The Huskers have crowned 11 NCAA champions in their history, including Jordan Burroughs, who became the first Husker to ever win two national titles in a career. Burroughs went a perfect 5-0 at the 2011 NCAA Championships and capped his season with a 11-3 win over Oklahoma's Tyler Caldwell to end his season with a 36-0 record. Burroughs won the 157-pound title in 2009, which made him the first undefeated national champion in school history.
Burroughs joined an elite list when he earned his first national title. The Sicklerville, N.J., native, along with nine other Huskers, can say they were at the top of their game for one season. Below the careers of each Nebraska national champion is detailed, including their finish at the conference and national level each year. The results of all 23 NCAA final appearances by Nebraska wrestlers are listed at the bottom of this page.
Nebraska's National Champions
2011 National Champion - 165
2009 National Champion - 157
Burroughs became the school's first two-time national champion after winning the 165-pound title in 2011. Burroughs had one of the most dominant seasons in school history, and was capped off by winning the prestegious Hodge Trophy.
| Year | Won | Lost | Tie | Conf | NCAA |
| 2006-07 | 16 | 13 | 0 | 3rd | DNP |
| 2007-08 | 34 | 6 | 0 | 1st | 3rd |
| 2008-09 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 1st | 1st |
| 2009-10** | 7 | 1 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| 2010-11 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 1st | 1st |
| Career | 129 | 19 | 0 |
*-Redshirt seasons do not count in career totals
**-Medical redshirt
2007 National Champion - 125
Donahoe became the ninth national champion in NU history with a 3-1 overtime win over Sam Hazewinkel of Oklahoma in 2007 at 125 pounds. Donahoe finished his sophomore season with a 35-5 record, the fourth-most wins by a sophomore in school history.
| Year | Won | Lost | Tie | Conf | NCAA |
| 2004-05* | 20 | 2 | 0 | (Redshirt) | |
| 2005-06 | 26 | 9 | 0 | 3rd | DNP |
| 2006-07 | 35 | 5 | 0 | 2nd | 1st |
| 2007-08 | 25 | 4 | 0 | 1st | 3rd |
| Career | 86 | 18 | 0 |
*-Redshirt seasons do not count in career totals
2004 National Champion - 125
Powell won the 125-pound weight class in 2004 with a 17-2 technical fall over Kyle Ott of Illinois to become the eighth NCAA champion in Husker history. Powell finished the season with a 26-2 record to lead NU to its first top-five team since 1995-96.
| Year | Won | Lost | Tie | Conf | NCAA |
| 1999-00* | 16 | 7 | 0 | (Redshirt) | |
| 2000-01 | 19 | 8 | 0 | 1st | DNP |
| 2001-02 | 29 | 8 | 0 | 3rd | 5th |
| 2002-03 | 35 | 6 | 0 | 3rd | 3rd |
| 2003-04 | 26 | 2 | 0 | 2nd | 1st |
| Career | 109 | 24 | 0 |
*-Redshirt seasons do not count in career totals
2000 National Champion - 197
Vering took the 197-pound national title in 2000 to become the seventh NCAA champion in NU history. Vering defeated Zach Thompson of Iowa State, 2-1, in a tiebreaker. Vering finished the season with a 38-3 record to lead the Huskers to an eight-place team finish.
| Year | Won | Lost | Tie | Conf | NCAA |
| 1997-98 | 33 | 9 | 0 | 1st | DNP |
| 1998-99 | 26 | 9 | 0 | 2nd | 4th |
| 1999-00 | 38 | 3 | 0 | 1st | 1st |
| 2000-01 | 27 | 5 | 0 | 2nd | 7th |
| Career | 124 | 26 | 0 |
1995 National Champion - HWT
Three-time All-American Tolly Thompson became Nebraska's sixth national champion in 1995 with an 8-0 major decision over Justin Greenlee of Northern Iowa. Thompson's title completed a 36-2 season.
| Year | Won | Lost | Tie | Conf | NCAA |
| 1992-93* | 18 | 5 | 0 | (Redshirt) | |
| 1993-94 | 38 | 13 | 0 | 3rd | DNP |
| 1994-95 | 36 | 2 | 0 | 1st | 1st |
| 1995-96 | 42 | 2 | 0 | 1st | 3rd |
| 1996-97 | 41 | 4 | 0 | 1st | 3rd |
| Career | 157 | 21 | 0 |
*-Redshirt seasons do not count in career totals
1993 National Champion - 126
Purler became the fifth Husker to capture a national championship, winning the title at 126 pounds in 1993. Purler defeated Shawn Charles of Arizona State, 7-5, in the NCAA finals, avenging his only two losses of the season. Purler finished the season with an overall record of 35-2.
| Year | Won | Lost | Tie | Conf | NCAA |
| 1992-93 | 35 | 2 | 0 | 1st | 1st |
| Career | 35 | 2 | 0 |
1991 National Champion - 126
Kelber led NU to a 10th-place team finish at the 1991 NCAA Championships with his national title. He ended his senior year with a 32-2 record, defeating Terry Brands in the NCAA finals. He also captured the Big Eight title.
| Year | Won | Lost | Tie | Conf | NCAA |
| 1986-87 | 21 | 11 | 0 | 5th | DNC |
| 1987-88* | 11 | 1 | 0 | (Redshirt) | |
| 1988-89 | 33 | 13 | 0 | 3rd | 6th |
| 1989-90 | 35 | 4 | 0 | 2nd | 2nd |
| 1990-91 | 34 | 2 | 0 | 1st | 1st |
| Career | 123 | 30 | 0 |
1984 National Champion - 190
Nebraska's first three-time All-American, Scherr defeated Jim Baumgardner of Oregon State in the 1984 NCAA finals to finish the season with a 36-1 record. Scherr's win helped NU to a fourth-place finish at nationals.
| Year | Won | Lost | Tie | Conf | NCAA |
| 1980-81 | 22 | 8 | 0 | DNP | DNP |
| 1981-82 | 37 | 5 | 0 | 1st | 4th |
| 1982-83 | 38 | 4 | 0 | 1st | 3rd |
| 1983-84 | 36 | 1 | 0 | 1st | 1st |
| Career | 133 | 18 | 0 |
1984 National Champion - 177
Scherr earned NU's second individual title, defeating Duane Goldman of Iowa. Scherr put together an impressive 1984 championship season with a 35-2-1 record, helping the Huskers to their second-highest finish ever at the NCAA Championships.
| Year | Won | Lost | Tie | Conf | NCAA |
| 1980-81 | 19 | 8 | 1 | DNP | DNP |
| 1981-82 | 27 | 11 | 0 | 3rd | 6th |
| 1982-83 | 29 | 4 | 2 | 2nd | DNP |
| 1983-84 | 34 | 2 | 1 | 1st | 1st |
| Career | 109 | 25 | 4 |
1963 National Champion - 123
Nissen became NU's first national champion in 1963. He led NU to a 13th-place finish at the NCAA Championships. Nissen finished the season with a 19-1 record and closed his career with a perfect 36-0 dual record.
| Year | Won | Lost | Tie | Conf | NCAA |
| 1960-61 | 12 | 2 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| 1961-62 | 17 | 2 | 0 | N/A | 3rd |
| 1962-63 | 19 | 1 | 0 | N/A | 1st |
| Career | 48 | 5 | 0 |
Nebraska's NCAA Finalists
| Year | Wrestler | Weight | Result |
| 1963 | Mike Nissen | 123 | Won |
| 1983 | Al Freeman | 142 | Lost |
| 1984 | Jim Scherr | 177 | Won |
| Bill Scherr | 190 | Won | |
| Gary Albright | HWT | Lost | |
| 1987 | Gil Sanchez | 134 | Lost |
| 1990 | Jason Kelber | 126 | Lost |
| 1991 | Jason Kelber | 126 | Won |
| 1992 | Corey Olson | 177 | Lost |
| 1993 | Tony Purler | 126 | Won |
| Corey Olson | 177 | Lost | |
| 1995 | Tolly Thompson | HWT | Won |
| 2000 | Brad Vering | 197 | Won |
| 2001 | Bryan Snyder | 157 | Lost |
| 2002 | Bryan Snyder | 157 | Lost |
| 2004 | Matt Murray | 141 | Lost |
| Jason Powell | 125 | Won | |
| 2007 | Paul Donahoe | 125 | Won |
| 2009 | Jordan Burroughs | 157 | Won |
| Craig Brester | 197 | Lost | |
| 2010 | Craig Brester | 197 | Lost |
| 2011 | Jordan Burroughs | 165 | Won |
| 2016 | TJ Dudley | 184 | Lost |
| 2019 | Tyler Berger | 157 | Lost |
| 2022 | Ridge Lovett | 149 | Los |