OU Football Tradition | Bowl History	Updated January 7, 2013
OU Bowl Games | Bowl Destinations | Bowl Opponents | Bowl Game MVPs | Bowl Game Recaps

 
Forty-six bowl appearances and 27 bowl victories have firmly entrenched Oklahoma among the most tradition-rich schools in America. The Sooners have become synonymous with postseason play. OU enjoys favored status among the bowl community, partly for its tradition, but also for its fan following. Regardless of the location, Sooner fans flock to follow a bowl tradition that is as fresh as it is historic.
 

OU Bowl Quick Facts
Total Bowl Games	46 - No. 7 Nationally
Bowl Wins	27 - No. 3 Nationally
Overall Bowl Record	27-18-1 (.597)
Longest Win Streak	4 on three occasions (1954-1959, 1972-1976, 1979-1981)
BCS Bowl Games	8 - No. 2 Nationally
Most Appearances	18 - Orange Bowl (12-6 Record)
as Higher-Ranked Team	16-8 (.666) - 24 Games
as Lower-Ranked Team	10-8 (.555) - 18 Games
Highest Attendance	87,025 - 2013 Cotton Bowl
Most Common Opponent	Florida State - 4 games (3-1, OU)

 
All 14 of Bob Stoops' Sooner teams have been to bowl games (1999-2012) including eight BCS and four national championship games. None of Stoops' predecessors took even his first three teams to bowl play.
 

OU Bowl History
Date	Score		Bowl	Att.
01/04/13	L	(10) Texas A&M 41, (12) Oklahoma 13	Cotton Bowl	87,025
12/30/11	W	(19) Oklahoma 31, Iowa 14	Insight Bowl	54,247
01/01/11	W	(9) Oklahoma 48, (25) Connecticut 20	Fiesta Bowl (BCS)	67,232
12/31/09	W	Oklahoma 31, (19) Stanford 27	Sun Bowl	53,713
01/08/09	L	(1) Florida 24, (2) Oklahoma 14	Championship (BCS)	78,468
01/02/08	L	(11) West Virginia 48, (3) Oklahoma 28	Fiesta Bowl (BCS)	70,016
01/01/07	L	(9) Boise State 43, (7) Oklahoma 42 (OT)	Fiesta Bowl (BCS)	73,719
12/29/05	W	Oklahoma 17, (6) Oregon 14	Holiday Bowl	65,416
01/04/05	L	(1) USC 55, (2) Oklahoma 19	Orange Bowl (BCS)	77,912
01/01/04	L	(2) LSU 21, (3) Oklahoma 14	Sugar Bowl (BCS)	79,342
01/01/03	W	(8) Oklahoma 34, (7) Washington State 14	Rose Bowl (BCS)	86,848
01/01/02	W	(10) Oklahoma 10, Arkansas 3	Cotton Bowl	72,995
01/03/01	W	(1) Oklahoma 13, (3) Florida State 2	Orange Bowl (BCS)	76,835
12/31/99	L	Ole Miss 27, Oklahoma 25	Independence Bowl	49,843
12/29/94	L	(22) BYU 31, Oklahoma 6	Copper Bowl	45,122
12/24/93	W	(19) Oklahoma 41, Texas Tech 10	John Hancock Bowl	43,848
12/29/91	W	(20) Oklahoma 48, (19) Virginia 14	Gator Bowl	62,003
01/02/89	L	(13) Clemson 13, (10) Oklahoma 6	Citrus Bowl	53,571
01/01/88	L	(2) Miami 20, (1) Oklahoma 14	Orange Bowl	74,760
01/01/87	W	(3) Oklahoma 42, (9) Arkansas 8	Orange Bowl	57,291
01/01/86	W	(3) Oklahoma 25, (1) Penn State 10	Orange Bowl	74,178
01/01/85	L	(4) Washington 28, (2) Oklahoma 17	Orange Bowl	56,294
01/01/83	L	(11) Arizona State 32, (12) Oklahoma 21	Fiesta Bowl	70,553
12/26/81	W	Oklahoma 40, Houston 14	Sun Bowl	33,816
01/01/81	W	(4) Oklahoma 18, (2) Florida State 17	Orange Bowl	71,043
01/01/80	W	(5) Oklahoma 24, (4) Florida State 7	Orange Bowl	66,714
01/01/79	W	(4) Oklahoma 31, (6) Nebraska 24	Orange Bowl	66,635
01/01/78	L	(6) Arkansas 31, (2) Oklahoma 6	Orange Bowl	69,500
12/25/76	W	(8) Oklahoma 41, Wyoming 7	Fiesta Bowl	46,315
01/01/76	W	(3) Oklahoma 14, (5) Michigan 6	Orange Bowl	80,307
12/31/72	W	(2) Oklahoma 14, (5) Penn State 0	Sugar Bowl	72,316
01/01/72	W	(3) Oklahoma 40, (5) Auburn 22	Sugar Bowl	84,031
12/31/70	-	(20) Oklahoma 24, Alabama 24	Bluebonnet Bowl	53,382
12/31/68	L	(20) SMU 28, (10) Oklahoma 27	Bluebonnet Bowl	53,543
01/01/68	W	(3) Oklahoma 26, (2) Tennessee 24	Orange Bowl	77,993
01/02/65	L	Florida State 36, Oklahoma 19	Gator Bowl	50,408
01/01/63	L	(5) Alabama 17, (8) Oklahoma 0	Orange Bowl	73,380
01/01/59	W	(5) Oklahoma 21, (9) Syracuse 6	Orange Bowl	75,281
01/01/58	W	(4) Oklahoma 48, (16) Duke 21	Orange Bowl	76,561
01/01/56	W	(1) Oklahoma 20 (3) Maryland 6	Orange Bowl	75,561
01/01/54	W	(4) Oklahoma 7, (1) Maryland 0	Orange Bowl	68,640
01/01/51	L	(7) Kentucky 13, (1) Oklahoma 7	Sugar Bowl	80,206
01/01/50	W	(2) Oklahoma 35, (9) LSU 0	Sugar Bowl	82,000
01/01/49	W	(5) Oklahoma 14, (3) North Carolina 6	Sugar Bowl	80,383
01/01/47	W	(14) Oklahoma 34, (18) N.C. State 13	Gator Bowl	10,034
01/02/39	L	(2) Tennessee 17, (4) Oklahoma 0	Orange Bowl	32,191

BOWL DESTINATIONS
Due to the longstanding tradition that sent the Big 8 Conference champion to the Orange Bowl, Oklahoma has played in Miami 18 times and earned 12 Orange Bowl crowns -- more than any other team. OU has also played in the Sugar Bowl six times (4-2) and four other bowl games more than once.

No.	Bowl Game	OU Record	Last Visit
18	Orange Bowl	12-6	2004 Season
7	Other bowl games	4-3	2011 Season
6	Sugar Bowl	4-2	2003 Season
5	Fiesta Bowl	2-3	2010 Season
3	Gator Bowl	2-1	1991 Season
2	Cotton Bowl	1-1	2012 Season
2	Bluebonnet Bowl	0-1-1	1970 Season
2	Sun Bowl	2-0	2009 Season
1	BCS National Championship	0-1	2008 Season

BOWL OPPONENTS
Oklahoma has played a total of 31 different opponents in bowl games. The Sooners have met seven teams more than once in a bowl including Florida State four times (last in the 2001 Orange Bowl). Over the years, Oklahoma has been matched most against teams from the SEC (13) ACC (12), Pac 10 (5) and Big 10 (3).

No.	Opponent	OU Record	Last
4	vs. Florida State	3-1	2001 Orange Bowl
3	vs. Arkansas	2-1	2002 Cotton Bowl
2	vs. Alabama	0-1-1	1970 Bluebonnet Bowl
2	vs. LSU	1-1	2004 Sugar Bowl
2	vs. Maryland	2-0	1956 Orange Bowl
2	vs. Penn State	2-0	1986 Orange Bowl
2	vs. Tennessee	1-1	1968 Orange Bowl
1	vs. 28 Teams	-	-

BOWL GAME MVPs
Thirty-four Sooners have earned Most Valuable Player honors in a Sooner bowl game including quarterbacks Jack Mildren and J.C. Watts who earned honors in two games. Most recently, receiver Ryan Broyles was named the MVP in Oklahoma's 31-27 win against Stanford in the 2009 Sun Bowl.

Date	MVP	Pos	Game	Score
12/30/11	Blake Bell	QB	Insight Bowl	Oklahoma 31, Iowa 14
12/30/11	Jamell Fleming	DB	Insight Bowl	Oklahoma 31, Iowa 14
01/01/11	Jamell Fleming	DB	Fiesta Bowl	Oklahoma 48, Connecticut 20
01/01/11	Landry Jones	QB	Fiesta Bowl	Oklahoma 48, Connecticut 20
12/31/09	Ryan Broyles	WR	Sun Bowl	Oklahoma 31, Stanford 27
12/29/05	Rhett Bomar	QB	Holiday Bowl	Oklahoma 17, Oregon 14
12/29/05	C.J. Ah You	DE	Holiday Bowl	Oklahoma 17, Oregon 14
01/01/03	Nate Hybl	QB	Rose Bowl	Oklahoma 34, Washington State 14
01/01/02	Quentin Griffin	RB	Cotton Bowl	Oklahoma 10, Arkansas 3
01/01/02	Roy Williams	DB	Cotton Bowl	Oklahoma 10, Arkansas 3
01/03/01	Torrance Marshall	LB	Orange Bowl	Oklahoma 13, Florida State 2
12/24/93	Jerald Moore	RB	Sun Bowl	Oklahoma 41, Texas Tech 10
12/29/91	Cale Gundy	QB	Gator Bowl	Oklahoma 48, Virginia 14
01/01/88	Darrell Reed	DE	Orange Bowl	Miami 20, Oklahoma 14
01/01/87	Dante Jones	LB	Orange Bowl	Oklahoma 42, Arkansas 8
01/01/87	Spencer Tillman	HB	Orange Bowl	Oklahoma 42, Arkansas 8
01/01/86	Sonny Brown	DB	Orange Bowl	Oklahoma 25, Penn State 10
01/01/86	Tim Lashar	K	Orange Bowl	Oklahoma 25, Penn State 10
01/01/83	Marcus Dupree	RB	Fiesta Bowl	Arizona State 32, Oklahoma 21
01/01/83	Paul Ferrer	OL	Fiesta Bowl	Arizona State 32, Oklahoma 21
12/26/81	Darrell Shepherd	QB	Sun Bowl	Oklahoma 40, Houston 14
12/26/81	Ricky Bryan	DT	Sun Bowl	Oklahoma 40, Houston 14
01/01/81	J.C. Watts	QB	Orange Bowl	Oklahoma 18, Florida State 17
01/01/80	J.C. Watts	QB	Orange Bowl	Oklahoma 24, Florida State 7
01/01/80	Bud Hebert	FS	Orange Bowl	Oklahoma 24, Florida State 7
01/01/79	Billy Sims	RB	Orange Bowl	Oklahoma 31, Nebraska 24
01/01/79	Reggie Kinlaw	DT	Orange Bowl	Oklahoma 31, Nebraska 24
12/25/76	Thomas Lott	QB	Fiesta Bowl	Oklahoma 41, Wyoming 7
12/25/76	Terry Peters	CB	Fiesta Bowl	Oklahoma 41, Wyoming 7
01/01/76	Steve Davis	QB	Orange Bowl	Oklahoma 14, Michigan 6
01/01/76	Lee Roy Selmon	DT	Orange Bowl	Oklahoma 14, Michigan 6
01/01/72	Jack Mildren	QB	Sugar Bowl	Oklahoma 40, Auburn 22
01/01/72	Tinker Owens	WR	Sugar Bowl	Oklahoma 40, Auburn 22
01/01/68	Bob Warmack	QB	Orange Bowl	Oklahoma 26, Tennessee 24
01/01/65	Carl McAdams	C	Gator Bowl	Florida State 36, Oklahoma 19
01/01/50	Leon Heath	FB	Sugar Bowl	Oklahoma 35, Louisiana State 0
01/01/49	Jack Mitchell	QB	Sugar Bowl	Oklahoma 14, North Carolina 6
01/01/47	Joe Golding	HB	Gator Bowl	Oklahoma 34, N.C. State 13

2011 Insight Bowl   Dec. 30, 2011 Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, Ariz.   Iowa 7 (19) Oklahoma 31 Quarterback Blake Bell ran for his third touchdown in the closing seconds and Oklahoma survived a late rally, not to mention a crashing camera, to beat Iowa 31-14 in the 2011 Insight Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe... Complete Recap | Stats | Photos

2011 Fiesta Bowl Jan. 1, 2011 U of Phoenix Stadium Glendale, Ariz.   (25) Connecticut 20 (9) Oklahoma 48   Oklahoma's defense scored two TDs while Landry Jones and Ryan Broyles both had record-setting games as the No. 9 Sooners ended a five-game BCS bowl losing streak with a 48-20 win over Big East champion UConn. Complete Recap | Stats | Photos

2009 Sun Bowl Dec. 31, 2009 Sun Bowl Stadium El Paso, Texas   Oklahoma 31 (19) Stanford 27   Ryan Broyles set a Sun Bowl record with three TD receptions, Landry Jones passed for 418 yards and OU's defense slowed Heisman Trophy runner-up Toby Gerhart just enough to beat the No. 21 Cardinal, 31-27. Complete Recap | Stats | Photos

 

2009 BCS Championship   Jan. 8, 2009 Dolphin Stadium Miami, Fla.   (1) Florida 24 (2) Oklahoma 14   The shootout between Heisman Trophy winners Sam Bradford and Tim Tebow never materialized. Playing in its third national title game in six years, Oklahoma fell to Florida in the Gators' own backyard, 24-14. Complete Recap | Stats | Photos

2008 Fiesta Bowl   Jan. 2, 2008 U of Phoenix Stadium Glendale, Ariz.   (11) W. Virginia 48 (3) Oklahoma 28   Pat White rushed for 150 yards and Noel Devine added 108 more as No. 11 West Virginia upset No. 3 Oklahoma. The Sooners trailed the entire game despite Sam Bradford's 21-of-33, 242-yard and two TD passing effort. Complete Recap | Stats | Photos

2007 Fiesta Bowl   Jan. 1, 2007 U of Phoenix Stadium Glendale, Ariz.   (9) Boise State 43 (7) Oklahoma 42   A pair of trick plays at the end of regulation and overtime ended Oklahoma's comeback and sealed a perfect season for Boise State. OU scored 25 unanswered points to take its first lead with 1:26 remaining before the wild finish. Complete Recap | Stats | Photos

 

2005 Holiday Bowl   Dec. 29, 2005 Qualcomm Stadium San Diego, Calif.   (6) Oregon 14 Oklahoma 17   Linebacker Clint Ingram made a leaping interception at the 10-yard line with 33 seconds remaining to preserve OU's 17-14 upset of No. 6 Oregon. The Sooners won six of their final seven games to close the season. Complete Recap | Stats | Photos

2005 Orange Bowl   Jan. 4, 2005 Pro Player Stadium Miami, Fla.   (2) Oklahoma 19 (1) USC 55   USC didn't need any help, but Oklahoma obliged anyway. The Trojans played nearly flawless, while the Sooners committed five turnovers as Oklahoma fell in the BCS championship game for the second year in a row. Complete Recap | Stats | Photos

2004 Sugar Bowl   Jan. 4, 2004 Superdome New Orleans, La.   (2) LSU 21 (3) Oklahoma 14   OU entered the game with the nation's top scoring offense but struggled against the Tigers. Still, the Sooners had a chance at the end, only to miss on four straight pass attempts from the 12-yard line, the last with 2:46 remaining. Complete Recap | Stats | Photos

 

2003 Rose Bowl   Jan. 1, 2003 Rose Bowl Pasadena, Calif.   (8) Oklahoma 34 (7) Wash. State 14   Nate Hybl threw two TDs, Quentin Griffin rushed for 144 yards and the Sooner defense logged six sacks and two INTs as OU became just the fourth school in college football history to win the four BCS games and the Cotton Bowl. Complete Recap | Stats | Photos

2002 Cotton Bowl   Jan. 1, 2002 Cotton Bowl Dallas, Texas   (10) Oklahoma 10 Arkansas 3   Oklahoma's defense tied a school record with nine sacks and held the Razorbacks to just 50 total yards. Arkansas reached OU territory just two times and had more rushing attempts (42) than rushing yards (37). Complete Recap | Stats | Photos

2001 Orange Bowl   Jan. 3, 2001 Orange Bowl Miami, Fla.   (3) Florida State 2 (1) Oklahoma 13   OU used a smothering defense to shut down the Seminoles and Josh Heupel generated enough offense to lead the Sooners to a perfect season. As the nation's only unbeaten team, OU claimed the program's seventh national title. Complete Recap | Stats | Photos

 

1999 Independence Bowl   Dec. 31, 1999 Independence Stad. Shreveport, La.   Mississippi 27 Oklahoma 25   In the final college game of the 20th century, Ole Miss topped OU in a thriller, 27-25. Josh Heupel set school and bowl records for passing, but Ole Miss kicker Les Binkley made a 39-yard FG for the win on the game's final play. Complete Recap | Stats

1994 Copper Bowl   Dec. 29, 1994 Arizona Stadium Tucson, Ariz.   (22) BYU 31 Oklahoma 6   After completing its worst regular season in 30 years and playing under a head coach who had resigned, Oklahoma ended the season with a dismal 31-6 loss. BYU's John Walsh set Copper Bowl records for completions (31) and TD passes (4).

1993 John Hancock Bowl   Dec. 24, 1993 Sun Bowl Stadium El Paso, Texas   Texas Tech 10 (19) Oklahoma 41   QB Cale Gundy brilliantly guided Oklahoma's offense and Sooner defense slowed Doak Walker Award winner Bam Morris as OU claimed a 41-10 win over Texas Tech. The Sooners scored the first two times they had the ball and never looked back.

 

1991 Gator Bowl   Dec. 29, 1991 Gator Bowl Stadium Jacksonville, Fla.   (20) Oklahoma 48 (19) Virginia 14   Cale Gundy had one of the greatest passing efforts in school history as Oklahoma crushed Virginia, 48-14. Gundy was 25-of-31 for 329 yards, and the Sooners scored on four of their first five possessions to put the game out of reach before halftime.

1989 Citrus Bowl   Jan. 2, 1989 Florida Citrus Bowl Orlando, Fla.   (10) Oklahoma 6 (13) Clemson 13   After a dry three quarters and the score deadlocked at 6-6, Clemson held off a late OU rally to give the ACC champs their first victory over the Sooners in 16 tries. Jamelle Holieway led Oklahoma on a last-minute drive before being stopped at the Tiger 14.

1988 Orange Bowl   Jan. 1, 1988 Orange Bowl Miami, Fla.   (2) Miami 20 (1) Oklahoma 14   OU's hopes of winning its seventh national title were put to rest by Miami, 20-14. The Sooners scored on a 29-yard fumblerooski late in the fourth quarter to gain a flicker of hope. Miami forced a fumble on OU's next possession, however, to ensure the victory.

 

1987 Orange Bowl   Jan. 1, 1987 Orange Bowl Miami, Fla.   (9) Arkansas 8 (3) Oklahoma 42   After nine years, Barry Switzer avenged his most embarrassing loss. Spencer Tillman gained 109 yards on just seven carries, and LB Dante Jones, playing in place of All-American Brian Bosworth, led the Sooner defense in holding the Hogs to just 48 rushing yards.

1986 Orange Bowl   Jan. 1, 1986 Orange Bowl Miami, Fla.   (1) Penn State 10 (3) Oklahoma 25   A swarming defense, a record field goal performance and two big plays helped OU defeat Penn State to capture its sixth national title. The Sooners picked off four passes while Keith Jackson and Lydell Carr scored on plays of 71 and 61 yards, respectively.

1985 Orange Bowl   Jan. 1, 1985 Orange Bowl Miami, Fla.   (4) Washington 28 (2) Oklahoma 17   BYU was No. 1, but Coach Switzer argued that the Sooners should have been due to a tougher schedule. A win over Washington would have solidified that claim. The Huskies refused to cooperate and turned a 17-14 fourth-quarter deficit into a 28-17 triumph.

 

1983 Fiesta Bowl   Jan. 1, 1983 Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, Ariz.   (11) Arizona St. 32 (12) Oklahoma 21   The magic of Marcus Dupree ran out as the Sun Devils rallied for 14 fourth-quarter points to win the first meeting between the two schools. Dupree ran wild early, amassing 239 yards before recurring leg injuries forced him out in the third quarter.

1981 Sun Bowl   Dec. 26, 1981 Sun Bowl Stadium El Paso, Texas   Houston 14 Oklahoma 40   OU scored 30 fourth-quarter points to turn a seat squirmer into a rout. Darrell Shepard, who began his career at UH, scored two TDs against his former team, while freshman Fred Sims rolled up 181 yards rushing after gaining just 179 in the regular season.

1981 Orange Bowl   Jan. 1, 1981 Orange Bowl Miami, Fla.   (4) Oklahoma 18 (2) Florida State 17   Down 17-10 late in the fourth quarter, quarterback J.C. Watts and the Sooner offense drove the length of the field to score with less than a minute remaining, then elected to go for two and the win in one of the greatest Orange Bowl games in history.

 

1980 Orange Bowl   Jan. 1, 1980 Orange Bowl Miami, Fla.   (4) Florida State 7 (5) Oklahoma 24   After Florida State took an early 7-0 lead, Oklahoma unleashed 24 unanswered points to knock off the previously unbeaten Seminoles. J.C. Watts rushed for more than 100 yards and Bud Hebert recorded three INTs to lead the effort for the Sooners.

1979 Orange Bowl   Jan. 1, 1979 Orange Bowl Miami, Fla.   (6) Nebraska 24 (4) Oklahoma 31   OU lost a heartbreaker to the Cornhuskers in November, but Nebraska was upset the following week. 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.

1978 Orange Bowl   Jan. 1, 1978 Orange Bowl Miami, Fla.   (6) Arkansas 31 (2) Oklahoma 6   With the Sooners in the running for a national championship, Coach Switzer called it "the most disappointing loss of my career." OU fumbled inside its own 10 on the third play of the game and Arkansas immediately scored for a lead it never relinquished.

 

1976 Fiesta Bowl   Dec. 25, 1976 Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, Ariz.   Wyoming 7 (8) Oklahoma 41   Oklahoma rolled up nearly 500 yards of total offense and cruised to an easy victory. The Sooners led 27-0 after the third quarter before the reserves added two more scores in the fourth. OU did not punt the entire game, the only time ever in Sooner bowl history.

1976 Orange Bowl   Jan. 1, 1976 Orange Bowl Miami, Fla.   (5) Michigan 6 (3) Oklahoma 14   No. 1 Ohio State lost in the Rose Bowl earlier in the day, giving the Sooners an opportunity to win the national championship. A 39-yard end around by Billy Brooks and a nine-yard keeper by Steve Davis were enough for a 14-6 victory and OU's fifth title.

1972 Sugar Bowl*   Dec. 31, 1972 Tulane Stadium New Orleans, La.   (5) Penn State 0 (2) Oklahoma 14   OU's defense posted a shutout while allowing only 11 first downs and 49 yards rushing. Freshman WR Tinker Owens had five catches for 132 yards and one TD.   *Game was played on Dec. 31 instead of the traditional Jan. 1.

 

1972 Sugar Bowl   Jan. 1, 1972 Tulane Stadium New Orleans, La.   (5) Auburn 22 (3) Oklahoma 40   It was run vs. pass, with OU's runners prevailing. The Sooners roared to a 31-0 halftime lead and amassed 439 yards rushing by game's end. QB Jack Mildren outplayed Auburn Heisman Trophy winner Pat Sullivan, scoring a Sugar Bowl-record three times.

1970 Bluebonnet Bowl   Dec. 31, 1970 Astrodome Houston, Texas   Alabama 24 (20) Oklahoma 24   The Sooners switched to the wishbone offense late in the season and were running it to perfection by the time the bowl game rolled around. Greg Pruitt scored from 58 and 25 yards out, but OU stilled needed a late FG to forge a tie with the Crimson Tide.

1968 Bluebonnet Bowl   Dec. 31, 1968 Astrodome Houston, Texas   (20) SMU 28 (10) Oklahoma 27   OU led 20-6 entering the fourth quarter but SMU's Chuck Hixson, with 281 yards passing, led a comeback to take a 28-21 lead. The Sooners had two chances to win the game late, including a missed FG attempt from inside the SMU 30-yard line as time expired.

 

1968 Orange Bowl   Jan. 1, 1968 Orange Bowl Miami, Fla.   (2) Tennessee 24 (3) Oklahoma 26   Although a slight underdog to the Vols, OU broke out to a 19-0 halftime lead. Tennessee cut the margin to 19-17 before a Bob Stephenson pick-six gave the Sooners some insurance. It proved to be the difference as UT missed a FG as time expired.

1965 Gator Bowl   Jan. 2, 1965 Griffin Stadium Jacksonville, Fla.   Florida State 36 Oklahoma 19   Florida State used a sophisticated passing attack to win easily. To add insult to injury, four of the Seminoles' TD passes were on fourth-down plays. FSU wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff finished the game with 13 receptions for 192 yards and four TDs.

1963 Orange Bowl   Jan. 1, 1963 Orange Bowl Miami, Fla.   (5) Alabama 17 (8) Oklahoma 0   Legendary coaches Bud Wilkinson and Paul "Bear" Bryant faced off in this one. The Sooners had first-and-goal twice in the first half, but fumbles ended their chances and OU never really threatened again. Joe Namath and Lee Roy Jordan led the Tide to victory.

 

1959 Orange Bowl   Jan. 1, 1959 Orange Bowl Miami, Fla.   (9) Syracuse 6 (5) Oklahoma 21   Prentice Gautt scored on the second play of the game and averaged an OU bowl-record 15.7 yards every time he touched the ball. It was the Sooners' fourth straight Orange Bowl victory and first in back-to-back years after the "no repeat rule" was waived.

1958 Orange Bowl   Jan. 1, 1958 Orange Bowl Miami, Fla.   (16) Duke 21 (4) Oklahoma 48   Oklahoma gained only six first downs, lost the total offense battle and picked up an OU bowl-record 165 yards in penalties. Still, the Sooners won on the strength of two interceptions returned for TDs, two fumble recoveries, a blocked punt and a bad snap.

1956 Orange Bowl   Jan. 1, 1956 Orange Bowl Miami, Fla.   (3) Maryland 6 (1) Oklahoma 20   After meeting two years earlier, this time it was OU that carried the No. 1 ranking into the game. Trailing 6-0 at the half, the Sooners went into their famous "fast break offense" and scored three times. It was the second national title for Oklahoma.

 

1954 Orange Bowl   Jan. 1, 1954 Orange Bowl Miami, Fla.   (1) Maryland 0 (4) Oklahoma 7   The 1954 bowl game was the first in which players had to play both ways. Twice, the Terrapins had first-and-goal, but both times the Sooner defense refused to allow any points. Larry Grigg scored the game's only TD on a 25-yard scamper in the second quarter.

1951 Sugar Bowl   Jan. 1, 1951 Tulane Stadium New Orleans, La.   (7) Kentucky 13 (1) Oklahoma 7   OU won its first national title by going 10-0 during the regular season but was upset in the Sugar Bowl by Kentucky. The Sooners lost a bowl-record five fumbles and their comeback attempt was foiled by an interception in the final minute of play.

1950 Sugar Bowl   Jan. 1, 1950 Tulane Stadium New Orleans, La.   (9) LSU 0 (2) Oklahoma 35   The game was one-sided and still stands as the largest margin of victory in OU bowl history. Earlier in the week, a former LSU player was caught spying on Sooner practices. It was the only time in Wilkinson's career that he publicly blasted an opponent.

 

1949 Sugar Bowl   Jan. 1, 1949 Tulane Stadium New Orleans, La.   (3) N. Carolina 6 (5) Oklahoma 14   In head coach Bud Wilkinson's first bowl game, Oklahoma upset the previously unbeaten Tar Heels. The big play came in the first quarter when Myrle Greathouse intercepted a pass and returned it 70 yards to set up Jack Mitchell's one-yard run.

1947 Gator Bowl   Jan. 1, 1947 Fairfield Stadium Jacksonville, Fla.   (18) N.C. State 13 (14) Oklahoma 34   Oklahoma and North Carolina State were two of the marquee names in college football at the time. The matchup was made possible when the Rose Bowl decided to match representatives of the WAC (now Pac 12) and the Big Nine (now Big Ten).

1939 Orange Bowl   Jan. 2, 1939 Orange Bowl Miami, Fla.   (2) Tennessee 17 (4) Oklahoma 0   This was the first Orange Bowl that featured two national powers as both teams entered unbeaten and untied. Tennessee's powerful ground attack was too much for the Sooners, however, and the Vols raced to victory under their legendary coach Bob Neyland.

 
OU Football Tradition