University of Oklahoma Athletics

OU in the AP Poll

OU in the AP Poll

OU Football History & Tradition | Updated Jan. 25, 2021

After capturing its sixth straight Big 12 title and defeating Florida in the Cotton Bowl, Oklahoma was voted No. 6 in the final AP poll for 2020.

OU has a long and illustrious history with the Associated Press Poll since the service began in 1936. The Sooners own the most weeks ranked in the Top 5 and have sat atop the poll 101 times, third-most nationally.

No program has finished in the Top 5 more than Oklahoma, and OU has finished No. 1 in the final poll and crowned national champions by the AP seven times.

Oklahoma has been ranked in more than 72 percent of all weekly AP polls and half the time in the top 10. Latest AP Poll | AP Poll Archive

AP Poll
Weeks OU Ranked 861 of 1,185 polls since 1936 (No. 3 nationally) .727
Weeks Ranked No. 1 101 (No. 3 nationally) .085
Weeks Ranked in Top 2 202 (No. 2 nationally) .170
Weeks Ranked in Top 5 421 (No. 2 nationally) .355
Weeks Ranked in Top 10 609 (No. 2 nationally) .510
Years Ranked in Preseason Poll 62 (of 71 polls - No. 2 nationally) .873
Years Ranked in Final Poll 60 (of 85 polls - T-No. 2 nationally) .706
Seasons OU Ranked 73 of 85 seasons since 1936 .855
Seasons with No. 1 Ranking 19 (at least one week at No. 1)
Average Rank in all AP Polls 7.7 (No. 3 nationally)
Average Rank in Final AP Poll 7.33 (No. 2 nationally)
Years Ranked No. 1 in Preseason 10 (2011, '03, 1987, '86, '85, '77, '75, '74, '57, '56)
Years Ranked No. 1 in Final Poll 7 (2000, 1985, '74, '75, '56, '55, '50)
Years Ranked in Top 5 in Final Poll 33 (No. 1 nationally)
Years Ranked in Top 10 in Final Poll 44 (No. 2 nationally)
Longest Streaks
Ranked No. 1: 15 Weeks (2002-2003)
Ranked in Top 5: 48 Weeks (1953-1957)
Ranked in Top 10: 76 Weeks (1984-1988)
Ranked in Top 25: 158 Weeks (12th week of 1970 - 5th week of 1981)
Seasons Ranked: 30 Seasons (1966-1995)
in Preseason Poll: 28 Seasons (1968-1995)
in Final Poll: 14 Seasons (1946-1959)

Oklahoma All-Time in AP Poll
The grid below shows every week of the AP poll and OU's ranking. The numbers along the top of the poll represent the week with "P" as the preseason poll and "F" as the final poll. A dash (-) represents that OU was not ranked in that week's poll while a blank means that there was no poll that week.

P 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 F
2020 5 3 3 18 - - - 24 19 18 18 14 13 13 12 8 6
2019 4 4 5 5 6 6 6 5 5 10 9 10 8 7 6 4 7
2018 7 6 5 5 6 7 11 9 8 7 6 6 6 5 4 4
2017 7 5 2 3 3 3 12 9 10 8 5 3 3 2 2 3
2016 3 14 14 25 - 20 19 16 16 12 9 8 7 7 7 5
2015 19 19 16 15 15 10 19 17 14 14 12 7 5 3 4 5
2014 4 4 4 4 4 4 11 11 17 19 16 - 23 20 18 - -
2013 16 16 14 14 14 11 12 18 15 10 10 18 20 18 17 11 6
2012 4 5 5 6 16 17 13 10 8 14 14 13 14 12 12 15
2011 1 1 1 1 2 3 3 3 11 7 7 5 12 13 19 16
2010 7 10 7 8 8 6 6 3 11 11 19 16 14 10 9 6
2009 3 13 12 10 8 19 20 25 22 20 - - - - - - -
2008 4 4 3 2 2 1 1 4 4 4 6 5 5 3 4 2 5
2007 8 5 3 4 3 10 6 4 4 5 4 3 10 9 3 8
2006 10 15 15 17 16 14 23 20 19 18 17 16 13 8 7 11
2005 7 18 21 - - - - - - - - - - - - 22
2004 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3
2003 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 3
2002 2 1 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 1 4 4 3 8 8 5
2001 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 3 3 3 4 11 11 10 6
2000 19 19 20 18 17 14 10 8 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
1999 - - - - - 23 - - - 24 - - - - - - -
1998 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1997 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1996 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1995 15 16 14 14 10 10 14 13 15 23 25 - - - - - -
1994 16 15 15 21 21 21 16 22 - - - - - - - - -
1993 22 21 17 12 10 10 10 9 17 14 20 17 15 16 19 19 17
1992 15 15 13 13 20 19 16 - - - - - - - - - -
1991 10 9 9 7 6 5 6 12 21 20 20 18 19 19 20 16
1990 22 23 14 11 9 7 4 16 22 - - - - 22 20 17
1989 15 8 6 16 16 16 15 25 - - - - - - - -
1988 3 4 4 3 10 10 9 8 8 8 8 9 10 10 10 14
1987 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 3
1986 1 1 1 1 6 6 5 5 4 4 4 3 3 3 3
1985 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 10 9 7 7 5 3 4 3 1
1984 16 16 15 11 7 5 3 2 2 10 9 6 2 2 2 6
1983 2 2 2 8 9 8 15 16 14 11 - - - - 20 -
1982 9 9 - - - - - 20 17 14 15 14 11 14 12 16
1981 2 3 3 2 5 10 - - 19 17 15 - - - 20
1980 5 4 3 4 12 12 17 17 16 11 10 9 6 5 4 3
1979 3 3 3 3 3 3 8 7 7 6 7 8 5 5 3
1978 4 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 4 4 4 3
1977 1 5 3 1 2 7 6 4 3 3 3 3 2 7
1976 5 4 4 3 3 6 5 13 17 14 10 8 8 5
1975 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 6 7 3 3 1
1974 1 1 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1
1973 11 11 9 8 6 6 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 3
1972 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 8 7 7 4 4 3 2 2
1971 10 10 11 8 8 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 2
1970 20 18 14 - - - - - - - - - 20 20 20
1969 6 6 6 8 12 11 - 20 - - - - - -
1968 4 5 - - - - - - - - 14 11 10 11
1967 - - - - - - - - 8 7 5 3
1966 - - - - - 10 - - - - - - -
1965 - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1964 2 - - - - - - - - - -
1963 4 3 1 1 6 7 6 6 5 6 10 8 10
1962 - - - - - - - - - 10 8 8
1961 - - - - - - - - - - - -
1960 10 - - - - - - - - - - -
1959 2 2 - 13 - 18 19 - - - 17 15 15
1958 2 2 1 2 11 9 7 6 6 4 3 5
1957 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 2 2 6 5 4
1956 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 1
1955 2 3 5 3 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 1
1954 2 1 2 1 1 1 2 3 3 3 3 3
1953 6 8 16 12 9 9 8 6 4 4 4
1952 4 20 12 6 3 3 4 8 5 4 4
1951 4 4 11 19 - 17 14 12 12 10 10
1950 6 5 3 2 3 3 3 2 1 1
1949 3 3 4 3 3 3 2 3 2
1948 - 20 18 16 15 9 8 6 5
1947 15 - - - - - - 20 18 16
1946 - 13 14 14 16 - 18 17 14
1945 - - - 14 - 14 - - -
1944 - - - - - - - - -
1943 - - - - - - - - -
1942 - - - - - - - -
1941 - - - - - - - -
1940 - - - - - - - -
1939 3 6 6 6 5 14 - - 19
1938 14 10 11 10 7 6 5 4
1937 - - - - - - -
1936 - - - - - - -

All-Time AP Finishes
Oklahoma has finished at No. 1 in the AP Poll seven times and as No. 2 in three additional seasons. The Sooners have ended the season in the Top 5 a whopping 33 times and ranked in the Top 10 after 44 seasons. Below shows OU's finish every year in the AP Top 25 Poll:

OU Finished...
Ranked Times Seasons
No. 1 7 2000, 1985, 1975, 1974, 1956, 1955, 1950
No. 2 3 1972, 1971, 1949
No. 3 11 2017, 2004, 2003, 1987, 1986, 1980, 1979, 1978, 1973, 1967, 1954
No. 4 5 2018, 1957, 1953, 1952, 1938
No. 5 7 2016, 2015, 2008, 2002, 1976, 1958, 1948
No. 6 5 2020, 2013, 2010, 2001, 1984
No. 7 2 2019, 1977
No. 8 2 2007, 1962
No. 9 -
No. 10 2 1963, 1951
No. 11 2 2006, 1968
No. 12 -
No. 13 -
No. 14 2 1988, 1946
No. 15 1 2012, 1959
No. 16 4 2011, 1991, 1982, 1947
No. 17 2 1993, 1990
No. 18 -
No. 19 1 1939
No. 20 2 1981, 1970
No. 21 -
No. 22 1 2005
No. 23 -
No. 24 -
No. 25 -

OU as No. 1 / Against No. 1
Oklahoma has played in a total of 107 games involving the AP No. 1 team. The Sooners are 74-8 (.901) in 82 games ranked as the No. 1 team. OU is 7-16-2 (.320) in 25 games playing against a team ranked No. 1.

Oklahoma
... as AP No. 1 74-8-0 (.901) | 82 games
... against AP No. 1 7-16-2 (.320) | 25 games
... as AP No. 1 vs. ranked opp. 19-7-0 (.731) | 26 games
... as AP No. 1 in Norman 37-0-0 (1.00) | 37 games
... as AP No. 1 at opponent 28-3-0 (.903) | 31 games
... as AP No. 1 at neutral site 9-5-0 (.643) | 14 games
... against AP No. 1 in Norman 1-5-0 (.200) | 6 games
... against AP No. 1 at opponent 3-3-1 (.500) | 7 games
... against AP No. 1 at neutral site 3-7-1 (.318) | 11 games
No. 1 OU vs. Ranked Opponent
Date Score Location Att.
09/17/11 W (1) OU 23, (5) Florida State 13 Tallahassee, Fla. 84,392
10/11/08 L (5) Texas 45, (1) OU 35 Dallas, Texas 92,182
12/06/03 L (13) Kansas State 35, (1) OU 7 Kansas City, Mo. (Big 12 Title) 79,451
11/01/03 W (1) OU 52, (14) Oklahoma State 9 Norman 84,027
10/18/03 W (1) OU 34, (24) Missouri 13 Norman 83,327
10/11/03 W (1) OU 65, (11) Texas 13 Dallas, Texas 75,587
01/03/01 W (1) OU 13, (3) Florida State 2 Miami, Fla. (Orange Bowl) 76,835
12/02/00 W (1) OU 27, (8) Kansas State 24 Kansas City, Mo. (Big 12 Title) 79,655
11/11/00 W (1) OU 35, (19) Texas A&M 31 College Station, Texas 87,188
01/01/87 L (2) Miami 20, (1) OU 14 Miami, Fla. (Orange Bowl) 74,760
11/07/87 W (1) OU 29, (12) Oklahoma State 10 Norman 75,004
09/27/86 L (2) Miami 28, (1) OU 16 Miami, Fla. 71,451
09/06/86 W (1) OU 38, (4) UCLA 3 Norman 75,684
11/11/78 L (4) Nebraska 17, (1) OU 14 Lincoln, Neb. 74,657
10/07/78 W (1) OU 31, (6) Texas 10 Dallas, Texas 72,032
09/30/78 W (1) OU 45, (14) Missouri 23 Norman 72,371
10/04/75 W (1) OU, (19) Colorado 20 Norman 71,118
09/20/75 W (1) OU 46, (15) Pittsburgh 10 Norman 71,030
11/23/74 W (1) OU 28, (6) Nebraska 14 Lincoln, Neb. 74,504
10/12/63 L (2) Texas 28, (1) OU 7 Dallas, Texas 76,004
09/21/57 W (1) OU 26, (8) Pittsburgh 0 Pittsburgh, Pa. 59,025
01/01/55 W (1) OU 20, (3) Maryland 6 Miami, Fla. (Orange Bowl) 76,561
10/09/54 W (1) OU 14, (15) Texas 7 Dallas, Texas 76,204
09/25/54 W (1) OU 21, (16) TCU 16 Norman 50,878
11/25/50 W (1) OU 49, (16) Nebraska 35 Norman 53,066
01/01/50 L (3) Kentucky 13, (1) OU 7 New Orleans, La. (Sugar Bowl) 80,206
25 Games | Overall Record: 19-7-0 (.731)
OU vs. No. 1 Opponent
Date Score Location Att.
12/28/19 L (1) LSU 63, (4) OU 28 Atlanta, Ga. (CFP Semifinal) 78,347
12/29/18 L (1) Alabama 45, (4) OU 34 Miami, Fla. (CFP Semifinal) 66,203
12/31/15 L (1) Clemson 37, (4) OU 17 Miami, Fla. (CFP Semifinal) 67,615
01/08/09 L (1) Florida 24, (2) OU 14 Miami, Fla. (BCS Title) 78,468
12/01/07 W (9) OU 38, (1) Missouri 17 San Antonio (Big 12 Title) 62,585
01/04/05 L (1) USC 55, (2) OU 19 Miami, Fla. (Orange Bowl) 77,912
10/28/00 W (3) OU 31, (1) Nebraska 14 Norman 75,989
11/01/97 L (1) Nebraska 69, OU 7 Lincoln, Neb. 75,926
11/24/95 L (1) Nebraska 37, OU 0 Lincoln, Neb. 75,662
11/25/94 L (1) Nebraska 13, OU 3 Norman 70,216
11/21/87 W (2) OU 17, (1) Nebraska 7 Lincoln, Neb. 76,663
01/01/86 W (3) OU 25, (1) Penn State 10 Miami, Fla. (Orange Bowl) 74,178
11/17/84 W (6) OU 17, (1) Nebraska 7 Lincoln, Neb. 76,323
10/13/84 - (3) OU 15, (1) Texas 15 Dallas, Texas 75,587
11/26/83 L (1) Nebraska 28, OU 21 Norman 76,565
09/26/81 L (1) USC 28, (2) OU 24 Los Angeles, Calif. 85,651
09/29/73 - (8) OU 7, (1) USC 7 Los Angeles, Calif. 83,986
11/25/71 L (1) Nebraska 35, (2) OU 31 Norman 62,884
10/22/66 L (1) Notre Dame 38, (10) OU 0 Norman 62,626
10/09/65 L (1) Texas 19, OU 0 Dallas, Texas 75,342
10/10/64 L (1) Texas 28, OU 7 Dallas, Texas 75,504
09/28/63 W (3) OU 17, (1) USC 12 Los Angeles, Calif. 52,245
01/01/54 W (4) OU 7, (1) Maryland 0 Miami, Fla. (Orange Bowl) 68,640
09/26/53 L (1) Notre Dame 28, (6) OU 21 Norman 59,461
10/12/46 L (1) Texas 20, OU 13 Dallas, Texas -
25 Games | Overall Record: 7-16-2 (.320)

OU Football History & Tradition