1974 Oklahoma Sooners football team

American college football season January 2022 February 2026 1974 Oklahoma Sooners football Oklahoma Sooners Logo 1966-79.png Big Eight Conference Big 8 1 11–0 7–0 Barry Switzer 2nd Galen Hall 2nd Wishbone Larry Lacewell 5th 5–2 Kyle Davis Steve Davis Randy Hughes Rod Shoate Oklahoma Memorial Stadium AP Poll national championBig 8 champion The 1974 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 1974 NCAA Division I football season. This was the first of three national championship squads for head coach Barry Switzer. Only one opponent played the Sooners within 14 points and four failed to score a touchdown. At the same time, OU led the nation in scoring offense with an average of 43 points per game to finish the season as the only undefeated team in the country at 11–0. Schedule 1974 AP September 14 w y 1 Baylor Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK 28–11 62,375 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-sooners-subdue/169069801/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram Sooners subdue stubborn Bears September 15, 1974 March 28, 2025 Newspapers.com September 28 w y 3 Utah State Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK 72–3 62,065 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24652832/723_sooners_rack_up_record_42_points/ The Daily Oklahoman 72–3! Sooners rack up record 42 points in first quarter; Subs complete rout Bob Hurt September 29, 1974 1C September 21, 2025 Newspapers.com October 5 w y 2 Wake Forest Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK 63–0 61,191–61,826 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lubbock-avalanche-journal-oklahoma-shows/139592664/ Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Oklahoma shows no mercy, slaughters Wake Forest 63–0 October 6, 1974 January 26, 2024 Newspapers.com October 12 w y y 2 Texas 17 Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX Red River Shootout 16–13 72,032 https://www.newspapers.com/article/longview-news-journal-sooner-kick-nips-l/169071996/ Longview Morning Journal Sooner kick nips Longhorns October 13, 1974 March 28, 2025 Newspapers.com October 19 w y 2 Colorado Folsom Field Boulder, CO 49–14 51,777 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-collins-coloradoan-sooners-rip-colo/181483431/ Fort Collins Coloradoan Sooners rip Colorado October 20, 1974 September 21, 2025 Newspapers.com October 26 w 2 Kansas State Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK 63–0 61,826 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lawton-constitution-sooners-commit-k/181483552/ The Lawton Constitution Sooners commit K-State to dwarf list October 27, 1974 September 21, 2025 Newspapers.com November 2 w y 2 Iowa State Clyde Williams Field Ames, IA 28–10 35,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-nonpareil-fired-up-cyclones-fa/181483625/ The Daily Nonpareil Fired-up Cyclones fail November 3, 1974 September 21, 2025 Newspapers.com November 9 w 2 Missouri Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK rivalry 37–0 61,826 https://www.newspapers.com/article/columbia-daily-tribune-sooners-have-it-a/181483726/ Columbia Daily Tribune Sooners have it all – including good news November 10, 1974 September 21, 2025 Newspapers.com November 16 w y 1 Kansas Memorial Stadium Lawrence, KS 45–14 44,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-sooners-awaken-for-45/181483815/ Omaha World-Herald Sooners awaken for 45-to-14 triumph November 17, 1974 September 21, 2025 Newspapers.com November 23 w 1 Nebraska 6 Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry 28–14 76,636 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-star-defense-of-all-thi/181483906/ The Kansas City Star Defense (of all things) springs Oklahoma November 24, 1974 September 21, 2025 Newspapers.com November 30 w 1 Oklahoma State Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK Bedlam 44–13 61,826 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-oklahoman-all-of-a-sudden44/181484011/ The Daily Oklahoman All of a sudden...44–13 December 1, 1974 September 21, 2025 Newspapers.com http://www.soonerstats.com/football/seasons/schedule.cfm?seasonid=1974 1974 OU Football Season Schedule - SoonerStats - Historical scores, records, and stats for Oklahoma Sooners football, basketball, baseball, and softball Season summary Oklahoma was loaded with talent, evidenced by its eight All-Americans, the most of any season to that point. OU's wishbone offense, triggered by running back Joe Washington, fullback Jim Littrell, and quarterback Steve Davis, averaged 73.9 rushing attempts per game, which still stands as an NCAA single-season record,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 as does its 21.4 rushing first downs per game.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 28 Oklahoma also featured a tough defense led by senior All-American Rod Shoate, a swift and punishing linebacker, and a defensive front consisting of brothers Lee Roy and Dewey Selmon, and Jimbo Elrod. Because Oklahoma was on NCAA probation for recruiting violations, it was ineligible for ranking in the Coaches Poll and could not appear on network television or appear in a postseason bowl game.https://www.si.com/vault/1974/11/04/615821/the-best-team-youll-never-see The Best Team You'll Never See Sports Illustrated Nevertheless, the Sooners opened the '74 season as the top-ranked team in the AP Poll, the first time since 1957 that OU debuted at #1 and the first time in 11 years that Oklahoma sat atop the poll. Despite being a 43-point favorite against Baylor, the Sooners struggled in their season opener, needing three fourth-quarter touchdowns to secure a 28–11 victory. Baylor recovered from this loss and enjoyed a stellar season, winning the Southwest Conference championship under third-year coach Grant Teaff. The win didn't impress AP voters, and OU dropped to #3 behind Ohio State and Notre Dame. The Sooners quickly rebounded by destroying Utah State and Wake Forest in back-to-back weeks by a combined score of 135–3. Eight Sooners scored touchdowns against Utah State, while nine players found the end zone against the Demon Deacons. Next up for the Sooners was the Red River Shootout, and the Texas Longhorns presented Oklahoma's toughest challenge yet. Trailing 13–7 in the fourth quarter, OU dug into its bag of tricks with a reverse to split end Billy Brooks, who scampered 40 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. The ensuing extra point attempt by Sooner kicker John Carroll was ruled no good, leaving the game tied at 13–13. Oklahoma's defense rose to the challenge, led by Shoate, who finished the game with 21 tackles, two pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. The last statistic was the critical one, as the Sooners forced a Texas fumble on the next possession, which Shoate recovered at the 50. A 37–yard field goal from Tony DiRienzo minutes later was the difference. "This was as close as a game can be", coach Switzer said afterward. A testament to how hard the game was fought, OU offensive tackle Mike Vaughan reportedly passed out from exhaustion following the game. The Sooners followed their victory over Texas with a pair of blowouts over #16 Colorado, 49-14, and Kansas State, 63–0. Joe Washington rushed for 200 yards and four touchdowns against the Buffaloes, while eight players found the end zone versus the Wildcats. After a sloppy performance on a soggy field in a 28–10 win at Iowa State, Oklahoma shutout a tough Missouri squad 37–0, a team that had beaten Nebraska and scored 82 points in its previous two games. OU's third shutout of the season ran its record to 8–0 as top-ranked Ohio State was upset by Michigan State, 16–13. Oklahoma regained the #1 ranking and, following a 45–14 win over Kansas, traveled to Lincoln with a Big Eight Conference title on the line. OU changed its defense for the game against Nebraska, using man-to-man coverage instead of zone. The move paid dividends as the Sooners intercepted four passes, including three by Randy Hughes, while the offense rolled up 482 yards on the ground despite not completing a single pass in the contest. The victory earned Oklahoma its second straight Big Eight Championship with one game remaining against Oklahoma State. Against the Cowboys, OU faced a 13–10 deficit late in the third quarter before scoring five touchdowns during a seven–and–a–half–minute span. The 44–13 victory marked OU's 20th consecutive win and 29th straight game without a loss. When Alabama fell to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl, the Sooners were left as the nation's only unbeaten team. With a #1 ranking in the final AP Poll, OU laid claim to its fourth national championship and first since 1956. To date, the 1974 Sooners are the last NCAA Division I-A team to claim an AP national title without benefit of a postseason bowl win. Game summaries Wake Forest Wake Forest Demon Deacons at #2 Oklahoma Sooners Wake Forest 0 0 0 0 #2 Oklahoma 14 28 7 14 October 5 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma yes 1 OU Burget 18-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 7-0 1 OU Washington 65-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 14-0 2 OU Hoffman 7-yard pass from Davis (Carroll kick) OU 21-0 2 OU Peacock 55-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 28-0 2 OU Owens 32-yard pass from Davis (Carroll kick) OU 35-0 2 OU Berg 1-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 42-0 3 OU Brooks 42-yard pass from Blevins (Carroll kick) OU 49-0 4 OU Blevins 1-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 56-0 4 OU Russell 70-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 63-0 yes Eugene Register-Guard. October 6, 1974 Texas (Red River Shootout) #2 Oklahoma Sooners vs. #17 Texas Longhorns #17 Texas 0 3 7 3 #2 Oklahoma 0 7 0 9 October 12 Cotton Bowl • Dallas, Texas 75,000 yes 2 OKLA Davis 22-yard run (Carroll kick) Oklahoma 7-0 2 TEX Schott 21-yard field goal Oklahoma 7-3 3 TEX Campbell 12-yard run (Schott kick) Texas 10-7 4 TEX Schott 38-yard field goal Texas 13-7 4 OKLA Brooks 40-yard run (kick failed) Tie 13-13 4 OKLA DiRienzo 37-yard field goal Oklahoma 16-13 yes Eugene Register-Guard. 1974 Oct 13. Colorado December 2020 Personnel 1974 Oklahoma Sooners y 73 Sr Drake Andarakes T Fr Vickey Ray Anderson HB Jr Tyrone Armstrong G 74 Sr Jerry Arnold T 61 Jr Gary Baily G Fr Karl Baldischwiler T 20 Sr Bob Berg RB 2 Fr Dean Blevins QB Jr Jeff Bodin C 22 Jr Larry Briggs HB 82 Jr Billy Brooks WR y Fr Jeff Brown HB 55 Sr Dennis Buchanan C Fr John Bunch RB 25 Sr Grant Burget RB So Marshall Cantrell E So Brett Cargill T Fr Sam Claphan T 33 Sr Waymon Clark RB So Reed Coody T 17 So Ken Crosswhite FB Jr Jim Culbreath G 50 Sr Kyle Davis Kyle Davis (American football) C y 7 Jr Steve Davis QB 72 So Jim Dodds T 52 So Todd Dutton C Jr Rick Evans T Fr Jody Farthing T Jr Jerry Foster HB 46 Fr Calvin Harris FB Fr Zac Henderson RB So R. J. Hendricks HB So Jay Holman G 9 So Lee Hover WR So Greg Hutchings HB 29 Jr Horace Ivory RB y 14 Jr Kerry Jackson QB 83 Sr Kirk Killion TE 51 So Ralph Kulbeth C 42 Jr Jim Littrell FB 6 Jr Jeff Mabry QB 78 Jr Leo Martin T 32 So Richard McCampbell HB 61 Jr Marc McCloud G Jr Danny McClure FB 1 So Joe McReynolds QB 61 So Jaime Melendez G So Roger Owens WR 11 Jr Tinker Owens WR y 4 Fr Elvis Peacock HB 12 Jr Doug Pearson WR 85 Sr Gary Potters TE So John Randolph T Fr Jimmy Rogers RB Fr Phil Roland T 62 Sr John Roush G 30 Sr Clyde Russell HB 39 Sr Kleyn Russell HB 8 Fr Myron Shoate HB 45 So Doug Simcik FB Jr Robert Steward HB 68 Jr David Sullivan G 67 Sr Jim Taylor G 79 So Mike Vaughan T Fr Jeff Ward T 24 Jr Joe Washington HB 66 Jr Terry Webb G So Truman Westfall TE So Edward Williams HB So Lonnie Wright T 37 Sr Gary Young HB 88 So Duane Baccus DE So Gary Barnoskie DE 95 Sr John Barresi NG 99 Jr David Bentley DT 15 Jr Mike Birks SS So Gary Bishop DE 97 Jr Barry Brady DT 49 So Marty Brecht LB 21 So Sidney Brown CB y Sidney Brown (American football) 92 So Victor Brown DE 71 So Anthony Bryant DT 56 Sr Glenn Comeaux LB 53 So Jeff Cox DE So Bill Dalke LB So George Davis LB So Larry Duke NG Jr Dick Dutton LB 54 Jr Jimbo Elrod DL y Jr Jeff Emel DL 44 Fr Joel Estes LB 75 So Chez Evans DT Fr Kenneth Franklin DL 41 Sr Gary Gibbs LB y So Robbie Green LB Fr Rusty Griffis LB Jr Joe Hale NG 7 So Scott Hill DB 81 Sr Wayne Hoffman DE So Dave Hudgens DT 19 Sr Randy Hughes DB y Fr Howard Humphreys LB 23 Sr Pat Hussey S So Tyrrell Jackson DB 18 So David James CB Fr Harvey Johnson LB So Steve Kunkle LB So Steve Larghe DB 47 Jr Chavez Linzy LB 59 Jr Steve Ludwig DE 84 Jr Craig Lund DE 57 So Obie Moore LB Jr Don Morton LB Fr Richard Murray DE 16 Sr Tony Peters DB y 89 So Mike Phillips DE So Ted Phillips LB Fr Mike Pleasant DB So Scott Ray DB 27 So Jerry Reese S 26 So Frank Rohr CB 91 Jr Dewey Selmon DT y 93 Jr Lee Roy Selmon DT y Fr Terry Sherman LB 43 Sr Rod Shoate LB y 34 Jr E. N. Simon CB 9 So Larry Stacy S Sr Tony Sutton CB 94 Jr Larry Tate NG 38 Jr Jamie Thomas LB 28 Jr Keith Thomas SS 31 Jr Eric Van Camp CB 98 So George Walrond NG 35 Sr Ron Waters SS 48 So Russ Williamson LB So Steve Wukman S 10 Sr John Carroll K So Shane Corrotto K 3 Jr Tony DiRienzo K 41 Fr Bill Shirk K https://soonerstats.com/football/players/roster.cfm?seasonid=1974 *Barry Switzer * Donnie Duncan Galen Hall (OC) Warren Harper (LB) Gene Hochevar Larry Lacewell (DC) Wendell Mosley (RB) Rex Norris (DL) Jerry Pettibone Rankings 1974 NCAA Division I football rankings AP 0 14 1 (23) 1 (22) 3 (18) 3 (8) 2 (24.2) 2 (24) 2 (5) 2 (8) 2 (10) 2 (14) 1 (48) 1 (45) 1 (49) 1 (49) 1 (51) Coaches Poll 0 14 NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR After the season NFL draft The following players were drafted into the National Football League following the season.https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1975/draft.htm 1975 NFL Draft Listing Pro-Football-Reference.com November 29, 2020 https://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 team241Rod ShoateLinebackerNew England Patriots482Tony PetersDefensive backCleveland Browns496Randy HughesDefensive backDallas Cowboys5113Kyle DavisCenterDallas Cowboys6134John CarrollWide receiverSan Diego Chargers8189Wayne HoffmanTackleKansas City Chiefs10239Clyde RussellGuardMiami Dolphins14355Jerry ArnoldRunning backDenver Broncos15370John RoushRunning backSan Diego Chargers15372Grant BurgetGuardNew Orleans Saints References Oklahoma Category:Oklahoma Sooners football seasons Category:College football national champions Category:Big Eight Conference football champion seasons Category:College football undefeated seasons Oklahoma Sooners football