1971 Oklahoma Sooners football team

American college football season January 2022 February 2026 1971 Oklahoma Sooners football Oklahoma Sooners Logo 1966-79.png Big Eight Conference Big 8 3 2 11–1 6–1 Chuck Fairbanks 5th Barry Switzer 6th Wishbone Larry Lacewell 2nd 4–3 Steve Aycock Glenn King Jack Mildren Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Sugar Bowl champion Sugar Bowl W 40–22 vs. Auburn The 1971 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. Oklahoma was a member of the Big Eight Conference and played its home games in Oklahoma Memorial Stadium where it has played its home games since 1923.http://www.soonersports.com/facilities/memorial-stadium_history.html Memorial Stadium June 30, 2010 CBS Interactive https://web.archive.org/web/20100628213311/http://www.soonersports.com/facilities/memorial-stadium_history.html 2010-06-28 dead The team posted an 11–1 and 6–1 conference record under head coach Chuck Fairbanks.http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/m-footbl-conf-titles.html OU Football Tradition – 42 Conference Titles June 30, 2010 CBS Interactive https://web.archive.org/web/20100622232057/http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/m-footbl-conf-titles.html June 22, 2010 dead http://www.soonerstats.com/football/seasons/schedule.cfm?SeasonID=1971 1971 Football Season July 2, 2010 SoonerStats.com The Sooners finished the season ranked #2, losing only once, 35–31 to eventual national champion Nebraska in the 1971 Nebraska vs. Oklahoma football game, which has become known as Game of the Century. In 1971, offensive coordinator Barry Switzer perfected the wishbone offense as it led the nation in both scoring (45 points average) and total yards (563 total yards average), and set an NCAA record by averaging over 472.4 (5196 in 11 games) rushing yards in a season.http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/football_records/DI/2009/2009FBS.pdf Football Bowl Subdivision Records July 2, 2010 National Collegiate Athletic Association 27 The team holds the current school record with 7.07 yards per rushing attempt and 7.6 yards per play as well as the records for 469.6 rushing yards (5635 in 12 games counting bowl game) and 566.83 yards of total offense per game. The team also holds the single-season rushing touchdowns record of 62 and rushing touchdowns per game record of 5.17. The team's records of 711 single-game rushing yards and 785 total yards stood for nine seasons.http://www.big12sports.com/fls/10410/pdfs/football/record_book.pdf?&DB_OEM_ID=10410 2009 Football Record Book Big 12 Conference July 1, 2010 164 Jack Mildren's single-season record for yards rushing by a quarterback of 1140 would be broken three seasons later by Freddie Solomon.http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/football_records/DI/2009/2009FBS.pdf 2009 Division I Football Records Book: Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Records July 9, 2010 National Collegiate Athletic Association 35 Greg Pruitt set the current national single-season record with 8.98 yards per attempt, the school's single-game records of 294 rushing yards and 374 all-purpose yards. Meanwhile, Jon Harrison set the single-season and career yards per reception with 29.1 and 27.0.http://www.big12sports.com/fls/10410/pdfs/football/record_book.pdf?&DB_OEM_ID=10410 2009 Football Record Book Big 12 Conference July 1, 2010 166 His 2066 single-season all-purpose yards record stood until Quentin Griffin broke it in 2002. Joe Wylie's kickoff return average record of 28.5 stood for 27 years.http://www.big12sports.com/fls/10410/pdfs/football/record_book.pdf?&DB_OEM_ID=10410 2009 Football Record Book Big 12 Conference July 1, 2010 173 The team was led by three All-Americans: Pruitt, Tom Brahaney and Jack Mildren. The team won its first nine games on a schedule that included five ranked opponents (In order, #17 USC, #3 Texas, #6 Colorado, #1 Nebraska and #5 Auburn). All five of these opponents finished the season ranked. The only loss was to Nebraska. They played Auburn in the Sugar Bowl and won 40–22. The top three teams in the final AP poll for the 1971 season were from the Big Eight: Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Colorado. The top two teams had never been from the same conference, and this year had three.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1o0hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=85kFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2659%2C2644809 Reading Eagle Pennsylvania Associated Press Huskers solid No. 1 January 4, 1972 20 Pruitt led the team in rushing with 1760 yards, Mildren led the team in passing yards for the third straight season with 889 yards and also in scoring with 120 points, Harrison led the team in receiving with 494 yards, Mark Driscoll led the team in tackles with 134, and John Shelly led the team in interceptions with 5.http://www.big12sports.com/fls/10410/pdfs/football/record_book.pdf?&DB_OEM_ID=10410 2009 Football Record Book Big 12 Conference July 2, 2010 164 Schedule 1971 AP September 18 w y 10 SMU Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK 30–0 48,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-american-sooners-pin-300-def/168995292/ The Austin American-Statesman Sooners pin 30–0 defeat on Mustangs September 19, 1971 March 26, 2025 Newspapers.com September 25 w y y 11 Pittsburgh Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA 55–29 35,030 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-houston-chronicle-oklahoma-wallops-p/181976498/ The Houston Chronicle Oklahoma wallops Pitt as Wylie stars September 26, 1971 October 1, 2025 Newspapers.com October 2 w y 8 USC 17 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK 33–20 61,826 https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-telegram-swift-sooners-trample-tro/182094336/ Independent Press-Telegram Swift Sooners trample Trojans October 3, 1971 October 1, 2025 Newspapers.com October 9 w y y 8 Texas 3 Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX Red River Shootout ABC 48–27 73,580 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-sooners-vanquish-lo/168929889/ The Arizona Republic Sooners vanquish Longhorns, 48–27 October 10, 1971 March 26, 2025 Newspapers.com October 16 w y 2 Colorado 6 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK 45–17 61,826 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-awesome-soon/182168137/ The Knoxville News-Sentinel Awesome Sooners rip Colorado, 45 to 17 October 17, 1971 October 1, 2025 Newspapers.com October 23 w y 2 Kansas State KSU Stadium Manhattan, KS 75–28 40,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-telegram-not-vegas-but-sooners-ro/182168221/ Independent Press-Telegram Not Vegas, but Sooners roll 711 October 24, 1971 October 1, 2025 Newspapers.com October 30 w 2 Iowa State Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK 43–12 60,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-sooners-roll-again-as/182168310/ Omaha World-Herald Sooners roll again as Mildren frolics October 31, 1971 October 1, 2025 Newspapers.com November 6 w y 2 Missouri Memorial Stadium Columbia, MO rivalry 20–3 53,011 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-missouri-overcom/182168417/ The Des Moines Register Missouri overcome, 20–3, after pinching Oklahoma's wishbone November 7, 1971 October 1, 2025 Newspapers.com November 13 w 2 Kansas Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK ABC 56–10 54,400 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-houston-chronicle-sooners-shell-kans/182168506/ The Houston Chronicle Sooners shell Kansas, 56–10 November 14, 1971 October 1, 2025 Newspapers.com November 25 l 2 Nebraska 1 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK rivalry ABC 31–35 61,826 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-duluth-news-tribune-kinney-huskers/182167723/ The Duluth News Tribune Kinney, 'Huskers knock stuffing out of Sooners November 26, 1971 October 1, 2025 Newspapers.com December 4 w y 3 Oklahoma State Lewis Field Stillwater, OK Bedlam Series 58–14 37,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-hutchinson-news-sooners-bounce-back/182168600/ The Hutchinson News Sooners bounce back, rip rival 'Pokes December 5, 1971 October 1, 2025 Newspapers.com January 1, 1972 w y y 3 Auburn 5 Tulane Stadium New Orleans, LA Sugar Bowl ABC 40–22 84,031 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-advertiser-sooners-smack-aubur/133885104/ The Daily Advertiser Sooners smack Auburn in Sugar Bowl matchup January 2, 1972 October 22, 2023 Newspapers.com http://www.soonerstats.com/football/seasons/schedule.cfm?SeasonID=1971 1971 Oklahoma Sooners Schedule Soonerstats.com 2008 September 27, 2008 Schedule/Results (1971 Oklahoma) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/130876 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics October 1, 2025 Game summaries SMU SMU 0 0 0 0 Oklahoma 3 17 7 3 September 18 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium 53,545 Pittsburgh Oklahoma 21 21 6 7 Pittsburgh 11 6 0 12 September 25 Pitt Stadium 34,916 USC USC 7 7 0 6 Oklahoma 13 6 14 0 October 2 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium 62,351 Texas Red River Shootout #8 Oklahoma Sooners vs. #3 Texas Longhorns #8 Oklahoma 14 17 7 10 #3 Texas 14 7 6 0 October 9 Cotton Bowl, Dallas Sunny yes 1 10:29 TEX Donnie Wigginton 5-yard run (Steve Valek kick) TEX 7-0 1 7:59 OU Greg Pruitt 1-yard run (John Carroll kick) Tied 7-7 1 5:04 TEX Donnie Wigginton 44-yard run (Steve Valek kick) TEX 14-7 1 2:04 OU Roy Bell 3-yard run (John Carroll kick) Tied 14-14 2 10:33 OU Greg Pruitt 4-yard run (John Carroll kick) OU 21-14 2 9:09 OU Gregg Pruitt 20-yard run (John Carroll kick) OU 28-14 2 4:53 TEX Jim Bertelsen 3-yard run (Steve Valek kick) OU 28-21 2 0:01 OU John Carroll 26-yard field goal OU 31-21 3 7:17 OU Jack Mildren 7-yard run (John Carroll kick) OU 38-21 3 2:16 TEX Jim Bertelsen 15-yard run (kick failed) OU 38-27 4 3:29 OU John Carroll 27-yard field goal OU 41-27 4 2:10 OU Jack Mildren 1-yard run (John Carroll kick) OU 48-27 yes "Sooners thunder past favored Longhorns, 48-27." Eugene Register-Guard. October 10, 19711971 Oklahoma vs. Texas recap - SoonerStats.com Colorado #6 Colorado Buffaloes at #2 Oklahoma Sooners #6 Colorado 0 0 17 0 #2 Oklahoma 14 10 7 14 October 16 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma 61,826 yes 1 OU Pruitt 66-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 7-0 1 OU Harrison 54-yard pass from Mildren (Carroll kick) OU 14-0 2 OU Carroll 36-yard field goal OU 17-0 2 OU Mildren 3-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 24-0 3 COL Nichols 64-yard pass from Johnson (Dean kick) OU 24-7 3 OU Pruitt 14-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 31-7 3 COL Davis 16-yard run (Dean kick) OU 31-14 3 COL Dean 32-yard field goal OU 31-17 4 OU Wylie 68-yard pass from Mildren (Carroll kick) OU 38-17 4 OU Bell 3-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 45-17 yes "Oklahoma Routs Buffs." Palm Beach Post. October 17, 1971 Kansas State Oklahoma 14 27 13 21 Kansas St 7 7 7 7 October 23 KSU Stadium, Manhattan, Kansas 40,000 yes 1 KSU Butler 2 yard run (Goerger kick) Kansas St 7–0 1 OKLA Mildren 1 yard run (kick failed) Kansas St 7–6 1 OKLA Pruitt 15 yard run (Chandler pass from Mildren) Oklahoma 14–7 2 OKLA Bell 24 yard run (Carroll kick) Oklahoma 21–7 2 KSU Butler 1 yard run (Goerger kick) Oklahoma 21–14 2 OKLA Pruitt 38 yard run (Carroll kick) Oklahoma 28–14 2 OKLA Pruitt 15 yard run (Carroll kick) Oklahoma 35–14 2 OKLA Bell 5 yard run (kick failed) Oklahoma 41–14 3 OKLA Bell 6 yard run (Carroll kick) Oklahoma 48–14 3 KSU Butler 1 yard run (Goerger kick) Oklahoma 48–21 3 OKLA Mildren 42 yard run (kick failed) Oklahoma 54–21 4 OKLA Chandler 15 yard pass from Mildren (Carroll kick) Oklahoma 61–21 4 KSU Butler 1 yard run (Goerger kick) Oklahoma 61–28 4 OKLA Bell 11 yard run (Carroll kick) Oklahoma 68–28 4 OKLA Marshall 6 yard run (Carroll kick) Oklahoma 75–28 yes "Sooners Romp, 75-28." Palm Beach Post. 1971 Oct 24. Iowa State Iowa St 6 0 6 0 Oklahoma 17 12 7 7 October 30 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium 60,477 Missouri Oklahoma 6 14 0 0 Missouri 0 3 0 0 November 6 Faurot Field 55,098 Kansas Kansas 0 0 0 10 Oklahoma 14 35 7 0 November 13 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Nebraska 1971 Nebraska vs. Oklahoma football game #1 Nebraska at #2 Oklahoma #1 Nebraska #2 Oklahoma 7 7 14 7 3 14 7 7 1971-11-25 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma 1:50 pm CST 61,826 Vance Carlson Chris Schenkel, Bud Wilkinson,and Bill Flemming (sideline) ABC Oklahoma and Nebraska battled back and forth in the Game of the Century in front of a sold-out crowd in Norman and over 55 million viewers on ABC on Thanksgiving Day. Nebraska struck first with a 72-yard Johnny Rodgers punt return, but Oklahoma pulled ahead by 3 by halftime. The Cornhuskers came back strong in the third quarter with two more touchdowns, but the Sooners responded with two of their own to retake the lead with only 7:10 remaining. Down by 3 points, the Huskers went on a final drive and with only 1:38 remaining, Jeff Kinney scored his fourth touchdown of the day for the lead and the win.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8NlVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7uADAAAAIBAJ&pg=4996%2C6335645 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press 'Huskers dump Sooners November 26, 1971 3Bhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NPAjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BO0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6956%2C4144969 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Associated Press Kinney leads Nebraska triumph November 26, 1971 42https://www.si.com/vault/1971/12/06/615048/nebraska-rides-high Sports Illustrated Jenkins Dan Dan Jenkins Nebraska rides high December 6, 1971 22 Oklahoma State Bedlam SeriesFrustrated from their painful loss to Nebraska, the Sooners showed their in-state archrival no mercy in the final game for Cowboys coach Floyd Gass, as well as the last game at Lewis Field (now Boone Pickens Stadium) before a massive renovation which expanded the stadium's capacity, removed the cinder track around the field, and replaced the grass surface with artificial turf. #3 Oklahoma Sooners at Oklahoma State Cowboys #3 Oklahoma 17 20 7 14 Oklahoma State 0 7 0 7 December 4 Lewis Field, Stillwater, Oklahoma 37,500 yes 1 OU Carroll 26-yard field goal OU 3-0 1 OU Mildren 4-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 10-0 1 OU Harrison 77-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 17-0 2 OU Mildren 1-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 24-0 2 OU Pruitt 1-yard run (kick failed) OU 30-0 2 OSU Garrett 38-yard run (Pruss kick) OU 30-7 2 OU Chandler 18-yard pass from Mildren (Carroll kick) OU 37-7 3 OU Pruitt 7-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 44-7 4 OSU Graham 7-yard pass from Pounds (Pruss kick) OU 44-14 4 OU Bell 4-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 51-14 4 OU Dodd 5-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 58-14 yes "Oklahoma Ropes Cowboys, 58-14." Palm Beach Post. December 5, 1971 Sugar Bowl Oklahoma 19 12 3 6 Auburn 0 0 7 15 January 1 Tulane Stadium 11:05 a.m. CST 84,031 James M. Artley Chris Schenkel, Bud Wilkinson ABC Passing: AUB Sullivan 20/44, 250 Yds, TD, INT, OU Mildren 1/4, 11 Yds Rushing: AUB Unger 6 Rush, 38 Yds, 2 TD, OU Mildren 30 Rush, 149 Yds, 3 TD Receiving: AUB Beasley 6 Rec, 117 Yds, OU Chandler 1 Rec, 11 Yds OU Crosswhite 4 yd run (kick failed) OU Mildren 5 yd run (Carroll kick) OU Mildren 4 yd run (kick failed) OU Mildren 7 yd run (kick failed) OU Wylie 71 yd punt return (kick failed) AUB Unger 1 yd run (Jett kick) OU Caroll 53 yd FG AUB Unger 1 yd run (Jett kick) OU Pruitt 2 yd run (kick failed) AUB Cannon 11 yd pass from Sullivan (run good) 2018 Oklahoma football media guide. Retrieved 2019-Jan-15. Rankings 1971 NCAA University Division football rankings AP 0 14 10 10 11 8 8 2 (8) 2 (18) 2 (21) 2 (17) 2 (6) 2 (8) 2 (8) 3 3 2 Roster 1971 Oklahoma Sooners f 63 G SO Neil Acker yes 6 SE SO Steve Allen 65 T SO Drake Andarakes 35 RB SR Roy Bell Roy Bell (Canadian football) y 20 HB SO Bob Berg 54 C JR Tom Brahaney y 56 C SO Paul Bunge yes 25 HB SO Grant Burget 34 HB SO Dexter Bussey 10 SE SO John Carroll 82 TE SO Al Chandler y 17 RB JR Leon Crosswhite y 50 C SO Kyle Davis Kyle Davis (American football) y 53 C SR Glenn Dewberry 40 FB SO Steve Dodd yes 73 G SR Darryl Emmert 77 T SO Eddie Foster yes 80 SE SR Willie Franklin 8 QB JR Rick Fulcher 87 TE JR David Geren yes 36 HB SR Pete Halfman 12 SE SR Jon Harrison 84 TE SO Ron Hull 79 T JR Robert Jensen yes 72 G JR Ken Jones yes 74 T JR Phil Jordan yes 24 HB SR Everett Marshall 69 T SO John McLaughlin yes 85 TE SO Mike McLaughlin yes 11 QB SR Jack Mildren y C 64 G SO Bill Orendorff yes 61 G SO Jerry Perkey 30 RB JR Greg Pruitt y 7 TE SO John Reddell 62 G SO Sidney Riley 15 QB JR Dave Robertson 78 G SR Ron Stacy yes 9 QB SO James Stokely 67 T SO Jim Taylor 75 T SO Jimmy Teston 83 G SO Perry Thompson 71 T SR Nelson Todd yes 60 T JR Dean Unruh 44 FB SO Ron Waters 45 FB SO Tim Welch 76 T SO Brad White 43 LB SR Steve Aycock C 51 LB JR Gary Baccus 27 DB JR Gary Carter yes 90 DT SO George Davis 66 DT SR Lionell Day 23 DB JR Max Dayton yes 88 DE SR Bruce DeLoney 59 LB SR Mark Driscoll 4 DB SO Mike Dulan 55 LB SO Gary Gibbs y 96 DT JR Ray Hamilton Ray Hamilton (defensive tackle) y 57 LB SR Mike Hawpe 41 LB SO Wayne Hoffman 95 DE SO Mike Hronopulos 32 LB SO Ken Hulstein yes 31 DB JR Vic Kearney 21 DB SR Glenn King C 99 DE SO Mark Lundquist 86 DT SO Haynes McBride yes 48 LB SO Richard Mildren 49 LB JR Jon Milste 97 DT SO Derland Moore y 58 LB JR Danny Mullen 19 DB SR Geoffrey Nordgren 18 DB SR Steve O'Shaughnessy 89 DT JR A.G. Perryman 28 DB SO Kenith Pope 29 DB SO Clyde Powers y 81 LB/DE SR Al Qualls 42 LB SO Gary Rhynes yes 26 DB JR Larry Roach 16 DB JR Dan Ruster 70 DT JR Tommy Saunders 98 DE SO Lucious Selmon y 33 DB SR John Shelley 14 DB JR Steve Shotts 38 DB SO Dewayne Smith 46 LB SO Ricky Stokes 92 DE SO Mike Struck yes 47 LB SO Gary Weibert 91 DT SO Chris West 94 DT SO Joe Whitaker 93 DT SO Dennis Woods 37 DB SO Gary Young 5 K SR Steve Caruthers 22 P JR Joe Wylie https://soonerstats.com/football/players/roster.cfm?seasonid=1971 *Chuck Fairbanks *Jim Dickey (DB) Galen Hall (WR) Warren Harper (LB) Gene Hochevar Jimmy Johnson (DL) Larry Lacewell (DC) Bill Michael (OL) Barry Switzer (OC) Depth chart Wishbone 4-3 Yes No No Jack Mildren Dave Robertson Leon Crosswhite Tim Welch Greg Pruitt Roy Bell Joe Wylie Jon Harrison Willie Franklin Al Chandler TE Dean Unruh Darryl Emmert Tom Brahaney Ken Jones Robert Jensen Albert Quails LB Steve Aycock LB Mark Driscoll LB Larry Roach John Shelley Kenith Pope Steve O’Shaughnessy Raymond Hamilton Lucious Selmon Derland Moore Lionell Day LDE_SchoolName 110 85 No Awards and honors All-American: Greg Pruitt,http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/aa-greg-pruitt-1971-72.html All-American: Greg Pruitt July 2, 2010 CBS Interactive https://web.archive.org/web/20100525145601/http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/aa-greg-pruitt-1971-72.html 2010-05-25 dead Tom Brahaneyhttp://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/aa-tom-brahaney-1971-72.html All-American: Tom Brahaney July 2, 2010 CBS Interactive https://web.archive.org/web/20100525150402/http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/aa-tom-brahaney-1971-72.html 2010-05-25 dead and Jack Mildrenhttp://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/aa-jack-mildren-1971.html All-American: Jack Mildren July 2, 2010 CBS Interactive https://web.archive.org/web/20100525221017/http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/aa-jack-mildren-1971.html 2010-05-25 dead Academic All-American: Mildren After the season NFL draft The following players were selected in the National Football League draft following the season.https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1972/draft.htm 1972 NFL Draft Listing Pro-Football-Reference.com November 29, 2020https://www.pro-football-reference.com/schools/oklahoma/drafted.htm Oklahoma Drafted Players/Alumni Pro-Football-Reference.com April 23, 2023 Oklahoma Sooners 2 Round Pick Player Position NFL team246Jack MildrenDefensive backBaltimore Colts8191Al QuallsLinebackerBaltimore Colts9234Roy BellRunning backDallas Cowboys17417John ShelleyDefensive backBuffalo Bills References 2 External links Sports Reference – 1971 Oklahoma football season Oklahoma Category:Oklahoma Sooners football seasons Category:Sugar Bowl champion seasons Oklahoma Sooners football