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1974 Oklahoma Sooners football
AP Poll national champion
Big 8 champion
Conference Big Eight Conference
Ranking
APNo. 1
Record11–0 (7–0 Big 8)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Galen Hall (2nd season)
Offensive scheme Wishbone
Defensive coordinator Larry Lacewell (5th season)
Base defense 5–2
Captains
Home stadium Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
Seasons
←  1973
1975 →
1974 Big Eight Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Oklahoma $ 7 0 0 11 0 0
Missouri 5 2 0 7 4 0
No. 9 Nebraska 5 2 0 9 3 0
Oklahoma State 4 3 0 7 5 0
Colorado 3 4 0 5 6 0
Iowa State 2 5 0 4 7 0
Kansas 1 6 0 4 7 0
Kansas State 1 6 0 4 7 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

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

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 14 Baylor*No. 1W 28–1162,375
September 28 Utah State*No. 3
  • Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
  • Norman, OK
W 72–362,065
October 5 Wake Forest*No. 2
  • Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
  • Norman, OK
W 63–061,191–61,826 [1]
October 12vs. No. 17 Texas*No. 2W 16–1372,032
October 19at ColoradoNo. 2W 49–1448,447–51,777
October 26 Kansas StateNo. 2
  • Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
  • Norman, OK
W 63–062,460
November 2at Iowa StateNo. 2W 28–1033,580
November 9 MissouriNo. 2
  • Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
  • Norman, OK ( rivalry)
W 37–062,600
November 16at KansasNo. 1W 45–1443,974
November 23No. 6 NebraskaNo. 1W 28–1474,504
November 30 Oklahoma StateNo. 1
  • Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
  • Norman, OK ( Bedlam)
W 44–1362,619
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[2]

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, [3] as does its 21.4 rushing first downs per game. [4]

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. [5] 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
1 234Total
Wake Forest 0 000 0
#2 Oklahoma 14 28714 63

[6]

Texas (Red River Shootout)

#2 Oklahoma Sooners vs. #17 Texas Longhorns
1 234Total
#17 Texas 0 373 13
#2 Oklahoma 0 709 16

[7]

Colorado


Personnel

1974 Oklahoma Sooners football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
OT 73 Drake Andarakes Sr
OT 74 Jerry Arnold Sr
RB 20 Bob Berg Sr
WR 82 Billy Brooks Jr
RB 25 Grant Burget Sr
RB 33 Waymon Clark Sr
C 50 Kyle Davis Sr
QB 7 Steve Davis Jr
RB 29 Horace Ivory Jr
WR 11 Tinker Owens Jr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DL 54 Jimbo Elrod Jr
DB 19 Randy Hughes Sr
DB 16 Tony Peters Sr
DT 91 Dewey Selmon Jr
DT 93 Lee Roy Selmon Jr
LB 43 Rod Shoate Sr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K 3 Tony DiRienzo Jr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked ( ) = First-place votes
Week
PollPre12345678910111213Final
AP1 (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

After the season

NFL draft

The following players were drafted into the National Football League following the season. [8] [9]

Round Pick Player Position NFL Team
2 41 Rod Shoate Linebacker New England Patriots
4 82 Tony Peters Defensive back Cleveland Browns
4 96 Randy Hughes Defensive back Dallas Cowboys
5 113 Kyle Davis Center Dallas Cowboys
6 134 John Carroll Wide receiver San Diego Chargers
8 189 Wayne Hoffman Tackle Kansas City Chiefs
10 239 Clyde Russell Guard Miami Dolphins
14 355 Jerry Arnold Running back Denver Broncos
15 370 John Roush Running back San Diego Chargers
15 372 Grant Burget Guard New Orleans Saints

References

  1. ^ "Oklahoma shows no mercy, slaughters Wake Forest 63–0". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. October 6, 1974. Retrieved January 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "1974 OU Football Season Schedule - SoonerStats - Historical scores, records, and stats for Oklahoma Sooners football, basketball, baseball, and softball".
  3. ^ "Football Bowl Subdivision Records" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. p. 27. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
  4. ^ "2009 Division I Football Records Book: Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Records" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. p. 28. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  5. ^ "The Best Team You'll Never See". Sports Illustrated.
  6. ^ Eugene Register-Guard. October 6, 1974
  7. ^ Eugene Register-Guard. 1974 Oct 13.
  8. ^ "1975 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  9. ^ "Oklahoma Drafted Players/Alumni". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 23, 2023.