The 1973 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 1973 NCAA Division I football season. Oklahoma participated as members of the Big Eight Conference and played its home games in Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium where it has played its home games since 1923. The team posted a 10–0–1 overall record and a 7–0 conference record to earn the Conference outright title under first-year head coach Barry Switzer. This would be the first of eight consecutive Big Eight Conference championships for the Sooners with Switzer as head coach.
The team was led by three All-Americans: Rod Shoate (Oklahoma's second three-time All-American) the oldest of the Selmon brothers, Lucious, and Eddie Foster. The Selmon brothers Lucious, Lee Roy and Dewey started on the defensive line. The team went undefeated on a schedule that included seven ranked opponents (In order, #1 USC, #17 Miami, #13 Texas, #13 Colorado, #10 Missouri, #18 Kansas, and #10 Nebraska). Five of these opponents finished the season ranked. The team tied with USC in the second game of the season before winning nine consecutive contests. It began the season ranked number 11 and steadily climbed in the polls as the season progressed.
Joe Washington led the team in rushing with 1173 yards, Steve Davis led the team in passing yard for with 934 yards, Tinker Owens led the team in receiving with 472 yards, Davis led the team in scoring with 108 points, Shoate led the team in tackles with 126, and Randy Hughes led the team in interceptions with 5.
Prior to the season in August, the Sooners were put on probation by the Big Eight Conference, which included a two-year ban on bowl appearances, and a two-year ban on television appearances (1974, 1975).
Schedule
| Date |
Opponent |
Rank |
Site |
TV |
Result |
Attendance |
Source |
| September 15 |
at Baylor*
|
No. 11 |
|
|
W 42–14 |
41,573 |
|
| September 29 |
at No. 1 USC*
|
No. 8 |
|
|
T 7–7 |
83,986 |
|
| October 6 |
No. 17 Miami (FL)*
|
No. 6 |
|
|
W 24–20 |
62,040 |
|
| October 13 |
vs. No. 13 Texas*
|
No. 6 |
|
ABC |
W 52–13 |
72,032 |
|
| October 20 |
No. 16 Colorado
|
No. 3 |
- Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
- Norman, OK
|
|
W 34–7 |
61,826–62,580 |
|
| October 27 |
at Kansas State
|
No. 3 |
|
|
W 56–14 |
29,523 |
|
| November 3 |
Iowa State |
No. 3 |
- Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
- Norman, OK
|
|
W 34–17 |
61,876 |
|
| November 10 |
at No. 10 Missouri
|
No. 3 |
|
|
W 31–3 |
65,515 |
|
| November 17 |
No. 18 Kansas
|
No. 3 |
- Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
- Norman, OK
|
|
W 48–20 |
60,961–64,122 |
|
| November 23 |
No. 10 Nebraska
|
No. 3 |
- Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
- Norman, OK (rivalry)
|
ABC |
W 27–0 |
62,257 |
|
| December 1 |
at Oklahoma State
|
No. 2 |
|
|
W 45–18 |
50,964 |
|
- *Non-conference game
-
Homecoming
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
|
Personnel
| 1973 Oklahoma Sooners football team roster
|
| Players
|
Coaches
|
Offense
| Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
|
OL
|
74
|
Jerry Arnold
|
Jr
|
|
RB
|
20
|
Bob Berg
|
Jr
|
|
WR
|
82
|
Billy Brooks
|
Jr
|
|
RB
|
|
Grant Burget
|
|
RB
|
|
Waymon Clark
|
|
OL
|
|
Kyle Davis
|
|
QB
|
|
Steve Davis
|
|
OT
|
77
|
Eddie Foster (C)
|
Sr
|
|
RB
|
|
Jerry Foster
|
|
RB
|
|
Randy Harris
|
|
QB
|
7
|
Scott Hill
|
Fr
|
|
WR
|
|
Wayne Hoffman
|
|
RB
|
|
David James
|
|
RB
|
|
Steve Jenkinson
|
|
RB
|
|
Jim Littrell
|
|
QB
|
|
Jeff Mabry
|
|
RB
|
|
Danny McClure
|
|
RB
|
|
Joe McReynolds
|
So
|
|
WR
|
11
|
Tinker Owens
|
So
|
|
OL
|
|
John Roush
|
|
RB
|
|
Clyde Russell
|
|
RB
|
|
Joe Washington
|
|
OL
|
|
Terry Webb
|
|
RB
|
|
Tim Welch
|
|
RB
|
|
Gary Young
|
|
Defense
|
Special teams
| Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
|
K
|
|
Tony DiRienzo
|
|
K
|
8
|
Rick Fulcher
|
Sr
|
|
- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Legend
-
(C) Team captain
-
(S) Suspended
-
(I) Ineligible
-
 Injured
-
 Redshirt
Roster
|
Game summaries
At Baylor
#11 Oklahoma Sooners at Baylor Bears
| |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| • #11 Oklahoma
|
21 |
14 |
0 |
7 |
42 |
| Baylor |
0 |
0 |
6 |
8 |
14 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|---|
|
| 1 |
|
Oklahoma |
Davis 3-yard run (Fulcher kick) |
Oklahoma 7-0 |
|
| 1 |
|
Oklahoma |
Foster recovered fumble in end zone (Fulcher kick) |
Oklahoma 14-0 |
|
| 1 |
|
Oklahoma |
Washington 7-yard run (Fulcher kick) |
Oklahoma 21-0 |
|
| 2 |
|
Oklahoma |
Washington 13-yard run (Fulcher kick) |
Oklahoma 28-0 |
|
| 2 |
|
Oklahoma |
Clark 50-yard run (Fulcher kick) |
Oklahoma 35-0 |
|
| 3 |
|
Baylor |
Dancer 6-yard pass from Jeffries (run failed) |
Oklahoma 35-6 |
|
| 4 |
|
Oklahoma |
Davis 27-yard run (Fulcher kick) |
Oklahoma 42-6 |
|
| 4 |
|
Baylor |
Kent 28-yard pass from Armstrong (Kent run) |
Oklahoma 42-14 |
|
At USC
Miami (FL)
| |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Miami (FL) |
7 |
13 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
| • Oklahoma
|
7 |
0 |
14 |
3 |
24 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|---|
|
| 1 |
|
OKLA |
Davis 6 Yard Run (Fulcher Kick) |
Oklahoma 7–0 |
|
| 1 |
|
MIA |
Thompson 5 Yard Run (Huffman Kick) |
Tie 7-7 |
|
| 2 |
|
MIA |
Mitchell 79 Yard Pitchout Interception (Huffman kick) |
Miami (FL) 14-7 |
|
| 2 |
|
MIA |
Thompson 4 Yard Run (kick failed) |
Miami (FL) 20-7 |
|
| 3 |
|
OKLA |
Davis 13 Yard Run (Fulcher Kick) |
Miami (FL) 20-14 |
|
| 3 |
|
OKLA |
Owens 52 Yard Pass from Davis (Fulcher Kick) |
Oklahoma 21-20 |
|
| 4 |
|
OKLA |
Fulcher 30 Yard Field Goal |
Oklahoma 24-20 |
|
vs Texas
#6 Oklahoma Sooners (2–0) vs. #13 Texas Longhorns (2–1)
at Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas
-
Date: October 13
-
Game time: 12:30 p.m.
-
Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C)
-
Game attendance: 72,204
-
TV: ABC
- Box Score
Worst loss in Darrell Royal's coaching career
| Scoring summary
|
| Quarter
|
Time
|
Drive
|
Team
|
Scoring information
|
Score
|
|
Plays
|
Yards
|
TOP
|
OU
|
UT
|
| 1
|
10:05
|
6
|
82
|
2:37
|
Oklahoma
|
Tinker Owens 40-yard touchdown reception from Joe Washington, Rick Fulcher kick good
|
7
|
0
|
| 1
|
3:25
|
14
|
79
|
6:40
|
Texas
|
36-yard field goal by Billy Schott
|
7
|
3
|
| 2
|
11:14
|
12
|
90
|
5:17
|
Texas
|
44-yard field goal by Billy Schott
|
7
|
6
|
| 2
|
10:46
|
2
|
68
|
0:28
|
Oklahoma
|
Tinker Owens 63-yard touchdown reception from Steve Davis, Rick Fulcher kick good
|
14
|
6
|
| 2
|
0:29
|
3
|
47
|
0:31
|
Oklahoma
|
Billy Brooks 47-yard touchdown reception from Steve Davis, Rick Fulcher kick good
|
21
|
6
|
| 3
|
11:26
|
8
|
77
|
3:34
|
Oklahoma
|
Steve Davis 15-yard touchdown run, Rick Fulcher kick good
|
28
|
6
|
| 3
|
1:09
|
2
|
7
|
0:46
|
Oklahoma
|
Steve Davis 2-yard touchdown run, Rick Fulcher kick good
|
35
|
6
|
| 4
|
13:35
|
4
|
9
|
1:15
|
Oklahoma
|
25-yard field goal by Rick Fulcher
|
38
|
6
|
| 4
|
11:59
|
1
|
11
|
0:07
|
Oklahoma
|
Scott Hill 11-yard touchdown run, Rick Fulcher kick good
|
45
|
6
|
| 4
|
7:05
|
7
|
80
|
2:55
|
Texas
|
Mike Presley 31-yard touchdown run, Billy Schott kick good
|
45
|
13
|
| 4
|
1:39
|
11
|
81
|
5:26
|
Oklahoma
|
Joe McReynolds 11-yard touchdown run, Fulcher kick good
|
52
|
13
|
|
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
|
52
|
13
|
|
Colorado
| |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Colorado |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
| • Oklahoma |
7 |
7 |
7 |
13 |
34 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|---|
|
| 1 |
|
COL |
Matthews 3-yard run (Lima kick) |
Colorado 7–0 |
|
| 1 |
|
OKLA |
Hoffman 37-yard pass from Davis (Fulcher kick) |
Tie 7–7 |
|
| 2 |
|
OKLA |
Hughes 90-yard interception return (Fulcher kick) |
Oklahoma 14–7 |
|
| 3 |
|
OKLA |
Davis 1-yard run (Fulcher kick) |
Oklahoma 21–7 |
|
| 4 |
|
OKLA |
Clark 9-yard run (Fulcher kick) |
Oklahoma 28–7 |
|
| 4 |
|
OKLA |
Russell 12-yard run (kick failed) |
Oklahoma 34–7 |
|
At Kansas State
| |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| • Oklahoma |
21 |
14 |
14 |
7 |
56 |
| Kansas St |
0 |
7 |
7 |
0 |
14 |
-
Date: KSU Stadium
-
Location: October 27
-
Game attendance: 34,500
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|---|
|
| 1 |
|
OKLA |
Welch 1 yard run (Fulcher kick) |
Oklahoma 7–0 |
|
| 1 |
|
OKLA |
Hoffman 13 yard pass from Davis (Fulcher kick) |
Oklahoma 14–0 |
|
| 1 |
|
OKLA |
Davis 22 yard run (Fulcher kick) |
Oklahoma 21–0 |
|
| 2 |
|
KSU |
Holman 4 yard pass from Grogan (Brumley kick) |
Oklahoma 21–7 |
|
| 2 |
|
OKLA |
Davis 27 yard run (Fulcher kick) |
Oklahoma 28–7 |
|
| 2 |
|
OKLA |
Washington 1 yard run (Fulcher kick) |
Oklahoma 35–7 |
|
| 3 |
|
OKLA |
Washington 6 yard run (Fulcher kick) |
Oklahoma 42–7 |
|
| 3 |
|
OKLA |
Brooks 34 yard run (Fulcher kick) |
Oklahoma 49–7 |
|
| 3 |
|
KSU |
Grogan 2 yard run (Brumley kick) |
Oklahoma 49–14 |
|
| 4 |
|
OKLA |
Berg 9 yard run (Fulcher kick) |
Oklahoma 56–14 |
|
Iowa State
| |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Iowa St |
14 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
17 |
| • Oklahoma |
7 |
13 |
7 |
7 |
34 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|---|
|
| Q1 |
|
OKLA |
Washington 30 yard run (Fulcher kick) |
OKLA 7–0 |
|
| Q1 |
|
ISU |
Krefple 16 yard pass from Stanley (Goedjen kick) |
Tie 7–7 |
|
| Q1 |
|
ISU |
Krefple 9 yard pass from Stanley (Goedjen kick) |
ISU 14–7 |
|
| Q2 |
|
ISU |
Goedjen 22 yard field goal |
ISU 17–7 |
|
| Q2 |
|
OKLA |
Jones 2 yard run (kick failed) |
ISU 17–13 |
|
| Q2 |
|
OKLA |
Brooks 68 yard pass from Davis (Fulcher kick) |
OKLA 20–17 |
|
| Q3 |
|
OKLA |
Hoffman 5 yard pass from Davis (Fulcher kick) |
OKLA 27–17 |
|
| Q4 |
|
OKLA |
Washington 1 yard run (Fulcher kick) |
OKLA 34–17 |
|
Joe Washington 136 Rush Yds
At Missouri
#3 Oklahoma Sooners at #10 Missouri Tigers
| |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| • #3 Oklahoma
|
7 |
3 |
12 |
9 |
31 |
| #10 Missouri |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|---|
|
| 1 |
|
MU |
Hill 42-yard field goal |
MU 3-0 |
|
| 1 |
|
OU |
Waymon Clark 14-yard run (Rick Fulcher kick) |
OU 7-3 |
|
| 2 |
|
OU |
Rick Fulcher 39-yard field goal |
OU 10-3 |
|
| 3 |
|
OU |
Joe Washington 26-yard run (kick failed) |
OU 16-3 |
|
| 3 |
|
OU |
Billy Brooks 63-yard pass from Steve Davis (pass failed) |
OU 22-3 |
|
| 4 |
|
OU |
Rick Fulcher 30-yard field goal |
OU 25-3 |
|
| 4 |
5:51 |
OU |
Joe Washington 80-yard punt return (kick failed) |
OU 31-3 |
|
Kansas
Nebraska
#10 Nebraska Cornhuskers at #3 Oklahoma Sooners
| |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| #10 Nebraska |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| • #3 Oklahoma
|
14 |
0 |
6 |
7 |
27 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|---|
|
| 1 |
6:55 |
OU |
Waymon Clark 2-yard run (Rick Fulcher kick) |
OU 7-0 |
|
| 1 |
0:01 |
OU |
Steve Davis 47-yard run (Rick Fulcher kick) |
OU 14-0 |
|
| 3 |
2:37 |
OU |
Steve Davis 1-yard run (pass failed) |
OU 20-0 |
|
| 4 |
2:11 |
OU |
Steve Davis 8-yard run (Rick Fulcher kick) |
OU 27-0 |
|
At Oklahoma State
#2 Oklahoma Sooners at Oklahoma State Cowboys
| |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| • #2 Oklahoma
|
7 |
14 |
7 |
17 |
45 |
| Oklahoma State |
0 |
3 |
3 |
12 |
18 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|---|
|
| 1 |
|
OU |
Steve Davis 7-yard run (Rick Fulcher kick) |
OU 7-0 |
|
| 2 |
|
OU |
Waymon Clark 7-yard run (Rick Fulcher kick) |
OU 14-0 |
|
| 2 |
|
OSU |
Daigle 50-yard field goal |
OU 14-3 |
|
| 2 |
2:52 |
OU |
Steve Davis 9-yard run (Rick Fulcher kick) |
OU 21-3 |
|
| 3 |
|
OSU |
Daigle 36-yard field goal |
OU 21-6 |
|
| 3 |
|
OU |
Steve Dodd recovered punt in end zone (Rick Fulcher kick) |
OU 28-6 |
|
| 4 |
|
OU |
Rick Fulcher 38-yard field goal |
OU 31-6 |
|
| 4 |
|
OU |
Steve Davis 8-yard run (Rick Fulcher kick) |
OU 38-6 |
|
| 4 |
|
OU |
Scott Hill 10-yard run (Rick Fulcher kick) |
OU 45-6 |
|
| 4 |
|
OSU |
Charlie Weatherbie 8-yard run (pass failed) |
OU 45-12 |
|
| 4 |
|
OSU |
Charlie Weatherbie 5-yard run (pass failed) |
OU 45-18 |
|
Rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
т = Tied with team above or below ( ) = First-place votes
|
Week |
| Poll |
Pre |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
Final |
| AP |
11 т |
11 |
9 |
8 (1) |
6 (1.5) |
6 |
3 (8) |
3 (8) |
3 (9) |
3 (7) |
3 (10) |
3 (9) |
2 (20) |
2 (16) |
3 (16) |
Awards and honors
Postseason
NFL draft
Seven Sooners were selected in the 1974 NFL Draft.
