OU football: Few college programs can match Sooners' legacy

When it comes to college football royalty, very few programs can match Oklahoma’s legacy of 896 all-time victories, 48 conference championships, seven national championships and seven Heisman Trophy winners.

FIVE COACHING LEADERS

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Bud Wilkinson

Seasons: 17 (from 1947-63)

Record at OU: 145-29-4

National titles: Three

OU became a power post-World War II under Wilkinson, winning three national titles, 14 conference titles and finishing in the AP Top 10 an amazing 13 times in 17 seasons. The Sooners’ 47-game win streak (from 1953-57) is the longest in history of the sport — and it started just three years after a 31-game streak ended.

Chuck Fairbanks

Seasons: Six (from 1967-72)

Record at OU: 52-15-1

National titles: Zero

Fairbanks only had six seasons as head coach, but he made a major impact. OU won the Orange Bowl in his first season and the Sugar Bowl in his last two seasons before Fairbanks left for the New England Patriots. He joined Jim Mackenzie’s staff in 1966 but took over after Mackenzie’s death the following spring.

Barry Switzer

Seasons: 16 (from 1973-88)

Record at OU: 157-29-4

National titles: Three

Few football coaches brought a swagger and style to the sidelines like Switzer. But there was plenty of substance to his OU teams. Using a wishbone offense, the Sooners had double-digit wins in 10 of Switzer’s 16 seasons. Switzer, with the 1995 Dallas Cowboys, is one of three coaches to win a college and NFL title.

Bob Stoops

Seasons: 18 (from 1999-2016)

Record at OU: 190-48-0

National titles: One

“Big Game Bob” restored OU to glory in just his second season as head coach. After the lost decade of the 1990s, Stoops’ Sooners announced their revival with a 63-14 rout of Texas in October. They finished a perfect 13-0 campaign by beating Florida State 13-2 in the Orange Bowl to win the 2000 national title.

Lincoln Riley

Seasons: Entering third

Record at OU: 24-4

National titles: Zero

It’s tough to top Riley’s first two seasons as head coach in Norman. He took over in the summer of 2017 when Bob Stoops stunned the sport with his retirement and kept things running smoothly. Riley has led the Sooners to back-to-back playoff appearances and Big 12 titles. He also has coached consecutive Heisman Trophy winners.

BY THE NUMBERS

All-time points scored: 35,793 

No program has scored more points in NCAA history than the Sooners, who have averaged 28.1 points per game since first fielding a team in 1895. Kicker Austin Seibert (2015-18) is OU’s all-time scorer with 499 points, thanks in part to drives by quarterback Baker Mayfield (pictured), whose offenses averaged well over 500 yards per game.

All-time NFL draft picks: 393 

The Sooners have five No. 1 overall NFL draft picks including back-to-back top selections in quarterbacks Kyler Murray (2019, Cardinals) and Baker Mayfield (2018, Browns). OU’s other top picks are quarterback Sam Bradford (2010, Cardinals), running back Billy Sims (1980, Lions) and defensive lineman Lee Roy Selmon (1976, Buccaneers).

First-team All-Americans: 166 

The Sooners have 45 first-team All-Americans this century. OU has 81 consensus first-team All-Americans with 14 twice earning that honor — including Brian Bosworth, Tom Brahaney, Ryan Broyles, Rick Bryan, Rocky Calmus, Tony Casillas, Tommie Harris, Keith Jackson, Teddy Lehman, Greg Pruitt, Duke Robinson, Rod Shoate, Billy Sims and Jim Weatherall.

Most consecutive victories: 47 

The 1953 Sooners opened their season with a loss to No. 1 Notre Dame and a tie at Pittsburgh. What followed was a feat that may never be matched again.  The Sooners beat Texas 19-14 on Oct. 10, 1953, the first of an NCAA Division I record 47 consecutive wins that included two national titles (1955-56) for Bud Wilkinson’s squad. The streak ended with a 7-0 loss to the Irish on Nov. 16, 1957.

Heisman Trophy winners: 7 

Only Notre Dame and Ohio State can match Oklahoma’s seven Heisman Trophy winners. The Sooners have won college football’s most-prized individual award four times this century. Sooner winners include Kyler Murray (2018), Baker Mayfield (2017), Sam Bradford (2008), Jason White (2003), Billy Sims (1978), Steve Owens (1969) and Billy Vessels (1952).

CAREER LEADERS