Tag: Billy Sims

Could an Oklahoma Sooners transfer target be a Heisman contender in 2025?

One of Oklahoma’s transfer targets could be a Heisman contender in 2025 according to USA TODAY Sports.

After Colorado defensive back/wide receiver Travis Hunter edged Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty for the 2024 [autotag]Heisman Trophy[/autotag], some already have their eyes on the next recipient of the award.

The Oklahoma Sooners are no strangers to the coveted trophy; seven OU players have won the Heisman. Running backs [autotag]Billy Vessels[/autotag], [autotag]Steve Owens[/autotag] and [autotag]Billy Sims[/autotag] won in the 20th century. Quarterbacks [autotag]Jason White[/autotag], [autotag]Sam Bradford[/autotag], [autotag]Baker Mayfield[/autotag] and [autotag]Kyler Murray[/autotag] are OU’s 21st century winners. autotag]Josh Heupel[/autotag], [autotag]Adrian Peterson[/autotag] and [autotag]Jalen Hurts[/autotag] finished as runners-up for the prestigious award.

But looking ahead, could the 2025 winner of the Heisman Trophy be wearing a Sooner uniform?

The answer could be found via the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag]. In fact, USA TODAY Sports already has a list of potential Heisman candidates for 2025, identifying 11 players.

One of those players was former Washington State quarterback John Mateer. He has entered the transfer portal and will be one of the top quarterbacks available. He’s expected to be at the top of Oklahoma’s wish list at the position.

That’s because Oklahoma’s new offensive coordinator [autotag]Ben Arbuckle[/autotag] coached Mateer to an excellent season in Pullman in 2024. With Arbuckle in Norman, the Sooners could have an inside track to landing the native Texan.

Mateer’s former offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle recently took the same job at Oklahoma and would be an obvious potential landing spot if he decides to enter the transfer portal, although he may very well be a Heisman contender regardless of what school he plays for next year. – Austin Curtright, USA TODAY Sports

Mateer signing with OU would be massive for the program. The Sooners struggled at the quarterback position all year, and he would be an upgrade at the position.

Furthermore, he already knows Arbuckle’s offense, so there would be much less of a learning curve for him under center.

Mateer is expected to have plenty of other suitors, so the Sooners will have to pay up if they want to bring him to Norman.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.

Lions have drafted more Heisman Trophy winners than any other team

The Detroit Lions have drafted more Heisman winners than any other team. Can you name all 10?

Congratulations to Colorado’s Travis Hunter, the winner of the 2024 Heisman Trophy. Hunter becomes the 89th winner of college football’s most prestigious award.

Hunter now progresses to the 2025 NFL Draft, where he is expected to be a top-5 overall pick. That will preclude Hunter from joining the long history of Heisman winners who were drafted by the Detroit Lions.

No team has drafted more Heisman Trophy winners over the years than the Lions. Detroit has selected 10 Heisman winners over the years, including two of the first three. It’s been 35 years since the last one, however; Detroit hasn’t drafted a Heisman winner since selecting Barry Sanders and Andre Ware back-to-back in 1989 and 1990.

All of the Heisman Trophy winners drafted by the Lions over the years, with the year of selection:

1937 – Larry Kelly
1938 – Clint Frank
1943 – Frankie Sinkwich
1947 – Glenn Davis
1950 – Leon Hart
1956 – Howard Cassady
1970 – Steve Owens
1980 – Billy Sims
1989 – Barry Sanders
1990 – Andre Ware

The history of Heisman Trophy winners in the NFL Draft

 

Last time Oklahoma faced Auburn, it turned out to be the end of an era

Oklahoma and Auburn have met twice in their history, with both games taking place at the Sugar Bowl. When they last met, a legend was still at the helm.

The Oklahoma Sooners and the Auburn Tigers will meet for just the third time in their history on Saturday. Both teams are looking for a bounce-back performance. OU suffered its first loss last week while Auburn dropped to 2-2.

Interestingly, both prior matchups between these two programs have come in the postseason, and both were in the Sugar Bowl.

In 1971, Oklahoma lost in the historic “Game of the Century” against Nebraska, but it was still one of the best teams in college football. The third-ranked Sooners were just behind the top-ranked Cornhuskers and No. 2 Alabama in the polls, but the loss against Big Red meant OU would miss the Orange Bowl. Instead, the Sooners met the No. 5 Tigers in the Sugar Bowl instead. Auburn had lost to Alabama in its only loss of the regular season.

Heisman Trophy winner Pat Sullivan and the Auburn attack were shut down in the first half, and OU built a 31-0 lead going into the locker room. The Sooners rolled to a 40-22 win.

In 2016, Oklahoma won its second straight Big 12 title, but because of two early season losses, missed the College Football Playoff. The seventh-ranked Sooners met No. 14 Auburn once again in the Sugar Bowl.

The Tigers handled the game in the first quarter, jumping to 7-0 lead. However, it was all OU from that point on. The Sooners rode a red-hot offense and a defense with something to prove to a one-point lead at halftime before rolling in the second half.

They capped a remarkable year with a statement win over an [autotag]SEC[/autotag] program that some thought would manhandle OU at the line of scrimmage. Oklahoma won 35-19.

In a big game, the Sooners stars played their best.

Wide receiver [autotag]Dede Westbrook[/autotag] finished his stellar season with one final touchdown in the third quarter. Tight end [autotag]Mark Andrews[/autotag] caught a touchdown, and running back [autotag]Joe Mixon[/autotag] was sensational on the ground and in the air. Quarterback [autotag]Baker Mayfield[/autotag] threw for nearly 300 yards and had two touchdowns, showing off his efficiency, accuracy and pocket mobility.

The big story late in the game was the record-breaking career of running back [autotag]Samaje Perine[/autotag]. The junior was playing in his final college game and broke the OU all-time rushing record in the fourth quarter. The mark was previously held by the legendary [autotag]Billy Sims[/autotag]. Perine burst onto the scene in 2014 as a true freshman and didn’t slow down, running to the top of the Oklahoma record books.

This game also turned out to be the final game for head coach [autotag]Bob Stoops[/autotag]. Stoops retired from coaching college football that summer, handing the reins to [autotag]Lincoln Riley[/autotag].

One of the greatest coaches in Sooners’ history, Stoops revitalized the program when he took over before in 1999. He won a national championship in 2000, and kept Oklahoma among the best in the sport for during 18 seasons at the helm. Stoops coached one more game for OU, serving as the interim head coach for the Alamo Bowl in 2021 after Riley had taken the job at USC.

As Oklahoma looks to get its first conference win as a member of the SEC, an offensive performance like the ones we saw in 1972 and 2017 would certainly help.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @AaronGelvin.

Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in ESPN’s top 25 stadiums

Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium is one of the most iconic settings in all of sports.

College football is all about the pride, passion, and pageantry of the sport, which is unmatched by anything else. The fans, the atmospheres, and the moments can’t be topped by any other sport, college, or professional.

ESPN took the time this week to rank their Top 25 college football stadiums as the 2024 season approaches in a month and a half.

We asked 14 of our college football writers to rank the best stadiums in the sport. No parameters, no criteria. Writers were asked to submit their top 20 stadiums in order. We then awarded points: 20 for first-place votes, 19 for second and all the way down to 1 point for a stadium voted No. 20. – ESPN

The Oklahoma Sooners play in one of the best stadiums in college football, and ESPN agreed, putting them in the Top 25. [autotag]Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium[/autotag] ranked No. 24 on their list.

Here’s what ESPN’s Dave Wilson had to say about the iconic stadium:

Also known as the “Palace on the Prairie,” the Sooners’ stadium is surrounded by reminders of Oklahoma’s football glory. Outside the south end zone, there are statues of coaching legends [autotag]Bennie Owen[/autotag], [autotag]Bud Wilkinson[/autotag], [autotag]Barry Switzer[/autotag] and [autotag]Bob Stoops[/autotag]. On the east side, Heisman Park is packed with seven of the Sooners’ [autotag]Heisman Trophy[/autotag] winners: [autotag]Billy Vessels[/autotag] (1952), [autotag]Steve Owens[/autotag] (1969), [autotag]Billy Sims[/autotag] (1978), [autotag]Jason White[/autotag] (2003), [autotag]Sam Bradford[/autotag] (2008), [autotag]Baker Mayfield[/autotag] (2017) and [autotag]Kyler Murray[/autotag] (2018). Amid the Gothic architecture of the surrounding campus, “BOOMER” and “SOONER” ring out, as the Sooner Schooner glides across the field, forming one of the most quintessentially college settings in the country. – Wilson, ESPN

ESPN also gave their ranking criteria for the list, as Oklahoma finished with 40 points, two ahead of Texas‘ Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

In addition, Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium turns 100 years old this season, and the university has a number of different themes and promotions planned out for its centennial season.

The Sooners will begin the season in their home stadium on Friday, August 30th, when they take on the Temple Owls.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @AaronGelvin.

Dillon Gabriel named a finalist for two prestigious awards

Dillon Gabriel has had a great season for the Sooners so far and that has landed him as a finalist of two awards.

[autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] has been as good as advertised this season for the Oklahoma Sooners. He’s currently completing a career-high 71.4% of his passes for 2,302 yards, 19 touchdowns and only four interceptions.

His play this season has earned him a spot as a finalist for two prestigious awards; the [autotag]Davey O’Brien[/autotag] QB Class of 2023 and the Unitas Golden Arm Award.

Gabriel is a member of the 35-player Davey O’Brien QB Class making him an official candidate for the 2023 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award, which will be presented on Dec. 8, 2023.

A Sooner has won the Davey O’Brien award six times. [autotag]Billy Sims[/autotag] won the first one in 1978 when it was given to the most outstanding player and not just the most outstanding quarterback. [autotag]Jason White[/autotag] won the award twice, in 2003 and 2004. [autotag]Sam Bradford[/autotag] won the award in 2008. [autotag]Baker Mayfield[/autotag] in 2017, and [autotag]Kyler Murray[/autotag] in 2018.

He was announced as a top-10 finalist for the [autotag]Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award[/autotag] on Tuesday. That award is given to the top quarterback who is a college senior or fourth-year junior on schedule to graduate with their class. White is the lone Sooner to win the award.

Gabriel is certainly deserving of both of those awards. Per a release from the University of Oklahoma, He ranks in the top 10 nationally in points responsible for per game (20.2; third), total offense (324.5 yards per game; fifth), pass completion percentage (.714; eighth), passing efficiency rating (169.6; ninth) and passing touchdowns (19; 10th). He also leads the Big 12 in passing offense (278.8 yards per game; 13th nationally) and yards per pass attempt (9.1; 14th nationally).

He has a big opportunity to build upon his stellar season with a rivalry game this weekend.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.

10 of the greatest running backs in Texas high school football history

Here are 10 of the greatest high school running backs in Texas history.

Some of the most outstanding performers in the history of the sport got their start playing high school football in Texas. That tradition is especially rich at the running back position, where the state has produced several all-time special athletes. Some of them went on to win Heisman trophies, others had prestigious awards named after them and some even played in the NFL and became Pro Football Hall of Famers.

Here are 10 of the greatest high school running backs in Texas history. All high school stats are courtesy of MaxPreps.

Kyler Murray to be honored in Heisman Park at Oklahoma Sooners’ Spring Game

Athletic Director Joe Castiglione revealed to 94.7 The REF in Norman that Kyler Murray will get his Heisman statue unveiled at the 2023 Oklahoma Sooners Spring Game.

[autotag]Kyler Murray[/autotag] will be getting his statue added to Oklahoma’s Heisman Park this April at the OU Football Spring Game, Athletic director Joe Castiglione told The REF on Thursday.

Castiglione confirmed the news while on the “T-Row in the Morning Show” with the voice of the Sooners, Toby Rowland. Murray’s likeness being added to Heisman Park will, for now at least, complete the collection of OU’s Heisman Trophy winners outside of [autotag]Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial[/autotag] Stadium.

Last year’s “Pack the Palace” campaign for the 2022 spring game, which involved the unveiling of Baker Mayfield’s statue, was a huge success. Giving Murray his statue a year later as Brent Venables tries to build momentum for his program is a no-brainer.

The 2022 spring game was a good get-right moment for both the football program and its fans. Both of which were still feeling the effect of Lincoln Riley’s departure for USC. That game was the first time a lot of OU fans became reacquainted with Venables since his return to Norman.

Mayfield was on the verge of being traded during his statue unveiling, and Kyler Murray will still be recovering from an ACL tear sustained last December while playing for the Arizona Cardinals.

A former two-sport star at Oklahoma, Murray attended last year’s spring game in an OU Baseball jersey. Murray will be immortalized alongside past Heisman winners Mayfield, [autotag]Sam Bradford[/autotag], [autotag]Jason White[/autotag], [autotag]Billy Sims[/autotag], [autotag]Steve Owens[/autotag], and [autotag]Billy Vessels[/autotag].

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1366]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz7cqqgxy50qwt player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Ben on Twitter @bendackiw.

A look back at Oklahoma-Nebraska through the years in fantastic still images

A look back at the Oklahoma-Nebraska matchup through some fantastic still photos.

It’s a rivalry that, at one point in time, was as big as any in college football. Though conference realignment put a damper on the once-great matchup between the Oklahoma Sooners and Nebraska Cornhuskers, the fervor and excitement are still strong.

The two teams, along with several other Big 8 members, joined forces with the Texas Longhorns and a contingent from the old Southwest Conference to form the Big 12. The Sooners and Cornhuskers went from playing annually (from 1921 to 1997) to a rotating schedule as the two teams were placed in different divisions.

The Sooners and Cornhuskers renew a rivalry that dates back to the first matchup, a 12-9 Nebraska win in 1912. From 1919 to 1941, the Cornhuskers held a commanding edge in the rivalry with a record of 15-3-3. Oklahoma’s gone 42-23 since 1943, which happened to be the start of the longest win streak in the series. Overall, Oklahoma holds a 46-38-3 record.

2021 saw the renewal of one of the great rivalries in all of college football with Oklahoma’s 23-16 win over the Cornhuskers. Now, Oklahoma makes its first trip to Lincoln since a 10-3 loss in Bo Pelini’s second season as the Cornhuskers head coach.

Get set for Oklahoma’s return trip to Lincoln as we go Behind Enemy Lines with Cornhuskers Wire to learn more about Nebraska and take a look through these fantastic photos below.

Oklahoma football all-time roster: Offensive starters and backups

See which legends made the cut in our all-time Oklahoma Sooners football roster, starting with the offensive starters and backups.

When you have as illustrious a history as the Oklahoma Sooners with their seven national championships, the longest winning streak in college football history, seven Heisman Trophy winners, and 50 conference championships, picking an all-time team can be a difficult task.

Oklahoma has some legendary figures in the world of college football. It’s a program that’s had incredible success dating back to Bennie Owen in the program’s early days. For more than 100 years, the Oklahoma Sooners have created a program that’s synonymous with winning.

Here’s our crack at Oklahoma’s All-Time offense.

For more coverage on the Oklahoma Sooners, visit Sooners Wire.

Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel named to Walter Camp Player of the Year award watch list

In addition to the Maxwell and Davey O’Brien, Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Dillon Gabriel was named to the Walter Camp award watch list.

When you’re the quarterback at the [autotag]University of Oklahoma[/autotag], the expectations are high. In addition to being named to the Davey O’Brien and Maxwell award watch lists, Oklahoma Sooners quarterback [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] was added to the Walter Camp Player of the Year award watch list.

Oklahoma is tied for second all-time in Walter Camp Player of the Year awards with four. USC is No. 1 in the country with six, including inaugural award winner O.J. Simpson.

Former Sooners who’ve won the award are [autotag]Baker Mayfield[/autotag] (2017), [autotag]Josh Heupel[/autotag] (2000), [autotag]Billy Sims[/autotag] (1978), and [autotag]Steve Owens[/autotag] (1969).

Garbiel is joined by eight other players from the Big 12 and a few familiar faces at quarterback on the Walter Camp Player of the Year watch list.