The Big 8 Conference mandated Oklahoma forfeits in three conference games, giving Nebraska the title. Oklahoma reverted this record at a later date; hence, both Oklahoma[1] and Nebraska[2] claim this title.
Rankings from AP Poll
The 1972 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. Oklahoma was a member of the Big Eight Conference and played its home games in Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, where it has played its home games since 1923.[3] The team posted an 11–1 overall record and were 6–1 in conference, later changed to 8–4 and 3–4.[4][5] This was Chuck Fairbanks’ last season as Sooner head coach;[4] he left for the New England Patriots of the NFL.
The Sooners’ 1972 record is marred by the use of an ineligible player. In self-reporting the violations to the NCAA, Oklahoma voluntarily forfeited eight games.[6][7][8] The NCAA later penalized the program by reducing scholarships, TV appearances and bowl appearances. In 2008 a blogger for Washington, DC TV station WJLA stated, “The NCAA claims that according to a now-retired statistician of the era, and a review of its database (which the NCAA admits might not be totally complete) that forfeits were NOT [sic] part of the NCAA sanctions levied against the Sooners.” A commenter stated, “The 1972 forfeits by Oklahoma were sanctioned by The Big Eight. As such Oklahoma’s conference record was adjusted, while their overall record was not. In older Oklahoma media guide … Oklahoma would show their record as 11-1 with a 3-4 conference record (reflecting 3 forfeits, despite the original 7 or 8 forfeited. …) Also, if you check the media guides of the teams Oklahoma “forfeited” to, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma State, you’ll not[e] similar adjustments. Each team didn’t change their overall record, but changed their conference record.”[9] Oklahoma had used players (including Kerry Jackson, the team’s first black quarterback) with falsified transcripts and on April 18, 1973, voluntarily forfeited eight games.[10] Eventually, the Big Eight sanctioned the forfeit of three conference victories (Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma State),[11] but Oklahoma now recognizes these as wins and claims the 1972 conference title.[12]
Oklahoma was led by four All-Americans: Rod Shoate (OU’s second three-time All-American),[13]Greg Pruitt,[14]Tom Brahaney[15] and Derland Moore.[16] This was the first season that the Selmon brothers Lucious, Lee Roy and Dewey, all eventual All-Americans,[17] anchored the defensive line. The Sooners played seven ranked opponents (In order, #10 Texas, #9 Colorado, #14 Iowa State, #14 Missouri, #5 Nebraska, #20 Oklahoma State, and #5 Penn State), and four of these opponents finished the season ranked. Oklahoma’s only loss on the field was in the fifth game against Colorado. The team concluded its season with a 14–0 victory over Penn State in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Eve.[5]
Pruitt led the Sooners in rushing with 1024 yards, Dave Robertson led in passing with 1136 yards, and Tinker Owens led in receiving
(for the first of four consecutive seasons) with 430 yards. Pruitt led in scoring with 86 points, Shoate in tackles with 145, and Dan Ruster in interceptions with seven.[18]
The 1972 Sooners twice posted 37 first downs, which was a school record that stood for 16 seasons.[19]
after-content-x4
Table of Contents
Schedule[edit]
Date
Opponent
Rank
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
September 16
Utah State*
No. 4
W 49–0
62,546[20]
September 23
Oregon*
No. 2
Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
Norman, OK
W 68–3
62,240[20]
September 30
Clemson*
No. 2
Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
Norman, OK
W 52–3
61,210[20]
October 14
vs. No. 10 Texas*
No. 2
ABC
W 27–0
72,032[20]
October 21
at No. 9 Colorado
No. 2
ABC
L 14–20
52,022[20]
October 28
Kansas State
No. 8
Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
Norman, OK
W 52–0
61,451[20]
November 4
at No. 14 Iowa State
No. 7
W 20–6
34,941[20]
November 11
No. 14 Missouri
No. 7
W 17–6
62,267[20]
November 18
at Kansas
No. 4
W 31–7
37,356[20]
November 23
at No. 5 Nebraska
No. 4
ABC
W 17–14
76,587[20]
December 2
No. 20 Oklahoma State
No. 3
W 38–15
62,363[20]
December 31
vs. No. 5 Penn State*
No. 2
ABC
W 14–0
80,123[20]
*Non-conference game
Rankings from AP Poll
Roster[edit]
Game summaries[edit]
Utah State[edit]
1
2
3
4
Total
Utah St
0
0
0
0
0
• Oklahoma
21
7
14
7
49
Date: September 16
Location: Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
Game attendance: 62,546
Scoring summary
Q1
OKLA
Carroll 44 yard pass from Robertson (Carroll kick)
OKLA 7–0
Q1
OKLA
Pruitt 5 yard run (Carroll kick)
OKLA 14–0
Q1
OKLA
Burgel 1 yard run (Carroll kick)
OKLA 21–0
Q2
OKLA
Pruitt 1 yard run (Carroll kick)
OKLA 28–0
Q3
OKLA
Pruitt 4 yard run (Carroll kick)
OKLA 35–0
Q3
OKLA
Wylie 12 yard run (Carroll kick)
OKLA 42–0
Q4
OKLA
Washington 1 yard run (Carroll kick)
OKLA 49–0
[21]
Kerry Jackson 10 Rush, 109 Yds
Oregon[edit]
1
2
3
4
Total
Oregon
0
0
0
3
3
• Oklahoma
14
21
26
7
68
Date: September 23
Location: Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
Game attendance: 62,240
Greg Pruitt 11 Rush, 103 Yds, TD
Clemson[edit]
#2 Oklahoma Sooners at Clemson Tigers
1
2
3
4
Total
Clemson
0
0
0
3
3
• #2 Oklahoma
7
17
21
7
52
Scoring summary
1
OU
Greg Pruitt 5-yard run (Rick Fulcher kick)
OU 7-0
2
OU
Robertson 1-yard run (Rick Fulcher kick)
OU 14-0
2
OU
Greg Pruitt 4-yard run (Rick Fulcher kick)
OU 21-0
2
OU
Rick Fulcher 32-yard field goal
OU 24-0
3
OU
Robertson 4-yard run (Rick Fulcher kick)
OU 31-0
3
OU
Greg Pruitt 1-yard run (Rick Fulcher kick)
OU 38-0
3
OU
Joe Washington 61-yard run (Rick Fulcher kick)
OU 45-0
4
OU
Powers 57-yard fumble return (Rick Fulcher kick)
OU 52-0
4
CLEM
Seigler 49-yard field goal
OU 52-3
[22]
Tim Welch 24 Rush, 158 Yds
Vs. Texas[edit]
This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (January 2021)
At Colorado[edit]
This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (January 2021)
Kansas State[edit]
This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (January 2021)
At Iowa State[edit]
This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (January 2021)
Missouri[edit]
This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (January 2021)
At Kansas[edit]
#4 Oklahoma Sooners at Kansas Jayhawks
1
2
3
4
Total
• #4 Oklahoma
7
10
14
0
31
Kansas
0
0
7
0
7
Scoring summary
1
Oklahoma
Robertson 3-yard run (Fulcher kick)
Oklahoma 7-0
2
Oklahoma
Crosswhite 6-yard run (Fulcher kick)
Oklahoma 14-0
2
Oklahoma
Fulcher 35-yard field goal
Oklahoma 17-0
3
Kansas
Schroll 49-yard pass from Jaynes (Helbacher kick)
Oklahoma 17-7
3
Oklahoma
Wylie 2-yard run (Fulcher kick)
Oklahoma 24-7
3
Oklahoma
Carroll 24-yard pass from Robertson (Fulcher kick)
Oklahoma 31-7
[23]
At Nebraska[edit]
This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (January 2021)
Oklahoma State[edit]
1
2
3
4
Total
Oklahoma St
0
0
9
6
15
• Oklahoma
14
10
0
14
38
Date: December 2
Location: Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
Game attendance: 62,363
Joe Washington 21 Rush, 109 Yds, 2 TD
Leon Crosswhite 27 Rush, 106 Yds
Sugar Bowl (vs Penn State)[edit]
1
2
3
4
Total
Oklahoma
7
0
7
0
14
Penn St
0
0
0
0
0
Attendance: 84,031 (Tulane Stadium)
OU Owens 27 yd pass from Robertson (Fulcher kick)
OU Crosswhite 1 yd run (Fulcher kick)
Passing: OU Robertson 3/6, 88 Yds, TD, PSU Hufnagel 12/31, 147 Yds, INT
Rushing: OU Pruitt 21/86, PSU Nagle 10/22
Receiving: OU Owens 5/132, TD, PSU Scott 3/59
[24]
Rankings[edit]
Ranking movements Legend:██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking. ( ) = First place votes.
Week
Poll
Pre
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Final
AP
6 (2)
4 (12)
2 (11)
2 (14)
2 (13)
2 (15)
2 (20)
8
7
8
4
4
3
2
2
UPI
3 (2)
1 (11)
2 (13)
2 (12)
2 (11)
2 (13)
2 (12)
2 (8)
6
7
4
4
3
2
2
Awards and honors[edit]
Postseason[edit]
NFL draft[edit]
The following players were drafted into the National Football League following the season.[25]
References[edit]
^“2018 Media Guide”(PDF). soonersports.com. Oklahoma Athletics. p. 6. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
^“2018 Media Guide”(PDF). huskers.com. Nebraska Athletics. p. 206. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
^Gems, Gerald R.; Pfister, Gertrud (2017). Touchdown: An American Obsession. Berkshire Publishing Group. p. 74. ISBN 9781614728238. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
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