How many national championships was OU one game short of?

[GDC]

I was reading parts of What It Means To Be A Sooner and in 1967 only a 9-7 loss to the whorns kept OU from probably winning it all. How many other years was one loss the likely difference in finishing number one or not? Off the top of my head there was of course the two recent BCS games, the 87 loss to Miami, 84 against Washington, 78 to Nebraska, 71 to Nebraska, and I think a couple of times in the 50's. How many am I leaving out? Did the 77 Orange Bowl against Arkansas cost OU another MNC?

[101sooner]

'86 loss to Miami.

[oumartin]

had they beaten OSU the year miami thumped nebraska for the NC.they probably would have played for the NC had they won the big 12 championship game

[King Crimson]

i can live with the losses to Miami, but the 78 loss at Nebraska.....we utterly dominated them in the Orange Bowl. they score in the final minute to make it seem quasi-close.

eventually, they had to get us up there....but not that year!

we win that game, and beat whoever we play in the OB....Sims wins the Heisman twice.

[stoopified]

In '54 we were undefeated and not in a bowl because of a conference rule,bowl win easily could have pushed us to #1.
'71 a 4 point loss to nebraska brought us up short.
'72 a 20-14 loss to CU kept us a #3,win and most likely we are #1.
'73 A 7-7 tie vs. defending champion USC .We finished #3 and would have been #1 if he had beaten USC in a game we dominated.
'78 we lose our only game 17-14 to NU while losing 6 of nine fumbles including the heart-breaking Sims' fumble at the Husker 2.
'86 and '87 one word- Miami.
'2003 and 2004 National title game losses are pretty fresh in evrones mind.That is all I got.

[1991SOONER]

'86 and '87 one word- Miami.


I still hate Miami...

[GDC]

I'm counting then about 12 times then that a championship season came up one win short. Add that to seven titles, and approximately 20 seasons (since the Wilkinson era began) OU has won or been within a game of winning the MNC. That's roughly 33%. I doubt any other program can match that.

[King Crimson]

That's roughly 33%. I doubt any other program can match that.

Alabamma can. they won em all.

[oumartin]

weird how alabama has won more NC's than there has been calendar years.

[SoonerInKCMO]

Yes, the loss to Arkansas cost OU the championship. Notre Effin' Dame won that year after beating #1 Texas in the Cotton bowl and jumping over them, #2 OU, #3 Alabama and #4 Michigan in the final poll.

[GDC]

Alabamma can. they won em all.

That reminds me, what's happened to all the Bamanians that used to hang around here?

[Snrfn4ever08]

That reminds me, what's happened to all the Bamanians that used to hang around here?
they're searching for another championship. they'll prolly be back as soon as they find one

[oumartin]

don't worry GDC. there are still a ton of whorn fans on here...

[Octavian]

In '84 there was a chance we'd have overtaken BYU in the final polls.

They were playing a 6-5 Michigan team in their bowl game and a big Orange Bowl win over Washington would've probably resulted in a split NC between us and BYU.

Washington beat us 28-17 (in the last bowl game where the Schooner took a lap after a score) and Switzer got a sewer plant named after him in Utah.

[BoomerJack]

From Stoopified:
"In '54 we were undefeated and not in a bowl because of a conference rule,bowl win easily could have pushed us to #1."

Weren't national champions named before the bowl games then?

[snp]

I'm counting then about 12 times then that a championship season came up one win short. Add that to seven titles, and approximately 20 seasons (since the Wilkinson era began) OU has won or been within a game of winning the MNC. That's roughly 33%. I doubt any other program can match that.

Pretty damn impressive.

[crimson&cream]

Alabamma can. they won em all.
I've seen research that if OU counted all the same type NC's that Bama does we'd have something like 16/19 Nc's. Sorry Tide fans but it's what is recognized in the college FB world by other's that count, not some Foundation NC before whats considered the modern era of FB either 1936 the begining of the Media Polls and WWII on.
Since then OU has been in a postion to win more NC's than any other College FB team that comes to mind. Whats the count on this thread 20 other times in a postition to win the NC besides the 7 we have like the---7----Bama has, another great program of college FB.

[Scott D]

From Stoopified:
"In '54 we were undefeated and not in a bowl because of a conference rule,bowl win easily could have pushed us to #1."

Weren't national champions named before the bowl games then?

yes...so the Bowl would have made no difference.

[soonervegas]

In '84 there was a chance we'd have overtaken BYU in the final polls.

They were playing a 6-5 Michigan team in their bowl game and a big Orange Bowl win over Washington would've probably resulted in a split NC between us and BYU.

Washington beat us 28-17 (in the last bowl game where the Schooner took a lap after a score) and Switzer got a sewer plant named after him in Utah.

I was going to bring this one up. I was one of the more odd chances we had at a National Title. They had a media poll before the game asking them who they would vote for if OU won by 3, by 7, or by 14. It would have taken OU to beat Washington by 14 or more to bring home the title (according to the media members polled). Sadly, we didn't even get the W in that game.

[GDC]

don't worry GDC. there are still a ton of whorn fans on here...

Actually, I kind of liked most of the Bama posters.

[crimson&cream]

Actually, I kind of liked most of the Bama posters.
Just Sat a guy wearing a Bama hat was in the store where I work,we spoke and I said your a long way from home. Most Bama fans are a class act, and very passionate about Tide FB. Just like we are about Sooner FB.

[Luthor]

Actually, I kind of liked most of the Bama posters.


It's a good thing I know you guys really do like me. Otherwise I might be crushed, heart broken, bereft of all that is warm and fuzzy. You guys always help me find my happy thought.

[GDC]

Also in 1949 OU was one of several undefeated teams but the MNC was given to, who else but Notre Dame.:mad:

57 and 58 were one loss seasons too.

[King Crimson]

Actually, I kind of liked most of the Bama posters.

me too. but they do need to sort of come out of fantasyland about counting chamionships....

counting a 7-4 year in 1938 as an MNC because Billy Earl's Roll Tide Website ranked Bama #1 that year is a little much.

[Snrfn4ever08]

How many other years was one loss the likely difference in finishing number one or not?
more years than texas could fathom

[mikeelikee]

One of the most amazing statistics about the great Jack Nicklaus in Major Championships is that, although he won 18 of them as a professional, he finished second 19 times! We've almost matched that in college football over the last 50 years or so.

[Octavian]

1915: 10-0: Oklahoma too far away from Eastern media centers to have much of a chance....but I think the NCAA recognizes this is a NC b/c some poll somewhere named us champs. Unlike Bama/USC/Michigan, we won't claim it. Good for us.

1938: 10-1: Undefeated heading into OU's first ever Orange Bowl appearance, Coach Stidham's squad lost 17-0 to Tennessee.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
1948: 10-1: Only an opening day loss vs. Santa Clara on the West Coast prevented OU from going undefeated in Bud's second year.

1949: 11-0: Undefeated in Bud's third year. Notre Dame is crowned the champion...this would be the last year before two major polls are recognized.

1952: 8-1-1: Notre Dame hands Bud his only loss of the year in South Bend, 27-21. The largest radio audience for a sporting event in America's history (20 million) listened in as Vessels ran for 195 yds and three TDs on his way to the Heisman.

1953: 9-1-1: Notre Dame starts to become a thorn in the side of Bud's Sooners, handing us our only loss of the year in the opener, 28-21. The Sooners wouldn't lose again for over 4 calender years.

1954:10-0: Undefeated w/ no NC. The Streak reaches 19.

1957: 10-1: Notre Dame ends the Streak at 47. Its OU's only loss...again.

1958: 10-1: A young Darrell Royal beats his mentor in Dallas 15-14, opting to go for 2 and the win late in the 4th quarter. In the post game locker room, Royall hides from his team momentarily as he pukes. He later admits the thought of costing Bud Wilkinson a win made him physically ill.

1967: 10-1: A 9-7 loss to Texas proves to be our only blemish and knocks us out of title contention.

1971: 11-1: Game of the Century loss to Nebraska.

1973: 10-0-1: A missed kick against defending champ USC in LA prevents an undefeated, untied season in Switzer's rookie season.

1977: 10-2: In what Switzer calls his worst loss as OU's leader, Lou Holtz and Arkansas steamroll the Wishbone in the Orange Bowl. The NC was OU's to lose after Texas fell to Notre Dame in the Cotton.

1978: 11-1: Though this may have been Switzer's best team, #1 OU fumbles 9 times in Lincoln, losing 6 of them (including Simms' late fumble inside the 5) and Osborne beats Switz for the first time.

1979: 11-1: A 16-7 loss in Dallas prevents JC and Simms from a shot at the NC.

1984: 9-2-1: Orange Bowl loss to Washington prevents possible split w/ BYU.

1986: 11-1: Testaverde has another brilliant day as Miami wins 28-16 in Coral Gables.

1987: 11-1: Steve Walsh and Miami break open a 7-7 halftime tie in the NCG and goes on to win, 20-14 on their home field.

2003: 11-2: LSU NCG loss (it's OU's third straight NCG played against an opponent in their home state).

2004: 12-1: USC NCG loss.

Not counting the first two seasons listed, there were 18 seasons since the end of WWII in which 1 game seperated OU from winning (or sharing) a national championship (or OU went undefeated w/out winning the NC).

*'72 is not included b/c of the forfeited games...though we went 11-1 on the field that year too.

[GDC]

Wow, thanks, Octavian. So 19+7=26, that's 26/58 seasons since 1948 OU has either won or been one loss from the MNC, or 45% of the time.

[Octavian]

Wow, thanks, Octavian. So 19+7=26, that's 26/58 seasons since 1948 OU has either won or been one loss from the MNC, or 45% of the time.

YW ;)

That % really is gawdy and w/out checking I'd be willing to bet the farm no other program even comes close to matching that.

A couple things kinda jump off the page to me.

Our most talented teams haven't always produced a NC. Certainly we were more seasoned in '78 and '86 than '85 and more dominant in '03 than '00.

We may have been even better in the '70s than the '50s. Our worst season was a 9-2-1 campaign in '76 in which we still won a split of the Big 8 title and were very close to winning 7 titles in the decade.

[GDC]

YW ;)

That % really is gawdy and w/out checking I'd be willing to bet the farm no other program even comes close to matching that.

A couple things kinda jump off the page to me.

Our most talented teams haven't always produced a NC. Certainly we were more seasoned in '78 and '86 than '85 and more dominant in '03 than '00.

We may have been even better in the '70s than the '50s. Our worst season was a 9-2-1 campaign in '76 in which we still won a split of the Big 8 title and were very close to winning 7 titles in the decade.

Of course I would guess if anyone comes close to that it would be the damned Domers.

And too bad the short down cycles of the 60's and 90's drag the overall % down.

[soonerjoker]

wasn't there another season in the 50s, when #3 OU beat #1 maryland in a bowl game ???

[Scott D]

problem is that that prior to that 1967 season, the bowl game never mattered in a team being named national champion.

[Octavian]

wasn't there another season in the 50s, when #3 OU beat #1 maryland in a bowl game ???


1953: 9-1-1: Notre Dame starts to become a thorn in the side of Bud's Sooners, handing us our only loss of the year in the opener, 28-21. The Sooners wouldn't lose again for over 4 calender years.

.

[soonerjoker]

whoops, my bad.

[GDC]

No wonder so few whorns jumped in this thread. I went back and counted their MNC or one loss seasons since 1948 and they only had 13, or 1/2 what OU has had in the same time period. :texan: Hook 'em :mack:

http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=36&url_subchannel_id=&url_article_id=1349&change_well_id=2

[oumartin]

so what you are sayin' is you want more whorns to post?

[GDC]

so what you are sayin' is you want more whorns to post?

Far from it, but unfortunately they are a fact of life around here. I guess sometimes even they know when to keep their traps shut.

I'm having a hard time finding this type of data for Notre Dame, though.

[sooneron]

No wonder so few whorns jumped in this thread. I went back and counted their MNC or one loss seasons since 1948 and they only had 13, or 1/2 what OU has had in the same time period. :texan: Hook 'em :mack:

http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=36&url_subchannel_id=&url_article_id=1349&change_well_id=2
typical whorn 56-39-5 response in 3.....2.....1....

[sooneron]

Oh, and the 77 OB was my first painful memory of Sooner Football.

[GDC]

Anyone know where to find Notre Dame's records and/or final poll positions from 1948 to present?

Sooneron, I barely remember my father watching the 71 game of the century.

[sooneron]

I wish I could remember it, but I was only 4 at the time.
I do remember the 76 Uterus game.

[snp]

Anyone know where to find Notre Dame's records and/or final poll positions from 1948 to present?

Sooneron, I barely remember my father watching the 71 game of the century.

http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/independents/notre_dame/index.php

[NWOSURanger]

Looks like ND only lost out on 7 NC since 1945.

1948: 9-0-1 Tied USC 14 all in the last game of the season.

1954: 9-1 Lost to Purdue 14-27 at home.

1964: 9-1 Lost to USC 17-20 at Los Angeles in the last game of the season.

1970: 10-1 Lost to USC 28-38 at USC. Beat Texas in the Cotton Bowl.
1989: 12-1 Lost to Miami 10-27, at Miami, in the last regular season game. Went on to beat Colorado 21-6 in the Orange Bowl.
1992: 10-1-1 Lost to Stanford 16-33 at home in the 5th game. Tied Michigan 17-17 in the 2nd game.
1993: 11-1 Lost to Boston College 39-41 at home. Beat Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl 24-21.

ND has NC in 1946, 1947, 1949, 1953, 1966, 1973, 1977, 1988.

They might have come close in these years.
1967: 8-2
1971:8-2, well maybe not even close, due to the records of Nebraska, OU, and Colorado.
1974:10-2, I don't think so.
2002: 10-3, Lost last 2 games.

It is interesting that ND only went to 1 Bowl game before 1970 (the 1925 Rose Bowl). I wonder why they did this?

I would think that the only college team that would come close to OU in this discussion would be Michigan. They lost alot of Bowl games under Bo S.

[GDC]

Looks like ND only lost out on 7 NC since 1945.

1948: 9-0-1 Tied USC 14 all in the last game of the season.

1954: 9-1 Lost to Purdue 14-27 at home.

1964: 9-1 Lost to USC 17-20 at Los Angeles in the last game of the season.

1970: 10-1 Lost to USC 28-38 at USC. Beat Texas in the Cotton Bowl.
1989: 12-1 Lost to Miami 10-27, at Miami, in the last regular season game. Went on to beat Colorado 21-6 in the Orange Bowl.
1992: 10-1-1 Lost to Stanford 16-33 at home in the 5th game. Tied Michigan 17-17 in the 2nd game.
1993: 11-1 Lost to Boston College 39-41 at home. Beat Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl 24-21.

ND has NC in 1946, 1947, 1949, 1953, 1966, 1973, 1977, 1988.

They might have come close in these years.
1967: 8-2
1971:8-2, well maybe not even close, due to the records of Nebraska, OU, and Colorado.
1974:10-2, I don't think so.
2002: 10-3, Lost last 2 games.

It is interesting that ND only went to 1 Bowl game before 1970 (the 1925 Rose Bowl). I wonder why they did this?

I would think that the only college team that would come close to OU in this discussion would be Michigan. They lost alot of Bowl games under Bo S.

Okay, thanks, so 7 plus the five they won means they are even one behind the whorns, and 50% less than OU.

[NWOSURanger]

Looking at Michigan's history.... Man, it is bad. They have lost sooo many close games. Anyway, They claim 3 National Champions since 1945.
1947, 1948, and 1997. (They claim 8 before 1945.)
So I am glad I am not a Michigan Fan. Let their misery begin.

1964: 9-1 Lost to Purdue 20-21. Beat Oregon St. in the Rose Bowl.

1970: 9-1 Lost to Ohio St. 9-20.

1971: 11-1 Lost to Stanford 12-13.

1972: 10-1 Lost to Ohio St. 11-14.

1973: 10-0-1 Tied Ohio St. 10-10

1974: 10-1 Lost to Ohio St. 10-12.

1976: 10-2 Lost to Purdue 14-16, and Lost to USC 6-14 in the Rose Bowl.

1977: 10-2 Lost to Minn. 0-16. Lost to Washington 20-27, in the Rose Bowl.

1978: 10-2 Lost to Michigan St., 15-24. Lost to USC 10-17 in the Rose Bowl.

1980: 10-2 Lost to Notre Dame, 27-29 in the 2nd game and to S. Carolina 14-17 in the 3rd game. Beat Washington in the Rose.

1985: 10-1-1 Lost to Iowa, 10-12 and tied Illinois 3-3.

1986: 11-2 Lost to Minn., 17-20 and lost to Arizona St. 15-22 in the Rose Bowl.

1988: 9-2-1 Lost to ND, 17-19 in 1st game of the season. Lost to Miami (FL) 30-31 in the 2nd game. Tied Iowa 17-17 and beat USC 22-14 in the Rose Bowl.

1989: 10-2 Lost to ND, 19-24 in the 1st game of the season. Lost to USC 10-17 in the Rose Bowl.

1991: 10-2 Lost to Florida St. 31-51 in the 3rd game. Lost to Washington, 14-34 in the Rose Bowl.

1992: 9-0-3 Tied ND 17-17, Illinois 22-22, and Ohio St. 13-13.

1999: 10-2 Lost to Michigan St. 31-34 in the 6th game. Lost to Illinois 29-35 in the 7th game. Beat Alabama 35-34 in the Orange Bowl.

So they came close 17 times.

[GDC]

I didn't think about Michigan, but you're right. If you add what you listed to the three actual titles they're closer to OU than the whorns or ND. We should look at Ohio State, Alabama, and maybe USC as well.

[Octavian]

Michigan's been good but "coming close" isn't the same as being "one game away" from a NC. I don't think they were one game removed from a NC 17 times during that period.

Nebraska would be another good place to look. OU and Miami have cost probably them around 10 NC shots or so...

[Snrfn4ever08]

Michigan's been good but "coming close" isn't the same as being "one game away" from a NC. I don't think they were one game removed from a NC 17 times during that period.

Nebraska would be another good place to look. OU and Miami have cost probably them around 10 NC shots or so...
i love how the once-every-thirty-five-yearers aren't a vital part of this discussion.Hook 'em

[snp]

I didn't think about Michigan, but you're right. If you add what you listed to the three actual titles they're closer to OU than the whorns or ND. We should look at Ohio State, Alabama, and maybe USC as well.

Alabama 16 Seasons with 0 or 1 loss. And I don't know how many of those losses might have been in the NC game or something. I'm not going to do that research. Maybe one of our local Tide guys can do that.


1994 12 - 1
1992 13 - 0
1991 11 - 1
1979 12 - 0
1978 11 - 1
1977 11 - 1
1975 11 - 1
1974 11 - 1
1973 11 - 1
1971 11 - 1
1966 11 - 0
1965 9 - 1 - 1
1964 10 - 1
1962 10 - 1
1961 11 - 0
1945 10 - 0

Nebraska They seemed to have a lot of 2 loss seasons. Hmmm, wonder why. :D Anyways, 12 seasons of 1 loss or less.

2001 11 - 2
1999 12 - 1
1997 13 - 0
1995 12 - 0
1994 13 - 0
1993 11 - 1
1983 12 - 1
1982 12 - 1
1971 13 - 0
1970 11 - 0 - 1
1965 10 - 1
1963 10 - 1

Ohio State 14 years of 1 or zero losses.

2002 14 - 0
1998 11 - 1
1996 11 - 1
1993 10 - 1 - 1
1979 11 - 1
1975 11 - 1
1973 10 - 0 - 1
1970 9 - 1
1969 8 - 1
1968 10 - 0
1961 8 - 0 - 1
1957 9 - 1
1954 10 - 0
1944 9 - 0

USC If tying is like kissing your sister, then these guys are like Rothschild's of college football.

14 seasons of 1 or less losses, including those ties.

2005 12 - 1
2004 13 - 0
2003 12 - 1
1979 11 - 0 - 1
1978 12 - 1
1976 11 - 1
1974 10 - 1 - 1
1972 12 - 0
1969 10 - 0 - 1
1968 9 - 1 - 1
1967 10 - 1
1962 11 - 0
1952 10 - 1
1944 8 - 0 - 2

[GDC]

So using this as a standard OU has still clearly been the dominant college football program since 1945.

[Octavian]

So using this as a standard OU has still clearly been the dominant college football program since 1945.

Or we could use other standards ;)


Most Successful CFB Programs Since 1945

Best Winning %


1 Oklahoma 0.75397
2 Ohio State 0.74091
3 Penn State 0.73368
4 Michigan 0.72639
5 Boise State 0.72574
6 Texas 0.72078
7 Nebraska 0.70803
8 Notre Dame 0.70373
9 Alabama 0.70368
10 Tennessee 0.69899

Most Wins


1 Oklahoma 516
2 Texas 494
3 Penn State 490
4 Nebraska 489
5 Alabama 488
6 Ohio State 479
7 Michigan 477
8 Tennessee 475
9 Southern Cal 465
10 Notre Dame 464

http://football.stassen.com/records/compute-request.html

[Octavian]

Or...since the advent of the first uniform and nationally recognized polling service: the AP.(1936)

1936-2005 (By Most Wins)


1 Oklahoma- 568
2 Alabama- 546
3 Tennessee- 542
4 Texas- 541
5 Penn State- 536
6t Nebraska- 531
6t Ohio State- 531
8t Michigan- 530
8t Notre Dame- 530
10 Southern Cal- 516

Pretty much in anyway you wanna slice it, the University of Oklahoma has had the best football program during the lifespan of anyone alive now.

[AlabamaSooner]

I thought I was on an Auburn board for a second with all the talk about Bama's national championships. There is a similar discussion on tidefans.com right now as a matter of fact. You'll never convince a Bama fan (me included) that the 12 championships aren't legit. Why? Football WAS played before the AP and UPI polls came out and they weren't out there just playing for nothing. National championships were awarded by certain polls and if you were #1 in one of the awarding polls, why shouldn't you be national champion? Teams didn't play just so no champion could be crowned. It's the only means that champions were crowned back then. We (OU) could just as easily claim our non-AP championships, but we don't. Regardless, everyone knows which teams are traditional powerhouses and which aren't, no matter how many titles.

[GDC]

Too bad Brahaney snapped the ball over Wylie's head at CU, or OU has another MNC.

[GDC]

ttt

[daddywarbucks]

I still hate Miami...
ditto.....i call it cuba jr now.

[westcoast_sooner]

No question about it. The Sooners are always there. What The King said is as true now as it was when he said it. Bud created the monster, and everyone since (actually I think Switzer said that he was) only feeding it.

[OUGreg723]

Im sorry but it is absolute BS that we dont have 1949. It is BS we dont have 1954 also.