1978 Oklahoma Sooners football team

American college football season November 2016 February 2026 1978 Oklahoma Sooners football Oklahoma Sooners Logo 1966-79.png Big Eight Conference Big 8 3 3 11–1 6–1 Barry Switzer 6th Galen Hall 6th Wishbone Rex Norris 1st 5–2 Daryl Hunt Thomas Lott Greg Roberts Phil Tabor Oklahoma Memorial Stadium National champion (8 selectors)Big 8 co-championOrange Bowl champion Orange Bowl W 31–24 vs. Nebraska The 1978 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the college football 1978 NCAA Division I-A season. Oklahoma Sooners football participated in the former Big Eight Conference at that time 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 June 28, 2010 dead mdy-all The team posted an 11–1 overall record and a 6–1 conference record to earn a share of the conference title under head coach Barry Switzer. This was Switzer's sixth conference title in six seasons since taking the helm in 1973.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=1978 1978 Football Season June 30, 2010 SoonerStats.com The team was led by All-Americans Billy Sims (who won the Heisman Trophy), Daryl Hunt, Reggie Kinlaw, and Greg Roberts, The Sooners started the season with nine consecutive wins before losing to Nebraska. During the season, OU faced ranked opponents four times (#14 Missouri, #6 Texas, and #4 & #6 Nebraska); four different opponents finished the season ranked. Its only defeat came against Nebraska in their regular season match. The Sooners were able to avenge that loss as an at-large selection to the Orange Bowl against conference co-champions Nebraska, who had claimed the automatic berth by virtue of their victory over OU.http://www.orangebowl.org/orange_bowl/1970s.aspx#1979 OU Stings Nebraska in Big 8 Clash June 30, 2010 Orange Bowl Committee https://web.archive.org/web/20100211231053/http://www.orangebowl.org/orange_bowl/1970s.aspx#1979 February 11, 2010 dead Sims led the nation in scoring with 132 points (based on per game average of 10.9, which includes 120 in 11 games).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 47 Sims led the team in rushing with a record-setting 1896 yards, Thomas Lott led the team in passing with 487 yards, Bobby Kimball led the team in receiving with 207 yards, Hunt led the team with 157 tackles and Darrol Ray posted 8 interceptions.http://www.big12sports.com/fls/10410/pdfs/football/record_book.pdf?&DB_OEM_ID=10410 2009 Football Record Book Big 12 Conference June 30, 2010 175 The 5001 yards rushing remain second in Oklahoma football history behind the 1971 team's 5635.http://www.big12sports.com/fls/10410/pdfs/football/record_book.pdf?&DB_OEM_ID=10410 2009 Football Record Book Big 12 Conference June 30, 2010 165 The defense set the school's all-time record with 28 interceptions and tied the record of 50 forced turnovers.http://www.big12sports.com/fls/10410/pdfs/football/record_book.pdf?&DB_OEM_ID=10410 2009 Football Record Book Big 12 Conference June 30, 2010 166 Daryl Hunt set the school record for career tackles.http://www.big12sports.com/fls/10410/pdfs/football/record_book.pdf?&DB_OEM_ID=10410 2009 Football Record Book Big 12 Conference June 30, 2010 167 Billy Sims became the only Sooner to post four 200-yard games in a season. Sims' 1896 yards stood as the Sooner record until Adrian Peterson posted 1925 in 2004. Billy Sims became the sixth junior to win the Heisman Trophy. Sims was the nation's leading rusher and scorer for 1978. He averaged 160.1 yards and 10.9 points. He set the Big Eight Conference single season rushing record of 1,762 yards on 231 carries for an average of 7.6 yards. Sims was the only back in the nation's top 50 to average 7.0 per carry, and became the first player in Big Eight history to rush for more than 300 yards in three straight games.http://www.heisman.com/winners/b-sims78.html Archived copy 2016-03-26 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20041212221430/http://www.heisman.com/winners/b-sims78.html December 12, 2004 mdy-all Schedule 1978 AP September 9 w y y 4 Stanford Stanford Stadium Stanford, CA 35–29 58,883 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-oregonian-butterfingered-sooners-win/157522325/ The Oregonian Butterfingered Sooners win 35–29 September 10, 1978 October 20, 2024 Newspapers.com September 16 w y 3 West Virginia Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK 52–10 71,187–71,885 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world-sooners-peak-over-mountainee/139665290/ Tulsa World Sooners peak over Mountaineers September 17, 1978 January 27, 2024 Newspapers.com September 23 w y 3 Rice Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK 66–7 71,774 https://www.newspapers.com/article/springfield-leader-and-press-sooners-tur/157511229/ Springfield Leader and Press Sooners turn 'awesome' wishbone loose on Rice September 24, 1978 October 20, 2024 Newspapers.com September 30 w 1 Missouri 14 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK rivalry 45–23 72,371 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star-oklahoma-impresses/157522457/ Lincoln Journal Star Oklahoma impresses in easy win over Missouri October 1, 1978 October 20, 2024 Newspapers.com October 7 w y y 1 Texas 6 Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX Red River Shootout ABC 31–10 72,032 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-patriot-news-oklahoma-tramples-longh/157506524/ The Patriot-News Oklahoma tramples Longhorns, 31–10 October 8, 1978 October 20, 2024 Newspapers.com October 14 w y 1 Kansas Memorial Stadium Lawrence, KS 17–16 40,450–44,450 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-ou-squeaks-past/157522568/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram OU squeaks past Jayhawks October 15, 1978 October 20, 2024 Newspapers.com October 21 w y 1 Iowa State Cyclone Stadium Ames, IA 34–6 49,862 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-sims-ou-devastating/157522643/ The Shreveport Times Sims, OU devastating October 22, 1978 October 20, 2024 Newspapers.com October 28 w 1 Kansas State Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK 56–19 72,105 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-close-shave-sooners-r/157522735/ The Tampa Tribune-Times Close shave? Sooners rip October 29, 1978 October 20, 2024 Newspapers.com November 4 w y 1 Colorado Folsom Field Boulder, CO 28–7 52,506 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-manhattan-mercury-oklahoma-handles-c/157522824/ The Manhattan Mercury Oklahoma handles Colorado November 5, 1978 October 20, 2024 Newspapers.com November 11 l y 1 Nebraska 4 Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry ABC 14–17 74,657 https://www.newspapers.com/article/rapid-city-journal-sooners-fumble-away-n/157522918/ Rapid City Journal Sooners fumble away No. 1 November 12, 1978 October 20, 2024 Newspapers.com November 18 w 4 Oklahoma State Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK Bedlam Series 62–7 72,339 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wichita-eagle-orange-bowl-bound-soon/157523002/ The Wichita Eagle & Beacon Orange Bowl bound Sooners smash OSU November 19, 1978 October 20, 2024 Newspapers.com January 1, 1979 w y 4 Nebraska 6 Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL Orange Bowl NBC 31–24 66,365 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-sooners-turn-on-hu/157523095/ The Indianapolis Star Sooners turn on Huskers January 2, 1979 October 20, 2024 Newspapers.com http://www.soonerstats.com/football/seasons/schedule.cfm?seasonid=1978 1978 OU Football Season Schedule - SoonerStats - Historical scores, records, and stats for Oklahoma Sooners football, basketball, baseball, and softball Rankings 1978 NCAA Division I-A football rankings AP 0 14 4 3 3 т 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 4 4 4 3 Coaches Poll 0 14 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 3 4 4 3 Game summaries Stanford #4 Oklahoma Sooners at Stanford Cardinals #4 Oklahoma 14 14 0 7 Stanford 7 3 10 9 Saturday, September 9 Stanford Stadium 58,883 Source: Eugene Register-Guard yes 1 OKLA Sims 2-yard run (von Schamann kick) OKLA 7-0 1 OKLA Rhodes 70-yard pass from Lott (von Schamann kick) OKLA 14-0 1 STAN Margerum 7-yard pass from Dils (Naber kick) OKLA 14-7 2 STAN Naber 43-yard field goal OKLA 14-10 2 OKLA Lott 19-yard run (von Schamann kick) OKLA 21-10 2 OKLA Kimball 17-yard pass from Lott (von Schamann kick) OKLA 28-10 3 STAN Banks 4-yard pass from Dils (Naber kick) OKLA 28-17 3 STAN Naber 49-yard field goal OKLA 28-20 4 OKLA Lott 1-yard run (von Schamann kick) OKLA 35-20 4 STAN Safety, von Schamann intentionally downed ball in end zone OKLA 35-22 4 STAN Margerum 11-yard pass from Dils (Naber kick) OKLA 35-29 yes West Virginia West Virginia 0 3 0 7 Oklahoma 17 14 14 7 September 16 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium 71,885 Rice Rice 0 0 0 7 Oklahoma 17 35 7 7 September 23 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium 71,774 Missouri 1978 Missouri Tigers football team Missouri–Oklahoma football rivalry Oklahoma Sooners 2; text-align:center collapsed Missouri Tigers at Oklahoma Sooners Missouri 0 7 2 14 Oklahoma 21 7 17 0 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium • Norman, Oklahoma 72,371 Texas Red River Rivalry #1 Oklahoma Sooners vs. #6 Texas Longhorns #6 Texas 0 3 7 0 #1 Oklahoma 7 10 7 7 Saturday, October 7 Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas 72,032 Sunny ABC Source: Palm Beach Post yes 1 OKLA Billy Sims 18-yard run (Uwe von Schamann kick) OKLA 7-0 2 OKLA Billy Sims 1-yard run (Uwe von Schamann kick) OKLA 14-0 2 TEX Russell Erxleben 26-yard field goal OKLA 14-3 2 OKLA Uwe von Schamann 35-yard field goal OKLA 17-3 3 OKLA Bobby Kimball 24-yard pass from Thomas Lott (Uwe von Schamann kick) OKLA 24-3 3 TEX Johnny Lam Jones 25-yard run (Russell Erxleben kick) OKLA 24-10 4 OKLA David Overstreet 2-yard run (Uwe von Schamann kick) OKLA 31-10 yes Statistics OU: Billy Sims 25 Rush, 131 Yds (Sims had been injured in two previous meetings) Kansas Oklahoma 10 0 0 7 Kansas 0 7 0 9 October 14 Memorial Stadium 44,450 Iowa State Oklahoma 21 6 7 0 Iowa St 0 6 0 0 October 21 Cyclone Stadium 49,82 Kansas State Kansas St 0 7 12 0 Oklahoma 21 14 0 21 October 28 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium 72,105 Colorado #1 Oklahoma 7 0 14 7 Colorado 0 7 0 0 November 4 Folsom Field 53,553 yes 1 OU Lott 1-yard run (von Schamann kick) OU 7-0 2 COL Mayberry 4-yard run (Dadiotis kick) Tied 7-7 3 OU Sims 59-yard run (von Schamann kick) OU 14-7 3 OU Valora 20-yard pass from Lott (von Schamann kick) OU 21-7 4 OU King 74-yard run (von Schamann kick) OU 28-7 yes "Sims Ignites Oklahoma." Palm Beach Post. November 5, 1978. Nebraska Oklahoma 7 0 7 0 Nebraska 0 7 7 3 November 11 Memorial Stadium 12:10 p.m. CST 74,567 Earl Shostrom Keith Jackson and Frank Broyles ABC Oklahoma State Oklahoma St 7 0 0 0 Oklahoma 7 21 21 13 November 18 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium 72,339 Orange Bowl Oklahoma 7 7 17 0 Nebraska 7 0 3 14 January 1 Orange Bowl 66,365 Roster 1978 Oklahoma Sooners f 43 HB SR Vickey Ray Anderson y 63 OT SR Sam Claphan yes y 75 G SO Terry Crouch y 80 TE SR Victor Hicks y 92 T JR Darrell Irvin y 21 WR SR Bobby Kimball Bobby Kimball (American football) y 30 RB SR Kenny King Kenny King (running back) y 6 QB SR Thomas Lott y 11 RB JR Fred Nixon y 66 T SO Louis Oubre yes y 22 HB SO David Overstreet y 7 QB FR Kelly Phelps y 24 SE JR Steve Rhodes Steve Rhodes (American football) y 65 G SR Greg Roberts Greg Roberts (American football) y 34 RB SR Jimmy Rogers Jimmy Rogers (American football player) yes y 20 RB JR Billy Sims yes y 73 T JR Paul Tabor yes y 61 T SR Jeff Ward yes 1 QB SO J. C. Watts yes y 76 G FR Steve Williams Steve Williams (wrestler) y 28 LB JR George Cumby yes y 72 DT FR John Goodman John Goodman (American football) y 90 DE SR Rusty Griffis 33 DB SR Bud Hebert y 85 LB SR Daryl Hunt y 83 DE JR Mike Joyce 62 DT SR Reggie Kinlaw y 58 DE SR Reggie Mathis y 3 CB JR Darrol Ray y 41 DE SO Mike Rilley Mike Reilly (1980s linebacker) y 74 DT SR Phil Tabor y 96 DT SO Richard Turner Richard Turner (American football) y 10 K SR Uwe von Schamann y https://soonerstats.com/football/players/roster.cfm?seasonid=1978 *Barry Switzer * Donnie Duncan Gary Gibbs (LB) Galen Hall (OC) Warren Harper (LB) Rex Norris (DC) Jerry Pettibone Charlie Sadler (OL) Lucious Selmon (DL) Awards and honors All-American: Billy Sims,http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/aa-billy-sims-1978-79.html All-American: Billy Sims June 29, 2010 CBS Interactive https://web.archive.org/web/20100525143926/http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/aa-billy-sims-1978-79.html May 25, 2010 dead mdy-all Daryl Hunt,http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/aa-daryl-hunt-1977-78.html All-American: Daryl Hunt June 29, 2010 CBS Interactive https://web.archive.org/web/20100525143536/http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/aa-daryl-hunt-1977-78.html May 25, 2010 dead Reggie Kinlaw,http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/aa-reggie-kinlaw-1977-78.html All-American: Reggie Kinlaw June 29, 2010 CBS Interactive https://web.archive.org/web/20100525150352/http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/aa-reggie-kinlaw-1977-78.html May 25, 2010 dead mdy-all Greg Roberts,http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/aa-greg-roberts-1977-78.html All-American: Greg Roberts June 29, 2010 CBS Interactive https://web.archive.org/web/20100525145606/http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/aa-greg-roberts-1977-78.html May 25, 2010 dead mdy-all Greg Roberts, Outland Trophy Billy Sims, Associated Press College Player of the Year Billy Sims, Heisman Trophyhttp://www.heisman.com/winners/hsmn-winners.html Heisman.com - Heisman Trophy 2007-04-16 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070411031301/http://www.heisman.com/winners/hsmn-winners.html April 11, 2007 Billy Sims, Sports Magazine's Player of the Year Billy Sims, United Press College Player of the Year Billy Sims, Walter Camp Foundation's Player of the Yearhttp://football.about.com/cs/history/a/waltercampaward.htm Football June 29, 2010 January 7, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080107193656/http://football.about.com/cs/history/a/waltercampaward.htm dead Big 8 rushing champion: Sims NCAA DI scoring champion: Sims NCAA team rushing leaders NCAA team scoring leaders NFL draft The following players were drafted into the National Football League following the season.https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1979/draft.htm 1979 NFL Draft Listing Pro-Football-Reference.com November 29, 2020 Oklahoma Sooners 2 Round Pick Player Position NFL team 233Greg RobertsGuardTampa Bay Buccaneers238Reggie MathisLinebackerNew Orleans Saints247Sam ClaphanTackleCleveland Browns372Kenny KingRunning backHouston Oilers490Phil TaborDefensive endNew York Giants5122Victor HicksTight endLos Angeles Rams6143Daryl HuntLinebackerHouston Oilers6144Thomas LottRunning backSt. Louis Cardinals 7189Uwe von SchamannKickerMiami Dolphins12284Reggie KinlawDefensive tackleOakland Raiders References Oklahoma Category:Oklahoma Sooners football seasons Category:Big Eight Conference football champion seasons Category:Orange Bowl champion seasons Oklahoma Sooners football