University of Oklahoma Athletics

National Championships


OU Football History & Tradition | National Championships

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National Championships

Nothing defines the competitive success of a college athletics program like a national championship. There is no higher pinnacle and no greater stage on which teams and individuals are called upon to prove their excellence. Oklahoma's ability to flourish in that setting has elevated the Sooner program to the lofty position it enjoys today. With its most recent triumph coming in 2000, OU is one of only three schools to capture seven national football titles.

That staggering fact is more than capable of standing on its own. But Oklahoma has taken its national dominance to a higher level by winning those championships over four different decades. Since 1950, the Sooners have been a regular player in the race for national supremacy.

Few football programs can set out each fall with the pursuit of the national crown realistically listed among its season goals. Oklahoma, riding a history that makes such a pursuit more than talk and more than dreams, is one of those programs. The Sooners have "been there, done that" seven times.
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AP & Coaches Polls

Two polls have dominated the college football landscape. In 1936, the Associated Press introduced its poll, representing the opinion of media around the country. In 1950, a poll of selected Division I coaches also was introduced. The second of those has appeared under various headings, including the one it is known by today, the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.

The Sooners have been AP's national champion seven times and have prevailed in the coaches' poll another six. Oklahoma's most recent national championship, won in the 2000 season, came under the BCS format. Prior to the introduction of the BCS, the polls were the mode used to select college football's best team. Regardless of the method, OU has been a regular player on the national title scene.
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AP & Coaches Poll Titles
School
Total
AP Coaches
Alabama
17
9('12, '11, '09, '92, '79, '78, '65, '64, '61) 8 ('12, '11, '09, '92, '79, '73, '64, '61)
Oklahoma
13
7 ('00, '85, '75, '74, '56, '55, '50) 6 ('00, '85, '75, '56, '55, '50)
Notre Dame
11
8 ('88, '77, '73, '66, '49, '47, '46, '43) 3 ('88, '77, '66)
USC
11
5 ('04, '03, '72, '67, '62) 6 ('04, '78, '74, '72, '67, '62)
Miami
9
5 ('01, '91, '89, '87, '83) 4 ('01, '89, '87, '83)
Nebraska
8
4 ('95, '94, '71, '70) 4 ('97, '95, '94, '71)
Ohio St.
7
4 ('02, '68, '54, '42) 3 ('02, '68, '57,
Texas
7
3 ('05, '69, '63, 4 ('05, '70, '69, '63,
Florida St.
6
3 ('13, '99, '93) 3 ('13, '99, '93)
Florida
6
3 ('08, '06, '96) 3 ('08, '06, '96)
LSU
5
2 ('07, '58) 3 ('07, '03, '58)
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BCS Championships

The BCS system has been in place since the 1998 football season. On June 26, 2012, it was announced that the Bowl Championship Series will be replaced by a four-team playoff, effective for the 2014-15 season.
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BCS Championships
School Title Game Appearances BCS Championships
Alabama 3 (2012, 2011, 2009) 3 (2012, 2011, 2009)
LSU 3 (2011, 2007, 2003) 2 (2007, 2003)
Florida 2 (2008, 2006) 2 (2008, 2006)
Florida State 4 (2013, 2000, 1999, 1998) 2 (2013, 1999)
Oklahoma 4(2008, 2004, 2003, 2000) 1 (2000)
Ohio State 3 (2007, 2006, 2002) 1 (2002)
Auburn 2 (2013, 2010) 1 (2010)
Miami 2 (2002, 2001) 1 (2001)
Texas 2 (2009, 2005) 1 (2005)
USC 2 (2005, 2004) 1 (2004)
Tennessee 1 (1998) 1 (1998)
Nebraska 1 (2001) -
Notre Dame 1 (2012) -
Oregon 1 (2010) -
Virginia Tech 1 (1999) -

NCAA-Recognized Titles

OU claims seven consensus national championships since 1950. Did you know the NCAA recognizes far more for the Sooners The NCAA does not conduct a national championship in Division I-A football and is not involved in the selection process. Since 1998, the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) operated jointly by the ACC, Southeastern, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten and Pacific-12 Conferences has used a ranking system to determine the number one and number two teams at the end of the season.

Various organizations have named National Champions in college football since 1869.Utilizing the selectors as recognized by the NCAA, Oklahoma has been recognized for 17 different seasons: 2003, 2000, 1986, 1985, 1980, 1978, 1975, 1974, 1973, 1967, 1956, 1955, 1953, 1950, 1949 and 1915.

Source: Latest Official NCAA Record Book
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NCAA-Recognized Titles
Season Record Selecting Organization
2003 12-2 Berryman
2000 13-0 AP, BCS, Berryman, Billingsley, DeVold, Dunkel, Eck, FACT, FB News, FW, Massey, Matthews, National Championship Foundation, NFF, NY Times, Sagarin, Seattle Times, Sporting News, USA/ESPN
1986 11-1 Berryman, DeVold, Dunkel, Football Research, NY Times, Sagarin
1985 11-1 AP, Berryman, Billingsley, DeVold, Dunkel, FACT, FB News, Football Research, FW, National Championship Foundation, NFF, NY Times, Sporting News, UPI, USA/CNN
1980 10-2 Dunkel, Matthews
1978 11-1 DeVold, Dunkel, FACT, Helms, Litkenhous, Matthews, Poling, Sagarin
1975 11-1 AP, Billingsley, DeVold, Dunkel, FACT, FB News, Football Research, FW, Helms, National Championship Foundation, NFF, Sagarin, UPI
1974 11-0 AP, Berryman, Billingsley, DeVold, Dunkel, FACT, FB News, Football Research, Helms, Litkenhous, National Championship Foundation, Poling, Sagarin
1973 10-0-1 DeVold, Dunkel, Football Research, Sagarin
1967 10-1 Poling
1957 10-1 Berryman
1956 10-0 AP, Billingsley, Boand, DeVold, Dunkel, FW, Helms, INS, Litkenhous, National Championship Foundation, Sagarin, UPI, Williamson
1955 11-0 AP, Berryman, Billingsley, DeVold, Dunkel, Football Research, FW, Helms, INS, Litkenhous, National Championship Foundation, Poling, Sagarin, UPI, Williamson
1953 9-1-1 Berryman, Football Research
1950 10-1 AP, Berryman, Helms, Litkenhous, UPI, Williamson
1949 11-0 Football Research
1915 10-0 Billingsley
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NCAA-Recognized Titles Since 1936
School Recognized Title Seasons
1. Oklahoma 16 '03, '00, '86, '85, '80, '78, '75, '74, '73, '67, '57, '56, '55, '53, '50, '49
2. Alabama 15 '12, '11 '09, '92, '79, '78, '77, '75, '73, '66, '65, '64, '61, '45, '41
Notre Dame 15 '93, '89, '88, '77, '73, '70, '67, '66, '64, '53, '49, '47, '46, '43, '38
4. Ohio State 14 '07, '06, '02, '75, '74, '73, '70, '69, '68, '61, '57, '54, '44, '42
5. Southern Cal 13 '07, '05, '04, '03, '02, '79, '78, '76, '74, '72, '67, '62, '39
6. Nebraska 11 '97, '95, '94, '93, '84, '83, '82, '81, '80, '71, '70
7. Miami 9 '01, '00, '91, '90, '89, '88, '87, '86, '83
8. Florida State 8 '13, '99, '96, '94, '93, '92, '87, '80
Texas 8 '05, '81, '77, '70, '69, '68, '63, '41

Source: Latest Official NCAA Record Book