So close, yet so far.
ESPN recently released their list of top 25 college football teams to never win the national championship. Oklahoma has more than their fare share of title’s, but their list of runner-up is nearly just as long.
The first team of Oklahoma’s to make the list is the 1958 team at No. 20. After 47-game win streak was ended the season before, Bud Wilkinson’s team continued to play at a high level the following season. Undefeated LSU eventually took home the crown due to Texas dethroning the Sooners in Dallas in early October.
At No. 16 is the 1972 team. The Sooners defense that season allowed just 6.2 point per game, shitting down every team they faced except Colorado. They beat six ranked teams by an average of 15 points except for their lone loss in Boulder, CO.
Ranked the sixth best team by ESPN to never win the championship, the 1971 Sooners fell in the Game of the Century to Nebraska. That season, Oklahoma outscored their opponents by an average of 29 ppg. They beat three top 10 teams by a combined 67 points.
The 1987 and 1986 teams came in at No. 3 and 2 respectively on ESPN’s list. Both teams relinquished their title’s to Miami. They had won the 1985 title, but lost to Miami three times in a span of just two years. Barry Switzer’s 86 and 87 Sooner teams were dominant, but couldn’t get over the hump that was the Hurricanes dynasty.