Oklahoma's Orange Bowl Tradition

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma has played in more Orange Bowl games and won more Orange Bowl trophies than any other team in college football. The Sooners will make their 18th appearance in the Miami bowl game when they battle Southern Cal for the BCS National Championship on Jan. 4, 2005.

Oklahoma is 12-5 in the Orange Bowl since its first trip in 1939.

Oklahoma Bowl History | Sooner National Championship Central

It's appropriate that a national title will be on the line when Oklahoma takes the field with an Orange Bowl patch sewn on its jerseys. The Sooners have claimed four of their seven National Championships with victories in the historic game (2000, 1985, 1975, 1955).

The following is a look back at Oklahoma's Orange Bowl tradition.

Jan. 3, 2001 - Oklahoma 13, Florida State 2
Top-ranked Oklahoma used a smothering defense to shut down the third-ranked Seminoles and Josh Heupel generated enough offense to lead OU to a perfect season. As the nation's only unbeaten team, the Sooners were the unanimous winners of the Associated Press media poll. And they were automatically crowned national champs in the coaches' poll under the Bowl Championship Series format. Led by Orange Bowl MVP Torrance Marshall, the Sooners time and again forced FSU's Chris Weinke into bad decisions. Tim Duncan kicked two field goals and Quentin Griffin scored the clinching touchdown on a 10-yard run up the middle with 8:30 to play. Florida State avoided its first shutout in 12 seasons when Stanford Samuels tackled Oklahoma punter Jeff Ferguson in the end zone for a safety with 55 seconds remaining.

Jan. 1, 1988 - Miami 20, Oklahoma 14
The Sooners' hopes of winning their seventh national championship were put to rest by the Miami Hurricanes, 20-14, in a game not as close as the score indicated. The Hurricanes took the opening kickoff and moved 65 yards in eight plays for a 7-0 lead, then never looked back. The Sooner offense, which led the nation in six categories, was held to only 179 rushing yards and 255 overall. Late in the fourth quarter, the Sooners scored on a 29-yard fumblerooski which gave the OU faithful a flicker of hope. The Hurricane defenders blew it out when they sacked quarterback Charles Thompson and caused a fumble to ensure the victory.

Jan. 1, 1987 - Oklahoma 42, Arkansas 8
After nine years, Barry Switzer avenged his most embarrassing loss, coaching OU to a 42-8 rout of Arkansas. LB Dant Jones, playing in place of All- American Brian Bosworth, led the defense which held the Hogs to just 48 rushing yards. Spencer Tillman gained 109 yards rushing on just seven carries. His totals included a 77-yard TD to give OU the early 7-0 lead. Todd Thomsen set an Orange Bowl record with five punts for a 47.6-yard average.

Jan. 1, 1986 - Oklahoma 25, Penn State 10
A swarming defense, a record field goal performance and two big plays helped Oklahoma defeat Penn State to capture both the Orange Bowl and its sixth national championship. Butkus Award winner Brian Bosworth had 13 solo tackles and the OU secondary picked off four Penn State passes to thwart any rallies. Tim Lashar booted an Orange Bowl record four field goals to give the Sooners an early lead. Lydell Carr and Keith Jackson then provided big plays, a 61- yard jaunt by Carr and a 71-yard pass play from Jamelle Holieway to Jackson.

1986 Orange Bowl

Jan. 1, 1985 - Washington 28, Oklahoma 17
Brigham Young was No. 1 in the polls, but Sooner head coach Barry Switzer had argued that the Sooners should be No. 1 because of a tougher schedule. A win over a fine Husky team would solidify that claim. However, Washington refused to cooperate and turned a 17-14 fourth-quarter deficit into a 28-17 triumph. The game was marked by a bizarre incident when, after an OU field goal, the Sooner Schooner raced onto the field as called for by tradition. The only problem was the drivers apparently had not received the proper permission for the trip. The team was penalized 15 yards and the loss of the three points.

Jan. 1, 1981 - Oklahoma 18, Florida State 17
This contest featured a rematch with a great deal more excitement as OU turned to a foreign weapon, the pass, to notch its third straight Orange Bowl win. QB J.C. Watts was chosen MVP and with good reason. The Seminoles used a fourth-quarter TD to break a 10-10 tie and seemingly gain control. OU was forced to start deep in its own territory after the kickoff with little time left. Watts went to work and passed the Sooners to the 11-yard line where he hit Steve Rhodes with a TD strike to pull the Sooners to within one with less than a minute to go. Watts then proceeded to hit tight end Forrest Valora for the two-point conversion that gave the Sooners their ninth Orange Bowl victory, including three in the last four years. OU finished ranked No. 3 in the nation.

Jan. 1, 1980 - Oklahoma 24, Florida State 7
The Big Eight Champion Sooners met an undefeated Florida State team on New Year's night. After the Seminoles took a 7-0 first-quarter lead, OU unleashed 17 second-quarter points to take the lead for good. J.C. Watts was named Orange Bowl MVP on offense. He scored on a 61-yard option play and rushed for more than 100 yards. Bud Hebert, who recorded three interceptions, earned the award on defense. Billy Sims wrapped up his brilliant collegiate career scoring on a 22-yard pitch from Watts. OU finished third in the country and won the Orange Bowl for the third time in five tries under Switzer. The Seminoles crossed midfield only two times after the first quarter and never passed the 35-yard line.

Jan. 1, 1979 - Oklahoma 31, Nebraska 24
A truly amazing turn of events produced a rematch after Nebraska's victory in November. The Sooners, ranked number one with one loss, had lost a heartbreaker to the Cornhuskers, 17-14, on a late fumble at the NU three-yard line. When the Huskers were upset the following week by Missouri, producing a Big Eight championship tie, the Orange Bowl officials came up with the idea of a rematch, much to the Sooners' joy and the Huskers' shock. It went as predicted: an OU victory. The Sooners were led by Heisman Trophy winner Billy Sims and quarterback Thomas Lott, who each scored twice as OU cruised to a 31-10 lead after three periods of play.

Jan. 1, 1978 - Arkansas 31, Oklahoma 6
Called by Barry Switzer, “the most disappointing loss of my career,” OU was a victim of one of the biggest upsets in bowl history. When Notre Dame downed Texas in the Cotton Bowl, OU was in the running for a national championship. A big win over Arkansas might impress the voters and secure the crown for the Sooners. As a result, Switzer went against his own strategy by choosing to receive the opening kickoff rather than play defense. OU fumbled inside its own 10 on the third play of the game and Arkansas immediately scored for a lead it never relinquished.

Jan. 1, 1976 - Oklahoma 14, Michigan 6
It was OU's first bowl trip under legendary OU head coach Barry Switzer and a storybook setting. Ohio State, the No. 1-ranked team in the country, had lost in the Rose Bowl earlier in the afternoon. The upset gave the Sooners an opportunity to win the national championship if they could beat the Michigan Wolverines coached by Bo Schembechler. A 39-yard end around by Billy Brooks and a nine-yard keeper by Steve Davis were enough for a 14-6 victory and a fifth national championship.

Jan. 1, 1968 - Oklahoma 26, Tennessee 24
OU had won the Big Eight title in Chuck Fairbank's first year as head coach. Although a slight underdog to the Vols, OU broke out to a 19-0 halftime lead. Tennessee came back to narrow the Sooner lead to 19-17 before Oklahoma defensive back Bob Stephenson picked off a pass and raced 24 yards to give OU an all important insurance TD. The Sooners desperately needed the insurance when Dewey Warren plowed in from a yard out. The Volunteers then missed a potential game-winning field goal as the gun went off.

Jan. 1, 1963 - Alabama 17, Oklahoma 0
It was Bud Wilkinson's last bowl game. Paul “Bear” Bryant, coaching his alma mater, repeated his victory as the coach at Kentucky in the 51 Sugar Bowl with a 17-0 triumph. LB Lee Roy Jordan, the MVP, and quarterback Joe Namath led the Crimson Tide to the victory. The Sooners had first and goal twice in the first half, but fumbles ended OU's chances and the Sooners never really threatened again. The lone highlight for the Oklahoma team was a visit by President John F. Kennedy to the Sooners' locker room. Although President Kennedy claimed neutrality, it was obvious by the grimace on his face he was backing the Oklahoma team.

Jan. 1, 1959 - Oklahoma 21, Syracuse 6
Waiving the “no repeat rule” because of a new bowl contract, the Sooners played in their second consecutive Orange Bowl, defeating the Orangemen from Syracuse, 21-6. The Sooners were led by Prentice Gautt, now Senior Associate Commissioner of the Big 12, who scored the game's first TD on the second play of the game with a 42-yard run. Gautt averaged an OU bowl-record 15.7-yards every time he touched the ball. It was the Sooners' fourth straight Orange Bowl victory. Oklahoma ended the season rankedfifth in the nation, its only loss a one-pointer to Texas.

Jan. 1, 1958 - Oklahoma 48, Duke 21
The 47-game winning streak had been broken earlier in the season, but the Sooners still came into the game ranked No. 4. Duke, the ACC winner, was unranked. Oklahoma got only six first downs, lost the total offense battle (328 yards to 279) and picked up an OU bowl-record 165 yards in penalties, but used two interception returns for TD, including an OU bowl record 94-yarder from David Baker, two fumble recoveries, a blocked punt and a bad snap from center to win going away. The 48 points marked an all-time OU bowl record that stood until matched by the 91 Gator Bowl team.

1956 Orange Bowl

Jan. 1, 1956 - Oklahoma 20, Maryland 6
This time it was OU that carried the number one ranking into the game with Maryland ranked third, having lost just one game during the regular season. The Sooners, a perfect 10-0 and in the midst of their 47-game winning streak, trailed 6-0 at the half. The Sooners went into their famous “fast break offense” in the second half and scored three times to post their second Orange Bowl victory. It was the second national championship for OU.

Jan. 1, 1954 - Oklahoma 7, Maryland 0
It was the first game of the contract that pitted the Big Seven champion against the Atlantic Coast Conference champ. Maryland came into the game as the regular season national champion with OU rated fourth. Twice, the Terrapins had first down with the ball inside the 10-yard line, and both times the Sooner defense refused to allow any points on the scoreboard. Sooner tailback Larry Grigg scored the only TD of the game with a 25-yard scamper in the second period. The 54 bowl game was the first bowl game in which the players had to play both ways. Sooner hero Grigg also played defensive back.

Jan. 1, 1939 - Tennessee 17, Oklahoma 0
This was the first Orange Bowl that featured two national powers as both teams were undefeated and untied. To lure the Sooners to Miami, the Orange Bowl director circled the Norman campus, leaving chalk messages that promoted the game. Tennessee's powerful ground attack was too much for the Sooners, winners of 14 straight, as the Volunteers raced to a 17-0 victory in the fifth annual Orange Bowl. The victory was the 13th straight for the Vols, who were coached by Major Bob Neyland. The game was considered to be the roughest of all bowl games played that year as both teams combined for more than 200 yards in penalties.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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