1981 Oklahoma Sooners football team

American college football season November 2016 February 2026 1981 Oklahoma Sooners football Oklahoma Sooners Logo 1979-2000.png Big Eight Conference Big 8 14 20 7–4–1 4–2–1 Barry Switzer 9th Galen Hall 9th Wishbone Gary Gibbs 1st 5–2 Terry Crouch Ed Culver Johnnie Lewis Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Sun Bowl champion Sun Bowl W 40–14 vs. Houston The 1981 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. They played their home games at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium and competed as members of the Big Eight Conference. They were coached by head coach Barry Switzer. The Sooners defeated the Houston Cougars 40–14 to win the 1981 Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas. Schedule 1981 AP Central September 12 w y 3 Wyoming Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK 37–20 75,920 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-island-independent-sooners-sur/158241548/ The Grand Island Independent Sooners survive early scare from Wyoming September 13, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com September 26 4:00 p.m. l y y 2 USC 1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA ABC 24–28 85,651 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-usc-beats-oklahoma-in-la/158341660/ Chicago Tribune USC beats Oklahoma in last 2 seconds September 27, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com October 3 t 5 Iowa State 20 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK 7–7 76,385 https://www.newspapers.com/article/san-angelo-standard-times-cyclones-shut/158381289/ San Angelo Standard-Times Cyclones shut down Oklahoma, earn 7–7 tie October 4, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com October 10 11:30 a.m. l y y 10 Texas 3 Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX rivalry ABC 14–34 75,587 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-island-independent-sooners-blo/158291756/ The Grand Island Independent Sooners blow halftime lead in loss to Texas October 11, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com October 17 w Kansas Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK 45–7 75,644 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-island-independent-sooners-rec/158383408/ The Grand Island Independent Sooners recover with easy win over Kansas October 18, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com October 24 w y Oregon State Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK 42–3 75,658 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wichita-falls-times-wilson-guides-oklaho/158334962/ Wichita Falls Times Wilson guides Oklahoma to 42–3 win over Beavers October 25, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com October 31 w 19 Colorado Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK 49–0 75,638 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-oklahoman-shepards-in-the-dri/158380845/ The Daily Oklahoman Shepard's in the driver's seat November 1, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com November 7 w y 17 Kansas State KSU Stadium Manhattan, KS 28–21 33,200 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dispatch-sooners-escape-kansas-state/158380072/ The Dispatch Sooners escape Kansas State bid November 8, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com November 14 l y 15 Missouri Faurot Field Columbia, MO rivalry 14–19 67,364 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-belleville-news-democrat-missouri-up/158382486/ The Belleville News-Democrat Missouri upsets fumble-prone Oklahoma, 19–14 November 15, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com November 21 l Nebraska 5 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK rivalry ESPN 14–37 75,833 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world-huskers-ax-ou/158383932/ Tulsa World Huskers ax OU November 22, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com November 28 w y Oklahoma State Lewis Field Stillwater, OK Bedlam Series KTUL 27–3 51,100 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-sooners-blitz-indy-bowl-bound/158383172/ The Shreveport Times Sooners blitz Indy Bowl-bound Oklahoma State November 29, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com December 26 12:00 p.m. w y y Houston Sun Bowl El Paso, TX Sun Bowl CBS 40–14 33,816 https://www.newspapers.com/article/el-paso-times-watts-this-a-fumble-helps/158291675/ The El Paso Times Watts this? A fumble helps Sooners win December 27, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com 1981 Oklahoma Sooners Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football November 3, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/oklahoma/1981-schedule.html Roster 1981 Oklahoma Sooners f 51 C SR Bill Bechtold yes 1 QB FR Danny Bradley y 30 RB FR Donald Brown Donald Brown (defensive back) y 75 G SR Terry Crouch yes y C 61 T SR Ed Culver yes C 70 T FR Scott Leggett y 7 QB JR Kelly Phelps yes y 4 RB FR Buster Rhymes y 2 SE SO Jim Rockford Jim Rockford (Canadian football player) y 13 RB FR Steve Sewell y 23 FB FR Fred Sims 8 QB SR Darrell Shepard y 73 C SO Chuck Thomas Chuck Thomas (American football) y 76 G JR Steve Williams Steve Williams (wrestler) yes y 32 RB JR Stanley Wilson Stanley Wilson (running back) y 40 RB JR Chet Winters y 31 DB FR Allen Anderson 38 LB SO Thomas Benson Thomas Benson (American football) y 90 DL JR John Blake John Blake (American football) y 80 DT SO Rick Bryan y 92 DL FR Tony Casillas y 78 DT SR Scott Dawson 33 DB SO Dwight Drane y 6 DB JR Steve Haworth Steve Haworth (American football) y 95 NG SR Johnnie Lewis C 39 LB FR Kevin Murphy Kevin Murphy (linebacker) y 41 DE SR Mike Rilley Mike Reilly (1980s linebacker) yes y 49 LB SO Jackie Shipp y 15 DB FR Elbert Watts y 88 DE JR Mike Weddington y https://soonerstats.com/football/players/roster.cfm?seasonid=1981 *Barry Switzer * Gary Gibbs (DC) Galen Hall (OC) Warren Harper (LB) Merv Johnson (OL) Wendell Mosley (RB) Rex Norris (AHC) Lucious Selmon (DL) Game summaries Oklahoma State 1981 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team Bedlam Series Oklahoma Sooners 2; text-align:center collapsed Oklahoma Sooners at Oklahoma State Cowboys November 28 Oklahoma 7 13 7 0 Oklahoma State 0 3 0 0 Lewis Field • Stillwater, Oklahoma 51,100 KTUL SoonerStats.com Fred Sims scored three short-yardage touchdowns to lead Oklahoma to a 27–3 win over their instate rivals in a steady drizzle. Sims, who carried 23 times for 66 yards, scored on runs of two and five yards in the second quarter and a one-yard run in the third.Eugene Register-Guard. November 29, 1981 Rankings 1981 NCAA Division I-A football rankings AP 0 14 2 (7) 3 3 (12) 2 (15) 5 10 NR NR 19 17 15 NR NR NR 20 Coaches Poll 0 14 2 (3) 2 (3) 3 (14) 2 (10) 6 12 20 17 13 13 11 NR NR NR 14 Postseason NFL draft The following players were drafted into the National Football League following the season.https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1982/draft.htm 1982 NFL Draft Listing Pro-Football-Reference.com November 29, 2020 Oklahoma Sooners 2 Round Pick Player Position NFL team 367Bill BechtoldCenterLos Angeles Rams 5113Terry CrouchGuardBaltimore Colts8207Mike ReillyLinebackerLos Angeles Rams9241Lyndle ByfordTackleKansas City Chiefs References Oklahoma Category:Oklahoma Sooners football seasons Category:Sun Bowl champion seasons Oklahoma Sooners football Category:Long stubs with short prose