1950 Oklahoma Sooners football team

American college football season

1950 Oklahoma Sooners football

Consensus national champion
Big 7 champion

Sugar Bowl, L 7–13 vs. Kentucky

Conference| Big Seven Conference
Ranking
Coaches| No. 1
AP| No. 1
Record| 10–1 (6–0 Big 7)
Head coach|

* Bud Wilkinson (4th season)

Captains|

* Norman McNabb
* Harry Moore

Home stadium| Oklahoma Memorial Stadium

Seasons

<- 1949

1951 ->

1950 Big Seven Conference football standings

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| Conf. |  |  | Overall

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|
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Team | W |  | L |  | T |  |  | W |  | L |  | T
No. 1 Oklahoma $  | 6  | - | 0  | - | 0 |  |  | 10  | - | 1  | - | 0
No. 17 Nebraska | 4  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 6  | - | 2  | - | 1
Missouri | 3  | - | 2  | - | 1 |  |  | 4  | - | 5  | - | 1
Kansas | 3  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 6  | - | 4  | - | 0
Iowa State | 2  | - | 3  | - | 1 |  |  | 3  | - | 6  | - | 1
Colorado | 2  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 5  | - | 4  | - | 1
Kansas State | 0  | - | 6  | - | 0 |  |  | 1  | - | 9  | - | 1

* $ - Conference champion

Rankings from AP Poll

The 1950 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 1950 college football season, the 56th season of Sooner football. Led by fourth-year head coach Bud Wilkinson, they played their home games at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, and competed in the Big Seven Conference.

The Sooners finished the regular season 10–0 (6–0 in Big 7), and won their fifth consecutive conference championship, and eleventh overall. Both major polls (AP writers, UP coaches) awarded the Sooners with their first national championship at the end of the regular season. They were invited to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on New Year's Day,[1] but were upset 13–7 by the Kentucky Wildcats, halting their winning streak at 32 games.[2]

Five Sooners received All-American honors following the season: Frankie Anderson, Buddy Jones, Leon Heath, and Jim Weatherall. In addition, eight sooners won all conference honors, Anderson, Claude Arnold, Tom Catlin, Heath, Norman McNabb, Harry Moore, Billy Vessels, and Weatherall.[3]

## Schedule

[edit]

Date| Opponent| Rank| Site| Result| Attendance| Source

|
|
|
|
|
|

September 30| Boston College*| No. 6|

* Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
* Norman, OK

| W 28–0| 36,049| [4]
October 7| Texas A&M*| No. 5|

* Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
* Norman, OK

| W 34–28| 36,586| [5]
October 14| vs. No. 4 Texas*| No. 3|

* Fair Park
* Dallas, TX (rivalry)

| W 14–13| 75,959| [6]
October 21| Kansas State| No. 2|

* Memorial Stadium
* Norman, OK

| W 58–0| 38,546| [7]
October 28| at Iowa State| No. 3|

* Clyde Williams Field
* Ames, IA

| W 20–7| 16,883| [8]
November 4| at Colorado| No. 3|

* Folsom Field
* Boulder, CO

| W 27–18| 30,001| [9]
November 11| at Kansas| No. 3|

* Memorial Stadium
* Lawrence, KS

| W 33–13| 37,621| [10]
November 18| Missouri| No. 2|

* Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
* Norman, OK (rivalry)

| W 41–7| 46,463| [11]
November 25| No. 16 Nebraska| No. 1|

* Memorial Stadium
* Norman, OK (rivalry)

| W 49–35| 53,066| [12]
December 2| at Oklahoma A&M*| No. 1|

* Lewis Field
* Stillwater, OK (Bedlam)

| W 41–14| 28,530| [13]
January 1, 1951| vs. No. 7 Kentucky*| No. 1|

* Tulane Stadium
* New Orleans, LA (Sugar Bowl)

| L 7–13| 80,206| [14]

* *Non-conference game
* Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

## Rankings

[edit]

See also: 1950 college football rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
( ) = First-place votes| Week

|

Poll| Pre| 1| 2| 3| 4| 5| 6| 7| 8| Final
AP| 6 (3)| 5 (17)| 3 (29)| 2 (47)| 3 (35)| 3 (25)| 3 (48)| 2 (63)| 1 (173)| 1 (213)

## Roster

[edit]

* QB Eddie Crowder, So.
* QB Claude Arnold, Sr.
* HB Billy Vessels, So.
* T Jim Weatherall
* RE Bill Beckman, So.

## Game summaries

[edit]

### Texas (Red River Shootout)

[edit]

Late in the contest, a low punt snap gives Oklahoma the ball at the Texas 11. Billy Vessels dashes around right end for the touchdown while Texas native Jim Weatherall kicks the game-winning extra point for the 14–13 victory. Minutes earlier, Longhorns defensive back Bobby Dillon had returned at interception 50 yards for a touchdown and a 13-7 Texas lead. Twice during the contest Texas had goal-line scoring opportunities, once stopped by Oklahoma's defense at the one-yard line and another ended with a fumble at the five.[15]

## NFL draft

[edit]

Main article: 1951 NFL draft

The following players were drafted into the National Football League following the season.[16][17]

Round  | Pick  | Player  | Position  | NFL team

|
|
|
|

1 | 4 | Leon Heath | Back | Washington Redskins
8 | 95 | Clair Mayes | Guard | Chicago Bears
9 | 107 | Nolan Lang | Back | Los Angeles Rams
11 | 128 | Frankie Anderson | End | Detroit Lions
12 | 229 | Ed Lisak | Back | Chicago Bears

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Oklahoma choice to grab 32nd grid win". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. January 1, 1951. p. 4, part 2.
2. ^ "Kentucky passes upset Oklahoma, 13-7". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. January 2, 1951. p. 3, part 2.
3. ^ "2014 Oklahoma Football Records Supplement" (PDF). University of Oklahoma. 2014. pp. 90–5. Retrieved July 20, 2014.90-5&rft.pub=University+of+Oklahoma&rft.date=2014&rft_id=https://admin.xosn.com/pdf9/2900563.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=31000&&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:1950+Oklahoma+Sooners+football+team" class="Z3988">
4. ^ "Oklahoma again humiliates Eagles, 28–0". The Boston Globe. October 1, 1950. Retrieved September 27, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
5. ^ "Sooners overtake Aggies, 34–28". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. October 8, 1950. Retrieved September 27, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
6. ^ "Sooners are later but better than Texas, 14 to 13". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. October 15, 1950. Retrieved September 27, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
7. ^ "Sooners trounce K-State 58–0 to open title bid". Manhattan Mercury-Chronicle. October 22, 1950. Retrieved September 27, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
8. ^ "Oklahoma takes Iowa State 20–7". Argus-Leader. October 29, 1950. Retrieved September 27, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
9. ^ "Sooners set grid record; Win, 27 to 18". The Nebraska State Journal. November 5, 1950. Retrieved September 27, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
10. ^ "Sooners rip Kansas, 33–13". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. November 12, 1950. Retrieved September 27, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
11. ^ "Sooners race by Missouri, 41–7". The Montana Standard. November 19, 1950. Retrieved September 27, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
12. ^ "Oklahoma outscores Nebraska, 49 to 35, for 30th straight triumph". The Baltimore Sun. November 26, 1950. Retrieved September 27, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
13. ^ "Arnold flips Sooners past battling Aggie club, 41–14as Big Red hits for No. 31". The Chickasha Daily Express. December 3, 1950. Retrieved September 27, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
14. ^ "Kentucky wins, 13 to 7, and ends Oklahoma's 31-game victory streak". The Courier-Journal. January 2, 1951. Retrieved September 29, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
15. ^ Palm Beach Post
16. ^ "1951 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
17. ^ "Oklahoma Drafted Players/Alumni". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 23, 2023.

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1950 Oklahoma Sooners football—consensus national champions

* Frankie Anderson
* Claude Arnold
* Melvin Brown
* Dick Bowman
* Tom Catlin
* Bert Clark
* J. W. Cole
* Eddie Crowder
* Bob Ewbank
* Leon Heath
* Buck McPhail
* John Reddell
* Billy Vessels
* Jim Weatherall

* Head coach: Bud Wilkinson

* Assistant coaches: Bill Jennings
* Gomer Jones
* Pop Ivy

* v
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* e

Oklahoma Sooners football

Venues|

* Boyd Field (1905–1923)
* Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (1923–present)

Bowls & rivalries|

* Bowl games
* Missouri
* Nebraska
* Oklahoma State: Bedlam Series
* Texas: Red River Rivalry

Culture & lore|

* T formation
* Wishbone formation
* 1971 Nebraska game
* 2008 Big 12 South 3-way tie controversy
* 2016 Texas Tech game
* Oklahoma drill
* Sooner Schooner
* RUF/NEKS
* Black 41 Flash Reverse Pass
* Boomer and Sooner
* "Boomer Sooner"
* Marching band
* The Kick
* Play Like a Champion Today

People|

* Head coaches
* Starting quarterbacks
* All-Americans
* NFL draftees
* Statistical leaders

Seasons|

* 1895
* 1896
* 1897
* 1898
* 1899
* 1900
* 1901
* 1902
* 1903
* 1904
* 1905
* 1906
* 1907
* 1908
* 1909
* 1910
* 1911
* 1912
* 1913
* 1914
* 1915
* 1916
* 1917
* 1918
* 1919
* 1920
* 1921
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1925
* 1926
* 1927
* 1928
* 1929
* 1930
* 1931
* 1932
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939
* 1940
* 1941
* 1942
* 1943
* 1944
* 1945
* 1946
* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

National championship seasons in bold

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College football national champions (poll era)

1936–1949|

* 1936: Minnesota (AP)
* 1937: Pittsburgh
* 1938: TCU
* 1939: Texas A&M
* 1940: Minnesota
* 1941: Minnesota
* 1942: Ohio State
* 1943: Notre Dame
* 1944: Army
* 1945: Army (AP) / Oklahoma A&M (AFCA)
* 1946: Notre Dame
* 1947: Notre Dame
* 1948: Michigan
* 1949: Notre Dame

1950s|

* 1950: Oklahoma (AP, Coaches)
* 1951: Tennessee
* 1952: Michigan State
* 1953: Maryland
* 1954: Ohio State (AP) / UCLA (FWAA, Coaches)
* 1955: Oklahoma
* 1956: Oklahoma
* 1957: Auburn (AP) / Ohio State (Coaches, FWAA)
* 1958: LSU (AP, Coaches) / Iowa (FWAA)
* 1959: Syracuse (AP, Coaches, FWAA, NFF)

1960s|

* 1960: Minnesota (AP, Coaches, NFF) / Ole Miss (FWAA)
* 1961: Alabama (AP, Coaches, NFF) / Ohio State (FWAA)
* 1962: USC
* 1963: Texas
* 1964: Alabama (AP, Coaches) / Arkansas (FWAA) / Notre Dame (NFF)
* 1965: Alabama (AP, FWAA) / Michigan State (Coaches, FWAA, NFF)
* 1966: Notre Dame (AP, Coaches, FWAA, NFF) / Michigan State (NFF)
* 1967: USC
* 1968: Ohio State
* 1969: Texas

1970s|

* 1970: Nebraska (AP, FWAA) / Texas (NFF, Coaches) / Ohio State (NFF)
* 1971: Nebraska
* 1972: USC
* 1973: Notre Dame (AP, FWAA, NFF) / Alabama (Coaches)
* 1974: Oklahoma (AP) / USC (FWAA, NFF, Coaches)
* 1975: Oklahoma
* 1976: Pittsburgh
* 1977: Notre Dame
* 1978: Alabama (AP, FWAA, NFF) / USC (Coaches)
* 1979: Alabama

1980–1991|

* 1980: Georgia
* 1981: Clemson
* 1982: Penn State
* 1983: Miami (FL)
* 1984: BYU
* 1985: Oklahoma
* 1986: Penn State
* 1987: Miami (FL)
* 1988: Notre Dame
* 1989: Miami (FL)
* 1990: Colorado (AP, FWAA, NFF, USAT/CNN) / Georgia Tech (Coaches)
* 1991: Miami (FL) (AP) / Washington (Coaches, FWAA, UPI/NFF)

* v
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Big Eight Conference football champions

MVIAA|

* Iowa & Nebraska (1907)
* Kansas (1908)
* Missouri (1909)
* Nebraska (1910)
* Iowa State & Nebraska (1911)
* Iowa State & Nebraska (1912)
* Missouri & Nebraska (1913)
* Nebraska (1914)
* Nebraska (1915)
* Nebraska (1916)
* Nebraska (1917)
* Missouri (1919)
* Oklahoma (1920)
* Nebraska (1921)
* Drake & Nebraska (1922)
* Kansas & Nebraska (1923)
* Missouri (1924)
* Missouri (1925)
* Oklahoma A&M (1926)
* Missouri (1927)

Big Six|

* Nebraska (1928)
* Nebraska (1929)
* Kansas (1930)
* Nebraska (1931)
* Nebraska (1932)
* Nebraska (1933)
* Kansas State (1934)
* Nebraska (1935)
* Nebraska (1936)
* Nebraska (1937)
* Oklahoma (1938)
* Missouri (1939)
* Nebraska (1940)
* Missouri (1941)
* Missouri (1942)
* Oklahoma (1943)
* Oklahoma (1944)
* Missouri (1945)
* Kansas & Oklahoma (1946)
* Kansas & Oklahoma (1947)

Big Seven|

* Oklahoma (1948)
* Oklahoma (1949)
* Oklahoma (1950)
* Oklahoma (1951)
* Oklahoma (1952)
* Oklahoma (1953)
* Oklahoma (1954)
* Oklahoma (1955)
* Oklahoma (1956)
* Oklahoma (1957)
* Oklahoma (1958)
* Oklahoma (1959)

Big Eight|

* Missouri (1960)
* Colorado (1961)
* Oklahoma (1962)
* Nebraska (1963)
* Nebraska (1964)
* Nebraska (1965)
* Nebraska (1966)
* Oklahoma (1967)
* Kansas & Oklahoma (1968)
* Missouri & Nebraska (1969)
* Nebraska (1970)
* Nebraska (1971)
* Nebraska (1972)
* Oklahoma (1973)
* Oklahoma (1974)
* Nebraska & Oklahoma (1975)
* Colorado, Oklahoma, & Oklahoma State (1976)
* Oklahoma (1977)
* Nebraska & Oklahoma (1978)
* Oklahoma (1979)
* Oklahoma (1980)
* Nebraska (1981)
* Nebraska (1982)
* Nebraska (1983)
* Nebraska & Oklahoma (1984)
* Oklahoma (1985)
* Oklahoma (1986)
* Oklahoma (1987)
* Nebraska (1988)
* Colorado (1989)
* Colorado (1990)
* Colorado & Nebraska (1991)
* Nebraska (1992)
* Nebraska (1993)
* Nebraska (1994)
* Nebraska (1995)

National championships in bold

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