1979 Oklahoma Sooners football | |
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Big 8 champion Orange Bowl champion | |
Orange Bowl, W 24–7 vs. Florida State | |
Conference | Big Eight Conference |
Ranking | |
Coaches | No. 3 |
AP | No. 3 |
Record | 11–1 (7–0 Big 8) |
Head coach |
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Offensive coordinator | Galen Hall (7th season) |
Offensive scheme | Wishbone |
Defensive coordinator | Rex Norris (2nd season) |
Base defense | 5–2 |
Captains |
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Home stadium | Oklahoma Memorial Stadium |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 3 Oklahoma $ | 7 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 11 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 9 Nebraska | 6 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 10 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Oklahoma State | 5 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Missouri | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Colorado | 2 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Iowa State | 2 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kansas | 2 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kansas State | 1 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1979 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the college football 1979 NCAA Division I-A season. Oklahoma Sooners football participated in the former Big Eight Conference at that time and played its home games in Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium where it has played its home games since 1923. [1] The team posted an 11–1 overall record and a 7–0 conference record to earn the Conference title outright under head coach Barry Switzer who took the helm in 1973. [2] [3] This was Switzer's seventh conference title and fourth undefeated conference record in seven seasons. [2]
The team was led by All-Americans Billy Sims and George Cumby. [4] [5] After winning the conference title outright, it earned a trip to the Orange Bowl for a bout with Florida State. During the season, it faced three different ranked opponents (In order, #4 Texas, #3 Nebraska and #4 Florida State). All three of these opponents finished the season ranked. It endured its only defeat of the season against Texas in the Red River Shootout. [3] The Sooners started the season with a four consecutive wins before losing to Texas and then won their remaining seven games. [3] Sims and J.C. Watts both posted for 100-yard games in the Orange Bowl. [6]
Sims led the nation in scoring with 138 points (based on per game average of 12.0, which includes 132 in 11 games). [7] Sims led the team in rushing with 1670 yards, Watts led the team in passing with 821 yards, Freddie Nixon led the team in receiving with 293 yards, Cumby led the team with 160 tackles and Bud Hebert posted 4 interceptions. [8] Billy Sims set numerous Oklahoma offensive records that still stand including career 200-yard games, single-season rushing touchdowns (tied) [9]
Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
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September 15 | Iowa * | No. 3 | W 21–6 | 72,531 [10] | ||
September 22 | Tulsa * | No. 3 |
| W 49–13 | 72,451 [10] | |
September 29 | at Rice * | No. 3 | W 63–21 | 30,442 [10] | ||
October 6 | Colorado | No. 3 |
| W 49–24 | 72,512 [10] | |
October 13 | vs. No. 4 Texas * | No. 3 | ABC | L 7–16 | 72,032 [10] | |
October 20 | at Kansas State | No. 8 | W 38–6 | 27,257 [10] | ||
October 27 | Iowa State | No. 7 |
| W 38–9 | 72,069 [10] | |
November 3 | at Oklahoma State | No. 7 | W 38–7 | 51,453 [10] | ||
November 10 | Kansas | No. 6 |
| W 38–0 | 71,882 [10] | |
November 17 | at Missouri | No. 7 | W 24–22 | 69,973 [10] | ||
November 24 | No. 3 Nebraska | No. 8 |
| ABC | W 17–14 | 72,516 [10] |
January 1, 1980 | vs. No. 4 Florida State * | No. 5 | NBC | W 24–7 | 66,714 [10] | |
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1979 Oklahoma Sooners football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
| Defense
| Special teams
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Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Iowa | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Oklahoma | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma
Game information |
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
'Fourth quarter
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Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Tulsa | 0 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 13 |
Oklahoma | 21 | 7 | 0 | 21 | 49 |
at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Oklahoma | 21 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 63 |
Rice | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 21 |
at Rice Stadium, Houston, Texas
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Colorado | 7 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 24 |
Oklahoma | 7 | 28 | 7 | 7 | 49 |
at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma
Game information |
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Oklahoma faced its former coach Chuck Fairbanks for the first time since his departure following the 1972 season.
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Oklahoma | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Texas | 3 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 16 |
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Oklahoma | 3 | 0 | 14 | 21 | 38 |
Kansas State | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
at KSU Stadium, Manhattan, Kansas
Game information | ||
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Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Iowa State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 9 |
Oklahoma | 7 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 38 |
at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Oklahoma | 24 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 38 |
Oklahoma State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
at Lewis Field, Stillwater, Oklahoma
Game information |
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Kansas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Oklahoma | 3 | 7 | 7 | 21 | 38 |
at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Oklahoma | 7 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 24 |
Missouri | 3 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 22 |
at Faurot Field, Columbia, Missouri
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Nebraska | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
Oklahoma | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma
Game information | ||
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Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Florida State | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Oklahoma | 0 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
at Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
Week | |||||||||||||||
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Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Final |
AP | 3 (4) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 3 |
Coaches Poll | 2 (2) | 3 (3) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 3 (1) |
The following players were selected in the National Football League draft following the season. [18] [19]
Sooners who were picked in the 1980 NFL Draft:
Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Team |
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1 | 1 | Billy Sims | Running back | Detroit Lions |
1 | 26 | George Cumby | Linebacker | Green Bay Packers |
2 | 40 | Darrol Ray | Safety | New York Jets |
2 | 56 | John Goodman | Defensive end | Pittsburgh Steelers |
4 | 87 | Fred Nixon | Wide receiver | Green Bay Packers |
5 | 130 | Paul Tabor | Center | Chicago Bears |
5 | 179 | Darry Hebert | Defensive back | New York Giants |
9 | 235 | Barry Burdet | Linebacker | New England Patriots |
11 | 284 | Mike Babb | Defensive back | Atlanta Falcons |
The Oklahoma Sooners football team represents the University of Oklahoma in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level in the Big 12 Conference. The program began in 1895 and is one of the most successful in history, having won 944 games and possessing a .725 winning percentage, both sixth all-time. Oklahoma has appeared in the AP poll 897 times, including 101 No. 1 rankings, both third all-time. The program claims seven national championships, 50 conference championships, 167 first-team All-Americans, and a record-tying seven Heisman Trophy winners. The school has had 29 former players and coaches inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and holds the record for the longest winning streak in Division I history with 47 straight victories. Oklahoma is also the only program with which four coaches have won more than 100 games each.
The 1975 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 1975 NCAA Division I football season. The team was helmed by Barry Switzer in his third season as head coach. After sailing through their first eight games, Oklahoma suffered a surprising home loss to Kansas, which snapped a 28-game winning streak. With only two regular season games and a bowl trip left, any hopes for a repeat national championship looked slim.
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. The team posted an 11–1 and 6–1 conference record under head coach Chuck Fairbanks. 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.
The 1973 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 1973 NCAA Division I football season. Oklahoma participated as members of the Big Eight Conference and played its home games in Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium where it has played its home games since 1923. The team posted a 10–0–1 overall record and a 7–0 conference record to earn the Conference outright title under first-year head coach Barry Switzer. This would be the first of eight consecutive Big Eight Conference championships for the Sooners with Switzer as head coach.
The 1977 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 1977 NCAA Division I 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. The team posted a 10–2 overall record and a 7–0 conference record to earn the Conference title under head coach Barry Switzer who took the helm in 1973. This was Switzer's fifth conference title and third undefeated conference record in five seasons.
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. 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.
The 1980 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season. Oklahoma was a member of the Big Eight Conference and played its home games in Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. The team posted a 10–2 overall record and a 7–0 conference record to earn the conference title outright under head coach Barry Switzer who took the helm in 1973. This was Switzer's eighth conference title and fifth undefeated conference record in eight seasons.
The 1984 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the college football 1984 NCAA Division I-A season. Oklahoma Sooners football participated in the former Big Eight Conference at that time and played its home games in Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium where it has played its home games since 1923. The team posted a 9–2–1 overall record and a 6–1 conference record to earn a share of the Conference title under head coach Barry Switzer who took the helm in 1973. This was Switzer's ninth conference title in twelve seasons.
The 1987 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. Oklahoma was a member of the Big Eight Conference played its home games in Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, where it has played its home games since 1923. The team posted an 11–1 overall record and a 7–0 conference record to the Conference title outright under head coach Barry Switzer who took the helm in 1973. This was Switzer's twelfth conference title, fourth consecutive conference title and eighth undefeated conference record in fifteen seasons.
The 1988 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma during the 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season. They played their home games at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium and competed as members of the Big Eight Conference. It was Barry Switzer's final year as head coach of the Sooners.
The 1995 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma during the 1995 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 Howard Schnellenberger.
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.
The 1982 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma during the 1982 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 lost to Arizona State 32–21 in the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Arizona.
The 1980 Orange Bowl was the 46th edition of the college football bowl game, played at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, on Tuesday, January 1. Part of the 1979–80 bowl game season, it matched the fourth-ranked independent Florida State Seminoles and the #5 Oklahoma Sooners of the Big Eight Conference. Favored Oklahoma overcame an early deficit and won 24–7.
The 2016 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season, the 122nd season of Sooner football. The team was led by head coach Bob Stoops, offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley, and defensive coordinator Mike Stoops, as well as such players as Mark Andrews, Orlando Brown, Jordan Evans, Baker Mayfield, Joe Mixon, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Samaje Perine, and Dede Westbrook.
The 2017 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season, the 123rd season of Sooner football. The team was led by Lincoln Riley, who was in his first year as head coach, after the retirement of Bob Stoops in June 2017. They played their home games at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. They are a charter member of the Big 12 Conference.
The 2018 Oklahoma Sooners football team represents the University of Oklahoma in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season, the 124th season for the Oklahoma Sooners. The team is led by Lincoln Riley, who is in his second year as head coach. They play their home games at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. They are a charter member of the Big 12 Conference.
The 2019 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season, the 125th season for the Oklahoma Sooners. The team was led by Lincoln Riley, in his third year as head coach. They played their home games at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. They are a charter member of the Big 12 Conference.
The 2021 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season, the 127th season for the Oklahoma Sooners. They played their home games at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. They are a charter member of the Big 12 Conference. The team was led during the regular season by Lincoln Riley, in his fifth and final year as head coach.
The 2023 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season, the 129th season for the Oklahoma Sooners. They were led by second-year head coach Brent Venables. They played their home games at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. They were a charter member of the Big 12 Conference.