 | Pop Warner | |
| 1929 | PCC | 9 | 2 | 0 | .818 | Pop Warner | |
| 1928 | PCC | 8 | 3 | 1 | .708 | Pop Warner | |
| 1927 | PCC | 8 | 2 | 1 | .773 | Pop Warner | Rose Bowl-W |
| 1926 | PCC | 10 | 0 | 1 | .955 | Pop Warner | Rose Bowl-T |
| 1925 | PCC | 7 | 2 | 0 | .778 | Pop Warner | |
| 1924 | PCC | 7 | 1 | 1 | .833 | Pop Warner | Rose Bowl-L |
| 1923 | PCC | 7 | 2 | 0 | .778 | Andrew Kerr | |
| 1922 | PCC | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | Andrew Kerr | |
| 1921 | PCC | 4 | 2 | 2 | .625 | Conrad Van Gent | |
| 1920 | PCC | 4 | 3 | 0 | .571 | Walter Powell | |
| 1919 | PCC | 4 | 3 | 0 | .571 | Bob Evans | |
| 1918 | Ind | 0 | 4 | 0 | .000 | A.H. Badenoch | |
| 1905 | Ind | 8 | 0 | 0 0 | 1.000 | James F. Lanagan | |
| 1904 | Ind | 7 | 2 | 1 | .750 | James F. Lanagan | |
| 1903 | Ind | 8 | 0 | 3 | .864 | James F. Lanagan | |
| 1902 | Ind | 6 | 1 | 0 | .857 | Carl L. "Clem" Clemens | |
| 1901 | Ind | 3 | 2 | 2 | .571 | Charles M. Fickert | |
| 1900 | Ind | 7 | 2 | 1 | .750 | Fielding H. Yost | |
| 1899 | Ind | 2 | 5 | 2 | .333 | B.C. "Burr" Chamberlain | |
| 1898 | Ind | 5 | 3 | 1 | .611 | Harold P. Cross | |
| 1897 | Ind | 4 | 1 | 0 | .800 | George H. Brooke | |
| 1896 | Ind | 2 | 1 | 1 | .625 | Harold P. "Harry" Cross | |
| 1895 | Ind | 4 | 0 | 1 | .900 | Walter Camp | |
| 1894 | Ind | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | Walter Camp | |
| 1893 | Ind | 8 | 0 | 1 | .944 | C. D. "Pop" Bliss | |
| 1892 | Ind | 1 | 0 | 2 | .667 | Walter Camp | |
| 1891 | Ind | 3 | 1 | 0 | .750 | John R. Whittemore |
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