SoonerGX
2/1/2006, 01:35 AM
Past Division I-A Football National Champions
<http://www.ncaa.org/wps/portal/!ut/p/kcxml/04_Sj9SPykssy0xPLMnMz0vM0Y_QjzKLN4j3CQXJgFjGpvqRqC KOcAFfj_zcVH1v_QD9gtzQiHJHRUUAc0tpTA!!/delta/base64xml/L3dJdyEvUUd3QndNQSEvNElVRS82XzBfTFU!?CONTENT_URL=h ttp://www.ncaa.org/champadmin/ia_football_past_champs.html>
Courtesy of SoonerSports.com
<http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=300&KEY=&ATCLID=30520&SPID=190&SPSID=4583>
Championship Tradition
Nothing defines the competitive success of a college athletics program like a national championship. There is no higher pinnacle and no greater stage on which teams and individuals are called upon to prove their excellence.
Oklahoma’s ability to flourish in that setting has elevated the Sooner program to the lofty position it enjoys today. With its most recent triumph coming in 2000, OU is one of only two schools to capture seven national football titles.
That staggering fact is more than capable of standing on its own. But Oklahoma has taken its national dominance to a higher level by winning those championships over four different decades. Since 1950, the Sooners have been a regular player in the race for national supremacy.
Few football programs can set out each fall with the pursuit of the national crown realistically listed among its season goals. Oklahoma, riding a history that makes such a pursuit more than talk and more than dreams, is one of those programs.
When it comes to national championships, the Sooners have "been there, done that" ... seven times.
15 National Championships?
The NCAA does not conduct a national championship in Division I-A football and is not involved in the selection process.
Since 1998, the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) operated jointly by the ACC, Southeastern, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten and Pacific-10 Conferences has used a ranking system to determine the number one and number two teams at the end of the season.
Various organizations have named National Champions in college football since 1869. Utilizing the selectors as recognized by the NCAA, Oklahoma has won 15 National Championships: 2000, 1986, 1985, 1980, 1978, 1975, 1974, 1973, 1967, 1956, 1955, 1953, 1950 and 1949.
NCAA-Recognized Football National Champions
-- NCAA-Recognized Championships (since 1869)
1. Princeton 28
2. Yale 27
3. Notre Dame 20
4. Alabama 17
5. Southern Cal 16
6. OKLAHOMA 15
6. Michigan 15
7. Ohio State 14
8. Nebraska 9
9. Harvard 11
9. Pittsburgh 11
NCAA-Recognized Championships (since 1936)*
1. OKLAHOMA 15
2. Notre Dame 14
3. Alabama 13
3. Ohio State 13
5. Nebraska 11
5. Southern Cal 11
7. Miami 8
7. Texas 8
8. Florida State 7
8. Tennessee 7
* The AP introduced its poll in 1936.
-- AP, Coaches' & BCS
1. Notre Dame 8
2. OKLAHOMA 7
2. Alabama 7
2. Southern Cal 7
5. Miami 5
5. Nebraska 5
5. Ohio State 5
8. Minnesota 4
8. Texas 4
9. Michigan 3
The AP & Coaches Polls
Two polls have dominated the college football landscape. In 1936, the Associated Press introduced its poll, representing the opinion of media around the country. In 1950, a poll of selected Division I coaches also was introduced. The second of those has appeared under various headings, including the one it is known by today, the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.
Between those two polls, the most recognized and the longest standing, Oklahoma has achieved 13 national championships (finished No. 1 in both polls in some years). No other school in America has combined for as many national crowns under that same formula.
The Sooners have been AP's national champion seven times and have prevailed in the coaches' poll another six. Oklahoma's most recent national championship, won in the 2000 season, came under the BCS format. Prior to the introduction of the BCS, the polls were the mode used to select college football's best team.
Regardless of the method, OU has been a regular player on the national title scene.
In The Modern Era, OU Is No. 1
<http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=300&ATCLID=11857&SPID=190&SPSID=2475>
-- In The Modern Era, OU Is No. 1
Courtesy: SoonerSports.com
Release: 01/22/2003
Jan. 22, 2003
Norman, Okla. - Recent research confirms what most University of Oklahoma football fans have already suspected. In the modern era, no college football team has been more successful than the OU Sooners.
Beginning with the 1946 season, Oklahoma has won 481 games, 23 more than second place Penn State's 458. Alabama is next at 456, followed by Nebraska at 454 and Texas at 436. Michigan is No. 6 with 434 wins, followed by Tennessee at 433, Ohio State at 429, Notre Dame at 427 and Southern California at 410.
Not only is OU's total tops in the nation, but so is the Sooners' winning percentage of .757. Penn State also is second on that list at .747. Ohio State is next at .738, then Michigan at .728 and Nebraska at No. 5 with a .715.
The 2002 Sooners certainly helped Oklahoma maintain its lofty perch with an overall record of 12-2, including a 34-14 triumph over Washington State in the Rose Bowl. The victory lifted Bob Stoops' four-year record to 43-9.
OU has gone on to have records of 12-2 in 2003, 12-1 in 2004, 8-4 in 2005with playing in the BCS Championship game both in 2003 and 2004 which were in the Sugar Bowl & Orange Bowl, respectively. OU finished off its 2005 campaign with a 17-14 win over Oregon in the Holiday Bowl.
<http://www.ncaa.org/wps/portal/!ut/p/kcxml/04_Sj9SPykssy0xPLMnMz0vM0Y_QjzKLN4j3CQXJgFjGpvqRqC KOcAFfj_zcVH1v_QD9gtzQiHJHRUUAc0tpTA!!/delta/base64xml/L3dJdyEvUUd3QndNQSEvNElVRS82XzBfTFU!?CONTENT_URL=h ttp://www.ncaa.org/champadmin/ia_football_past_champs.html>
Courtesy of SoonerSports.com
<http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=300&KEY=&ATCLID=30520&SPID=190&SPSID=4583>
Championship Tradition
Nothing defines the competitive success of a college athletics program like a national championship. There is no higher pinnacle and no greater stage on which teams and individuals are called upon to prove their excellence.
Oklahoma’s ability to flourish in that setting has elevated the Sooner program to the lofty position it enjoys today. With its most recent triumph coming in 2000, OU is one of only two schools to capture seven national football titles.
That staggering fact is more than capable of standing on its own. But Oklahoma has taken its national dominance to a higher level by winning those championships over four different decades. Since 1950, the Sooners have been a regular player in the race for national supremacy.
Few football programs can set out each fall with the pursuit of the national crown realistically listed among its season goals. Oklahoma, riding a history that makes such a pursuit more than talk and more than dreams, is one of those programs.
When it comes to national championships, the Sooners have "been there, done that" ... seven times.
15 National Championships?
The NCAA does not conduct a national championship in Division I-A football and is not involved in the selection process.
Since 1998, the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) operated jointly by the ACC, Southeastern, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten and Pacific-10 Conferences has used a ranking system to determine the number one and number two teams at the end of the season.
Various organizations have named National Champions in college football since 1869. Utilizing the selectors as recognized by the NCAA, Oklahoma has won 15 National Championships: 2000, 1986, 1985, 1980, 1978, 1975, 1974, 1973, 1967, 1956, 1955, 1953, 1950 and 1949.
NCAA-Recognized Football National Champions
-- NCAA-Recognized Championships (since 1869)
1. Princeton 28
2. Yale 27
3. Notre Dame 20
4. Alabama 17
5. Southern Cal 16
6. OKLAHOMA 15
6. Michigan 15
7. Ohio State 14
8. Nebraska 9
9. Harvard 11
9. Pittsburgh 11
NCAA-Recognized Championships (since 1936)*
1. OKLAHOMA 15
2. Notre Dame 14
3. Alabama 13
3. Ohio State 13
5. Nebraska 11
5. Southern Cal 11
7. Miami 8
7. Texas 8
8. Florida State 7
8. Tennessee 7
* The AP introduced its poll in 1936.
-- AP, Coaches' & BCS
1. Notre Dame 8
2. OKLAHOMA 7
2. Alabama 7
2. Southern Cal 7
5. Miami 5
5. Nebraska 5
5. Ohio State 5
8. Minnesota 4
8. Texas 4
9. Michigan 3
The AP & Coaches Polls
Two polls have dominated the college football landscape. In 1936, the Associated Press introduced its poll, representing the opinion of media around the country. In 1950, a poll of selected Division I coaches also was introduced. The second of those has appeared under various headings, including the one it is known by today, the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.
Between those two polls, the most recognized and the longest standing, Oklahoma has achieved 13 national championships (finished No. 1 in both polls in some years). No other school in America has combined for as many national crowns under that same formula.
The Sooners have been AP's national champion seven times and have prevailed in the coaches' poll another six. Oklahoma's most recent national championship, won in the 2000 season, came under the BCS format. Prior to the introduction of the BCS, the polls were the mode used to select college football's best team.
Regardless of the method, OU has been a regular player on the national title scene.
In The Modern Era, OU Is No. 1
<http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=300&ATCLID=11857&SPID=190&SPSID=2475>
-- In The Modern Era, OU Is No. 1
Courtesy: SoonerSports.com
Release: 01/22/2003
Jan. 22, 2003
Norman, Okla. - Recent research confirms what most University of Oklahoma football fans have already suspected. In the modern era, no college football team has been more successful than the OU Sooners.
Beginning with the 1946 season, Oklahoma has won 481 games, 23 more than second place Penn State's 458. Alabama is next at 456, followed by Nebraska at 454 and Texas at 436. Michigan is No. 6 with 434 wins, followed by Tennessee at 433, Ohio State at 429, Notre Dame at 427 and Southern California at 410.
Not only is OU's total tops in the nation, but so is the Sooners' winning percentage of .757. Penn State also is second on that list at .747. Ohio State is next at .738, then Michigan at .728 and Nebraska at No. 5 with a .715.
The 2002 Sooners certainly helped Oklahoma maintain its lofty perch with an overall record of 12-2, including a 34-14 triumph over Washington State in the Rose Bowl. The victory lifted Bob Stoops' four-year record to 43-9.
OU has gone on to have records of 12-2 in 2003, 12-1 in 2004, 8-4 in 2005with playing in the BCS Championship game both in 2003 and 2004 which were in the Sugar Bowl & Orange Bowl, respectively. OU finished off its 2005 campaign with a 17-14 win over Oregon in the Holiday Bowl.