College Sports Established
1919
Location
Norman, Oklahoma
College Name
University of Oklahoma
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division 1
1919 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
Conference History
2024 - Present / SEC Conference
1996 – 2024 / Big 12 Conference
1964 - 1996 / Big Eight Conference
1947 - 1964 / Big Seven Conference
1928 - 1947 / Big Six Conference
1919 - 1928 / Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Nickname
Sooners - As any passionate sports fan knows, the Oklahoma Sooners are one of history's most storied and successful college football programs. But did you know that their nickname has an interesting origin story? The "Sooners" name is rooted in a unique piece of American history and speaks to the team's spirit of determination and perseverance.
The term “Sooner” originated from settlers who rushed into what was then known as Indian Territory in 1889, seeking land claims during what became known as Oklahoma’s Land Rush. This event opened up 2 million acres of unassigned land for settlement by non-Native Americans, with people racing to claim plots before anyone else could do so—hence why they were called “Sooners."
This same spirit—of being first or ahead—was adopted by University of Oklahoma (OU) students when they began referring to themselves as Sooner fans during OU's inaugural season back in 1895. Even though it wasn't officially adopted until 1908, this nickname quickly caught on among supporters due to its connection with persistence and ambition - two qualities that have come to define not only OU athletics but its entire student body over the years!
So next time you cheer for your favorite team at an NCAA game or watch them on TV, take a moment to appreciate how far both players and fans alike have come since those early days when settlers raced across unfamiliar terrain looking for new beginnings – because without them there would be no Oklahoma Sooners!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 2
1994, 1951
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 7
2000, 1985, 1975, 1974, 1956,1955, 1950
Soccer 0
- 1895
- 1994
- 2000
- 2008
- 2010
- 2020
-
Starting of Sooner’s Football era
In 1895: The first football team is formed, coached by John A. Harts. The team plays its first game against Oklahoma City Town Team and wins 34–0. -
Sooners Baseball Champs 1994
Eight regional competitions were held to determine the participants in the final event. Each region was composed of six teams, resulting in 48 teams participating in the tournament at the conclusion of their regular season, and in some cases, after a conference tournament. The forty-eighth tournament’s champion was Oklahoma, coached by Larry Cochell. The Most Outstanding Player was Chip Glass ... -
2000 Sooners Football Champions
The 2000 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with the Oklahoma Sooners claiming their first national championship and their first conference championship since the departure of head coach Barry Switzer. Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops was in his second season as head coach, has been the defensive coordinator of Steve Spurrier’s 1996 National Champion Florida Gators, and also having helped Bill ... -
Sooners 11th Big 12 Championship Victory
In 2008: The football team wins its 11th Big 12 championship and makes its fourth appearance in the BCS National Championship Game, losing to Florida 24–14 in the Orange Bowl. The team finishes with a 12–2 record and ranks fifth in the final AP poll1. Sam Bradford is named the Heisman Trophy winner and a consensus All-American for the second ... -
Sooners Big 12 Championship title in Football
In 2010: The football team wins its 12th Big 12 championship and makes its fifth appearance in the Fiesta Bowl, defeating Connecticut 48–20. The team finishes with a 12–2 record and ranks sixth in the final AP poll1. DeMarco Murray is named a consensus All-American. -
Head Coach Sherri Coale – Hall of Fame
Coale took the job at OU with zero collegiate head-coaching experience in 1996. In 2006, she led the Sooners to just the second-ever undefeated season in Big 12 conference play history—in men’s or women’s basketball. In 2020, She’s been inducted into the Oklahoma and Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and outlasted every coach at OU except Patty Gasso.
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Sooners
From 1947-1958, the Sooners won eight consecutive Big 7 Conference titles under legendary coach Bud Wilkinson—the longest such streak in college football history then—and won three national championships. In 1974, Barry Switzer took over as head coach and led the team to two more national titles before stepping down after 16 years at the helm in 1989.
Since then, Bob Stoops has continued this legacy of excellence by winning seven conference titles (including six straight from 2006–11) and claiming another championship for Oklahoma in 2000. The Sooner program is known for its tradition of producing some great players like Adrian Peterson (who was drafted seventh overall by the Minnesota Vikings), Heisman Trophy winners Billy Vessels (1952) & Jason White (2003), plus numerous All-Americans throughout its storied past!
In recent years they’ve had plenty more success, too: since 2010 alone, they've made four appearances each year in either College Football Playoff or BCS bowl games; reached double-digit wins five times; produced multiple NFL Draft picks every season; topped both Rivals & ESPN's recruiting rankings twice apiece - all part of an impressive run which shows no signs stopping anytime soon!
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