Buffalo Bills?

[Leroy Lizard]

I thought it would be a good idea to put OU's losses in national title games in perspective.

Since 1974 OU has played a final game in which a victory netted it, or would possibly netted it, a national title in the following years.

1974*
1975*
1977
1984
1985*
1987
2000*
2003
2004
2008

* national titles

Consider the same for UT:

1977
1983
2005*


So yeah, OU has lost a lot of national titles in the final game of the year. But consider how often the team positions itself each year to potentially win a national title: 10 times in the last 34 years. Think about it... every third year OU plays for the national title. That's pretty amazing.

[MyT Oklahoma]

If your going to include 1978 when the loss to Nebraska cost us the National Championship (because we still had to play the Aggies and then the rematch against Nebraska in the Orange Bowl) then also include 1971 to your list.

Otherwise your point is well taken. OU does indeed play for Championships or a regular basis whether or not we bring them all home.

[Leroy Lizard]

You're right, 1978 should not count. I'll edit the post.

[MyT Oklahoma]

Damn we're good though. :D

[catsigater]

It sucks to lose, but that's a history any team in the country would be proud to claim.

[Leroy Lizard]

Thanks for the kind comments.

Didn't Switzer's teams end up ranked in the top-three 9 times in his 16 seasons?

[BoomerSoonerTexasscks]

I thought it would be a good idea to put OU's losses in national title games in perspective.

Since 1974 OU has played a final game in which a victory netted it, or would possibly netted it, a national title in the following years.

1974*
1975*
1977
1984
1985*
1987
2000*
2003
2004
2008

* national titles

Consider the same for UT:

1977
1983
2005*


So yeah, OU has lost a lot of national titles in the final game of the year. But consider how often the team positions itself each year to potentially win a national title: 10 times in the last 34 years. Think about it... every third year OU plays for the national title. That's pretty amazing.

By my calcs that means we have won 40% of the championship games we have played in. Texas would be @ 33%. I will take ten championship games and four championships. I would venture to say most programs would. Except maybe OSU. They seem to be happy with a Holiday Bowl apperance

[aero]

Nice stat, Lizard. By the way, I've always been a Cowboy fan......well, at least till this year, but I really liked the Buffalo Bills. I alway thought it was a shame that they got dogged for not winning the SB because they were really a good team. And yes, one could say we are a bit like them in that we don't deserve to be dogged for losing in championships but we are different in that we HAVE won it and won it more than 99% of the rest of teams.

[Leroy Lizard]

Since 1971 we have finished in the Top-5 in the following years:

1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1978
1979
1980
1985
1986
1987
2000
2002
2003
2008


Compare this stat with some other notable teams:

USC:

1972
1974
1976
1978
1979
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008

Texas:

1972
1977
1981
1983
2001
2004
2005
2007
2008

Alabama:

1971
1973
1974
1975
1977
1978
1979
1991
1992
1994
2008

Naturally the 1971 initial year is arbitrary and favors OU to a certain extent. But it does show OU as a consistent winner for the past 37 years. We all remember our dry times, but other teams have had them too and to a greater extent.

[CarolinaSoonerFan]

We rock!!

[soonervegas]

I don't like the buffalo bills comparison. Buffalo never won a title where OU has under stoops. I think more 90s florida state or atlanta braves fits better.

And you could probably take 4 plays and change them in the LSU and Florida games and Stoops is a GOD around here and not a mere great football coach.