1985 Oklahoma Sooners football team

American college football season

1985 Oklahoma Sooners football

Consensus national champion
Big 8 champion
Orange Bowl champion

Orange Bowl, W 25–10 vs. Penn State

Conference| Big Eight Conference
Ranking
Coaches| No. 1
AP| No. 1
Record| 11–1 (7–0 Big 8)
Head coach|

* Barry Switzer (13th season)

Offensive coordinator| Jim Donnan (1st season)
Offensive scheme| Wishbone
Defensive coordinator| Gary Gibbs (5th season)
Base defense| 5–2
Captains|

* Tony Casillas
* Kevin Murphy
* Eric Pope

Home stadium| Oklahoma Memorial Stadium

Seasons

<- 1984

1986 ->

1985 Big Eight Conference football standings

* v
* t
* e

| Conf |  |  | Overall

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Team | W |  | L |  | T |  |  | W |  | L |  | T
No. 1 Oklahoma $  | 7  | - | 0  | - | 0 |  |  | 11  | - | 1  | - | 0
No. 11 Nebraska | 6  | - | 1  | - | 0 |  |  | 9  | - | 3  | - | 0
Oklahoma State | 4  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 8  | - | 4  | - | 0
Colorado | 4  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 7  | - | 5  | - | 0
Iowa State | 3  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 5  | - | 6  | - | 0
Kansas | 2  | - | 5  | - | 0 |  |  | 6  | - | 6  | - | 0
Kansas State | 1  | - | 6  | - | 0 |  |  | 1  | - | 10  | - | 0
Missouri | 1  | - | 6  | - | 0 |  |  | 1  | - | 10  | - | 0

* $ - Conference champion

Rankings from AP Poll

The 1985 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season. This year was Barry Switzer's 13th season as head coach. The Sooners ended this season with 11 wins and a sole loss coming to the Miami Hurricanes in Norman, in a game in which the Sooners lost starting quarterback Troy Aikman for the season. The Sooners were forced to place their trust in lightning-quick true freshman quarterback Jamelle Holieway and a physical defense featuring three All-Americans, who led them to a Big 8 Conference title and a national championship. This was Oklahoma's sixth national championship and 34th conference championship in school history.[1]

## Schedule

[edit]

Date| Time| Opponent| Rank| Site| TV| Result| Attendance

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September 28| 7:00 p.m.| at Minnesota*| No. 2|

* Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
* Minneapolis, MN

| TBS| W 13–7| 62,446[2]
October 5| 11:30 a.m.| at Kansas State| No. 2|

* KSU Stadium
* Manhattan, KS

| Raycom| W 41–6| 23,500[2]
October 12| 12:00 p.m.| vs. No. 17 Texas*| No. 2|

* Cotton Bowl
* Dallas, TX (Red River Shootout)

| ABC| W 14–7| 75,587[2]
October 19| 2:30 p.m.| Miami (FL)*| No. 3|

* Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
* Norman, OK

| ABC| L 14–27| 73,102[2]
October 26| 1:30 p.m.| Iowa State| No. 10|

* Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
* Norman, OK

| | W 59–14| 70,124[2]
November 2| 1:30 p.m.| Kansas| No. 9|

* Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
* Norman, OK

| | W 48–6| 74,726[2]
November 9| 11:30 a.m.| at Missouri| No. 7|

* Faurot Field
* Columbia, MO (rivalry)

| HSE| W 51–6| 50,321[2]
November 16| 1:30 p.m.| Colorado| No. 7|

* Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
* Norman, OK

| | W 31–0| 73,611[2]
November 23| 2:30 p.m.| No. 2 Nebraska| No. 5|

* Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
* Norman, OK (rivalry)

| ABC| W 27–7| 75,554[2]
November 30| 6:30 p.m.| at No. 17 Oklahoma State| No. 3|

* Lewis Field
* Stillwater, OK (Bedlam)

| ESPN| W 13–0| 44,000[2]
December 7| 2:30 p.m.| SMU*| No. 4|

* Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
* Norman, OK

| ABC| W 35–13| 72,046[2]
January 1, 1986| 7:00 p.m.| vs. No. 1 Penn State*| No. 3|

* Miami Orange Bowl
* Miami, FL (Orange Bowl)

| NBC| W 25–10| 74,178[2]

* *Non-conference game
* Homecoming
* Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
* All times are in Central time

[3]

## Roster

[edit]

Quarterbacks

* 18 Troy Aikman† – Sophomore
* 4 Jamelle Holieway† – Freshman
* 16 Kyle Irvin – Sophomore
* 1 Eric Mitchel – Freshman
* 9 Glen Sullivan – Sophomore

Running backs

* 28 Rotnei Anderson FB –  Freshman
* 45 Lydell Carr† FB – Sophomore
* 43 Chris Howard FB –  Freshman
* 5 Earl Johnson FB – Junior
* 84 Chris Youman FB – Freshman
* 35 Eric Bross – Freshman
* 33 Patrick Collins† – Sophomore
* 28 Ron Counter – Sophomore
* 23 Don Maloney –  Freshman
* 22 Gregg Nesbitt – Sophomore
* 2 Leon Perry† – Freshman
* 38 Chris Richards –  Freshman
* 27 Damon Stell – Sophomore
* 20 Spencer Tillman† – Junior
* 26 Mark White – Freshman
* 82 Greg Dixon – Freshman
* 13 Dion Wharry – Freshman
* 30 Robert Stanley† – Sophomore

Receivers

* 15 Derrick Crudup – Sophomore
* 87 Paul Rodgers – Freshman
* 3 Derrick Shepard† – Junior
* 24 Don Smitherman – Freshman
* 25 Anthony Stafford† – Freshman
* Lee Morris – Sophomore
* Carl Cabbiness – Freshman
* 83 Jeff Jones – Freshman

Tight ends

* 85 Darin Berryhill – Senior
* 88 Keith Jackson† – Sophomore
* 97 Aubrey King –  Freshman
* 89 Terry Pritchard – Freshman
* 67 David Frolich – Freshman
* 81 David Shoemaker – Freshman
* Lance Price – Sophomore

|  |

Offensive line

* 74 W. Bennett G –  Freshman
* 62 Al Laurita G – Sophomore
* 71 Jeff Pickett G – Junior
* 63 Eric Pope†‡ G – Senior
* 73 Scott Harrison L –  Freshman
* 72 Dugan Forrest T – Freshman
* 58 Mickey Greene T –  Freshman
* 79 Mark Hutson† T – Sophomore
* 73 Chuck Johnson C –  Freshman
* 75 Greg Johnson T – Sophomore
* 70 Richard Marks T – Sophomore
* 68 Anthony Phillips† T –  Freshman
* 77 Caesar Rentie T – Sophomore
* 76 Mark Van Keirsbilck T – Freshman
* 65 Mike Wise L – Freshman
* 57 Kevin Adkins C – Junior
* 78 Daniel Blackwood C – Sophomore
* 53 Travis Simpson C – Junior
* 52 Ric Uhles C – Senior
* 59 Greg Williams C – Freshman
* 55 Paul Ferrer† C/G – Senior

Defensive line

* 92 Tony Casillas†‡ NG – Senior
* 51 Richard Davis NG –  Freshman
* 93 Curtice Williams NG –  Freshman
* 69 Andre Williams L – Freshman
* 98 Dante Williams L – Freshman
* 61 Mike Aljoe E – Junior
* 47 Jeff Hake E – Junior
* 80 Troy Johnson E – Sophomore
* 46 Kert Kaspar E – Sophomore
* 60 Mike Mantle E – Junior
* 39 Kevin Murphy†‡ E – Senior
* 40 Darrell Reed E – Sophomore
* 95 Jodie Britt T – Sophomore
* 86 Steve Bryan T – Junior
* 90 Darren Kilpatrick T – Sophomore
* 56 Bob Latham† T –  Freshman
* 66 Jon Phillips T – Sophomore
* 96 Richard Reed T – Junior
* 78 Jeff Tupper T – Senior
* 99 Tony Woods T –  Freshman

|  |

Linebackers

* 44 Brian Bosworth† – Sophomore
* 41 Tony Sebo – Freshman
* 54 Evan Gatewood – Junior
* 50 Dante Jones† – Sophomore
* 43 Frederick McDonald injured resv."Sophomore"
* 48 Brad McBride – Sophomore
* 42 Paul Migliazzo† – Junior

Defensive backs

* 8 Sonny Brown† – Junior
* 29 Rickey Dixon† – Sophomore
* 9 Lonnie Finch – Freshman
* 49 Scott Garl –  Freshman
* 7 Ledell Glenn – Junior
* 32 Percy Hines – Junior
* 6 Andre Johnson – Sophomore
* 36 Steve Jones –  Freshman
* 17 Ken McMichel – Freshman
* 35 Tony Rayburn† – Junior
* 21 Carlos Scott – Freshman
* 37 Todd Smith – Junior
* 11 Leonard Thomas – Freshman
* 22 Kevin Thompson – Freshman
* 19 Scott Thompson – Freshman
* 10 David Vickers† – Sophomore
* 14 Derrick White –  Freshman

Kickers

* 31 Tim Lashar† – Junior
* 91 Todd Thomsen – Freshman
* 26 Darren Atyia P – Sophomore
* 12 Mike Winchester P† – Junior

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† Starter at position ‡ Team Captain * Injured; did not play in 1985.

Courtesy of Soonerstats.com

## Rankings

[edit]

Further information: 1985 NCAA Division I-A 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| 9| 10| 11| 12| 13| 14| 15| Final
AP| 1 (23)| 1| 2 (28)| 2 (23)| 2 (21)| 2 (13)| 2 ()| 3 (12)| 10| 9| 7 (1)| 7 ()| 5 (2)| 3 (6)| 4 (5)| 3 (5)| 1 (55)
Coaches| 1 (14)| 1 (14)| 1 (18)| 2 ()| 2 (8)| 2 (14)| 2 (14)| 2 (14)| 10| 8| 5| 6| 3| 2 (2)| 2 (2)| 2 (1)| 1 (41)

## Game summaries

[edit]

After struggling in the 1985 Orange Bowl to a scrappy Washington Huskies football team and letting any National Championship aspirations for that year disappear in a puff of smoke (and be awarded to the BYU Cougars, the nation's only undefeated college football team that year), the defending Big 8 Champion Sooners came into the 1985 season on a mission. Led by an aggressive and punishing defense (which later drew comparisons to their NFL counterpart Chicago Bears) and budding superstar quarterback sophomore Troy Aikman, the Sooners seemed poised for a run at the Orange Bowl and the National Championship.

Nothing seemed to indicate otherwise, as the Sooners rolled past Minnesota and Kansas State before beating the Longhorns in the annual Red River Shootout.

### at Minnesota

[edit]

#2 Oklahoma Sooners at Minnesota Golden Gophers  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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• No. 2 Sooners | 3 | 7| 0| 3 | 13
Golden Gophers | 0 | 0| 0| 7 | 7

* Date: September 28
* Location: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome

| Scoring summary

1| | OU| Lashar 21-yard field goal| OU 3-0
2| | OU| E. Johnson 1-yard run (Lashar kick)| OU 10-0
4| | OU| Lashar 21-yard field goal| OU 13-0
4| | MIN| Starks 12-yard pass from Foggie (Lohmiller kick)| OU 13-7

See also: 1985 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

| OU | MINN

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First Downs | 21 | 6
Rushing Yards | 64–254 | 25–57
Passing | 7–17–0 | 8–20–0
Passing Yards | 67 | 121
Total Offense | 321 | 178
Fumbles Lost | 1 | 0
Penalties | 6–35 | 5–35
Time of Possession | 40:54 | 19:06

[4]

### at Kansas State

[edit]

#2 Oklahoma Sooners at Kansas State Wildcats  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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• No. 2 Sooners | 0 | 14| 13| 14 | 41
Wildcats | 0 | 0| 6| 0 | 6

* Date: October 5
* Location: KSU Stadium
* Game attendance: 23,500

See also: 1985 Kansas State Wildcats football team

[5]

| OU | KSU

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First Downs | 30 | 6
Rushing Yards | 76–353 | 25–21
Passing | 10–14–1 | 13–26–3
Passing Yards | 177 | 100
Total Offense | 530 | 121
Fumbles Lost | 3 | 0
Penalties | 10–74 | 7–64
Time of Possession | 37:27 | 22:33

### vs. No. 17 Texas (Red River Shootout)

[edit]

See also: Red River Shootout and 1985 Texas Longhorns football team

#17 Texas Longhorns vs. #2 Oklahoma Sooners  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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No. 17 Longhorns | 7 | 0| 0| 0 | 7
• No. 2 Sooners | 0 | 7| 0| 7 | 14

* Date: October 12
* Location: Cotton Bowl, Dallas
* Game attendance: 75,587

* Source: [6]

| Scoring summary

1| | TEX| Kip Cooper 7-yard fumble return (Jeffrey Ward kick)| TEX 7-0
2| 10:18| OU| Lydell Carr 1-yard run (Tim Lashar kick)| Tied 7-7
4| 12:25| OU| Patrick Collins 45-yard run (Tim Lashar kick)| OU 14-7

The Sooners' offense didn't have a banner day in the 80th edition of the Red River Rivalry although they still rolled up 220 yards rushing and Troy Aikman completed four of nine passes for 67 yards. Lydell Carr led all rushers with 80 yards on 23 carries, and Patrick Collins added 61 yards on four carries. Keith Jackson had 49 yards on his two receptions.

On the game's third play, Oklahoma's All-American nose guard Tony Casillas went down with a sprained right knee. The Oklahoma defense, even without Casillas, manhandled Texas. The Sooners held the Longhorns to just 70 yards in total offense, 17 on the ground for an average of less than half a yard per their 35 carries, and just four first downs. They got into Oklahoma territory only three times, twice to the 49-yard line and once to the 46, and one of those trips was thanks to another fumble. In addition, the Sooners picked off three passes, and Texas was held to no first downs in the second half. Brian Bosworth finished the game with 14 tackles, 11 of them unassisted, and a leaping interception of quarterback Todd Dodge.[7][8]

| Texas | OU

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First Downs | 4 | 14
Rushing Yards | 35–17 | 66–220
Passing | 4–15–3 | 4–9–0
Passing Yards | 53 | 67
Total Offense | 70 | 287
Fumbles Lost | 0 | 2
Penalties | 5–30 | 3–20
Time of Possession | 24:44 | 35:16

### Miami (FL)

[edit]

Miami Hurricanes at #3 Oklahoma Sooners  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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• Hurricanes | 7 | 7| 13| 0 | 27
No. 3 Sooners | 7 | 0| 0| 7 | 14

* Date: October 19
* Location: Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
* Game attendance: 73,102
* Game weather: Overcast
* TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson, Frank Broyles, and Tim Brant

| Scoring summary

1| 8:44| Miami (FL)| Michael Irvin 56-yard pass from Vinny Testaverde (Greg Cox kick)| Miami (FL) 7-0
1| 6:34| OU| Derrick Shepard 14-yard pass from Troy Aikman (Tim Lashar kick)| Tied 7-7
2| 14:16| Miami (FL)| Testaverde 3-yard run (Cox kick)| Miami (FL) 14-7
3| 8:49| Miami (FL)| Cox 20-yard field goal| Miami (FL) 17-7
3| 4:06| Miami (FL)| Brian Blades 35-yard pass from Testaverde (Cox kick)| Miami (FL) 24-7
3| 2:34| Miami (FL)| Cox 36-yard field goal| Miami (FL) 27-7
4| 10:28| OU| Lydell Carr 1-yard run (Lashar kick)| Miami (FL) 27-14

See also: 1985 Miami Hurricanes football team

The third-ranked Sooners (3-0) returned home to play their first game in Norman, hosting unranked Miami (4-1). The game made local headlines as a homecoming for Hurricanes coach Jimmy Johnson who was an Oklahoma defensive line coach with Switzer from '70-'72 and went 0-5 against the Sooners as the Oklahoma State head coach.

Oklahoma came into the contest with the nation's most aggressive defense (leading to their comparisons to the Monsters of the Midway), which seemingly got better each week, and was led up front by All-American nose tackle Tony Casillas, whose injury against Texas forced him to miss the game. The line featured sophomore tackle Troy Johnson, sophomore end Darrell Reed, and senior end Kevin Murphy, himself an All-American candidate. Lining up behind the group was the menacing Brian Bosworth, with fellow linebackers Paul Migliazzo and Dante Jones (another talented sophomore). This group had permitted an average of only 32 yards rushing per game. Juniors Tony Rayburn and Sonny Brown, and sophomores Rickey Dixon and Derrick White, patrolled the secondary, allowing only 91 yards passing per game. In three games, the defense had allowed only 16 first downs and had permitted an average of 6.6 points per game.

Miami had lost their '85 opener to Florida, 35-23, before reeling off four straight wins against unranked opponents. The Hurricanes were the nation's top offensive team, and they were sporting a pro-style passing attack, orchestrated by junior quarterback Vinny Testaverde, who had backed up Bernie Kosar the last time the Hurricanes had won the National Championship. Alonzo Highsmith and Melvin Bratton lined up in the backfield, and the acrobatics of top-flight wide receivers Michael Irvin and Brian Blades helped the team average 36.2 points per game. The Hurricane defense came in after a shutout of Cincinnati, permitting an average of only 16 points per game, featuring junior tackle Jerome Brown and cornerback Bennie Blades.

In front of a sellout crowd of 75,008 at Memorial Stadium, Miami's Jerome Brown broke through and sacked Aikman on the 29-yard line with 9:18 left in the first half and broke his ankle. Aikman, who had been six of eight passing for 131 yards, would be lost for the season.

Testaverde and company took over, scorching the Oklahoma secondary with 270 yards passing and the 'Canes rambled for 105 on the ground. They played mistake-free football and didn't give up any turnovers. Brown led the Miami defensive effort with 16 tackles, a blocked field goal, and the sack on Aikman. And on the other side, pressed into duty as a true freshman, Holieway had rushed for only 57 yards on 17 carries and attempted just six passes.[9][10]

Furious about the loss, both of the game and their starting quarterback, Oklahoma proceeded to go on a rampage, pasting Iowa State, Kansas, Missouri and Colorado by a combined score of 189-26, before playing host to Nebraska in a game that would ultimately decide the Big 8 Championship.

| Miami | OU

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First Downs | 17 | 20
Rushing Yards | 39–105 | 63–211
Passing | 17–28–0 | 7–14–1
Passing Yards | 270 | 151
Total Offense | 375 | 362
Fumbles Lost | 0 | 1
Penalties | 4–30 | 5–48
Time of Possession | 26:57 | 33:03

### Iowa State

[edit]

Iowa State Cyclones at #10 Oklahoma Sooners  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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Cyclones | 7 | 0| 0| 7 | 14
• No. 10 Sooners | 10 | 21| 21| 7 | 59

* Date: October 26
* Location: Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
* Game attendance: 70,124

See also: 1985 Iowa State Cyclones football team

In freshman Jamelle Holieway's first start at quarterback, the Sooners rolled up 542 yards rushing and 643 yards of total offense in a dominant win over Iowa State.[11][12]

| ISU | OU

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First Downs | 15 | 25
Rushing Yards | 41–122 | 64–542
Passing | 15–27–0 | 2–5–0
Passing Yards | 128 | 101
Total Offense | 250 | 643
Fumbles Lost | 1 | 1
Penalties | 8–65 | 7–81
Time of Possession | 31:21 | 28:39

### Kansas

[edit]

Kansas Jayhawks at #9 Oklahoma Sooners  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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Jayhawks | 3 | 0| 3| 0 | 6
• No. 9 Sooners | 0 | 20| 14| 14 | 48

* Date: November 2
* Location: Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
* Game attendance: 74,726

[13]

| KU | OU

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First Downs | 14 | 22
Rushing Yards | 40–63 | 58–424
Passing | 14–33–3 | 5–8–0
Passing Yards | 112 | 101
Total Offense | 175 | 525
Fumbles Lost | 1 | 3
Penalties | 9–69 | 3–30
Time of Possession | 33:30 | 26:30

### at Missouri

[edit]

#7 Oklahoma Sooners at Missouri Tigers  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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• No. 7 Sooners | 3 | 20| 7| 21 | 51
Tigers | 0 | 3| 3| 0 | 6

* Date: November 9
* Location: Memorial Stadium
* Game attendance: 50,321

[14]

| OU | MU

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First Downs | 24 | 12
Rushing Yards | 66–341 | 37–62
Passing | 8–17–1 | 15–25–2
Passing Yards | 168 | 157
Total Offense | 509 | 219
Fumbles Lost | 2 | 4
Penalties | 6–38 | 4–35
Time of Possession | 32:49 | 27:11

### Colorado

[edit]

Colorado Buffaloes at #7 Oklahoma Sooners  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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Buffaloes | 0 | 0| 0| 0 | 0
• No. 7 Sooners | 7 | 7| 10| 7 | 31

* Date: November 16
* Location: Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma
* Game attendance: 74,145

| Scoring summary

1| | OU| Collins 1-yard run (Lashar kick)| OU 7–0
2| | OU| Holieway 2-yard run (Lashar kick)| OU 14–0
3| | OU| Holieway 20-yard run (Lashar kick)| OU 21–0
3| | OU| Lashar 30-yard field goal| OU 24–0
4| | OU| Tillman 5-yard run (Lashar kick)| OU 31–0

[15]

| CU | OU

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First Downs | 6 | 24
Rushing Yards | 39–75 | 81–360
Passing | 4–12–1 | 3–10–0
Passing Yards | 34 | 39
Total Offense | 109 | 399
Fumbles Lost | 0 | 3
Penalties | 5–45 | 3–20
Time of Possession | 25:34 | 34:26

### No. 2 Nebraska

[edit]

#2 Nebraska Cornhuskers at #5 Oklahoma Sooners  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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No. 2 Cornhuskers | 0 | 0| 0| 7 | 7
• No. 5 Sooners | 14 | 3| 10| 0 | 27

* Date: November 23
* Location: Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma
* Game attendance: 75,554
* Game weather: Overcast
* TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson, Frank Broyles, and Tim Brant

| Scoring summary

1| 11:21| OU| Keith Jackson 88-yard run (Tim Lashar kick)| OU 7–0
1| 5:52| OU| Jamelle Holieway 43-yard run (Lashar kick)| OU 14–0
2| 1:18| OU| Lashar 37-yard field goal| OU 17–0
3| 9:19| OU| Lashar 33-yard field goal| OU 20–0
3| 2:26| OU| Holieway 17-yard run (Lashar kick)| OU 27–0
4| 0:26| Neb| Chris Spachman 76-yard fumble return (Klein kick)| OU 27–7

Nebraska came into Norman ranked second in the nation, with the nation's highest scoring offense with 39.1 points per game and the best rushing attack in the country with 395 yards per game. This high-powered offense was led by fullback Tom Rathman, one of the best in Nebraska history who had rushed for over 800 yards that season. Together with quarterback McCathorn Clayton and junior I-back Doug DuBose, whose 1,115 rushing yards made 1985 his second straight season over 1,000, the Cornhuskers were poised for a national title run. Junior linebacker Marc Munford was the leading tackler for the Huskers for the second straight year and led the defense, together with tackle Jim Skow and defensive back Brian Washington.[16]

The home team struck quickly. On their second possession of the game, Oklahoma was faced with a second down-and-six at its 12, and they ran a tight end reverse. Freshman quarterback Jamelle Holieway, starting just his fifth game and in charge of a wishbone that was the third best rushing offense in the land, optioned to the left and gave a reverse handoff to big sophomore tight end Keith Jackson, who raced untouched down the right sideline 88 yards for a touchdown, the sixth longest run in school history.[16]

Tom Osborne was forced to reach into his bag of tricks in the second quarter, as Nebraska executed a perfect double reverse. Clayton flipped the ball to DuBose who headed right, and DuBose handed the ball to wingback Van Sheppard who carried it 52 yards before being brought down inside the Sooner ten. The Oklahoma defense, led by senior nose tackle Tony Casillas and sophomore linebacker Brian Bosworth, did not budge. The Cornhuskers, stifled at the point of attack, were forced to kick a field goal. Sophomore kicker Dale Klein missed a 23-yard field goal attempt and the Huskers were kept off the board after their best offensive series of the game.[16]

In fact, the only time the Huskers would score that day was on defense, and then only as a side note. Freshman backup quarterback Eric Mitchel bobbled a handoff, and Nebraska defensive tackle Chris Spachman caught the Sooner fumble in midair and rambled 76 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown with only 26 seconds left. The Sooners had won 27-7.[16]

The Oklahoma defense was devastating, holding the nation's highest scoring offense without a point. Bosworth had nine tackles, Murphy sacked the quarterback twice, including the stopper on one of the goal line stands, and Casillas was all over the Nebraska backfield. They held the Huskers to just 161 yards on 42 carries, led by Sheppard's 65 yards and with DuBose gaining only 46 on 16 carries. It was the second straight year that the Sooners had held the Huskers to just a touchdown and the first time they had accomplished that feat in back-to-back games in 27 years.[16]

Holieway was spectacular, directing the wishbone as if he were far more experienced than his true freshman status. He was virtually flawless as he rushed for 110 yards on 25 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns. Keith Jackson ran for 136 yards on just three carries and scored once. Together they accounted for 246 yards on the ground, representing more than half the team's 461 total yards. This marked the first time in 11 years that two Sooners had crossed the century mark rushing against the Huskers.[16]

| NU | OU

|
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First Downs | 10 | 19
Rushing Yards | 42–161 | 70–423
Passing | 4–15–3 | 1–4–0
Passing Yards | 63 | 38
Total Offense | 224 | 461
Fumbles Lost | 1 | 2
Penalties | 2–20 | 3–13
Time of Possession | 25:34 | 34:26

### At Oklahoma St

[edit]

See also: 1985 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team and Bedlam Series

#3 Oklahoma Sooners (8–1) at #17 Oklahoma State Cowboys (8–2)

Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

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Oklahoma | 0 | 10 | 0| 3| 13
Oklahoma St | 0 | 0 | 0| 0| 0

at Lewis Field, Stillwater, Oklahoma

* Date: November 30
* Game time: 7:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: low 20s
* Game attendance: 44,000
* TV: ESPN
* [17]

Game information

First quarter

* No scoring

Second quarter

* OU – Tim Lashar 27-yard field goal. Oklahoma 3–0. Drive:
* OU – Spencer Tillman 3-yard run (Tim Lashar kick). Oklahoma 10–0. Drive:

Third quarter

* No scoring

Fourth quarter

* OU – Tim Lashar 30-yard field goal, 5:44. Oklahoma 13–0. Drive:

Top passers

* OU – Jamelle Holieway – 4/5, 54 yards, INT
* OSU – Ronnie Williams – 5/25, 32 yards, INT

Top rushers

* OU – Lydell Carr – 24 rushes, 78 yards
* OSU – Thurman Thomas – 23 rushes, 100 yards

Top receivers

* OU – Damon Stell – 1 reception, 31 yards
* OSU – Kenneth Brown – 1 reception, 15 yards

|

"The Ice Bowl"

Tim Lashar sets Oklahoma single season school field goal record.

[18] [19]

### SMU

[edit]

SMU Mustangs at #4 Oklahoma Sooners  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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Mustangs | 7 | 0| 0| 6 | 13
• No. 4 Sooners | 0 | 21| 7| 7 | 35

* Date: December 7
* Location: Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
* Game attendance: 72,046
* TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson (1st half only), Frank Broyles, and Tim Brant (1st half sideline reporter/2nd half play-by-play)

[20]

| SMU | OU

|
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First Downs | 14 | 27
Rushing Yards | 51–206 | 75–377
Passing | 8–15–2 | 3–8–0
Passing Yards | 76 | 40
Total Offense | 282 | 417
Fumbles Lost | 2 | 2
Penalties | 5–31 | 3–30
Time of Possession | 25:59 | 34:01

### vs. No. 1 Penn State (Orange Bowl)

[edit]

#1 Penn State Nittany Lions vs. #3 Oklahoma Sooners  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

|
|
|
|
|

No. 1 Nittany Lions | 7 | 3| 0| 0 | 10
• No. 3 Sooners | 0 | 16| 3| 6 | 25

* Date: January 1, 1986
* Location: Orange Bowl
* Game attendance: 74,178
* Referee: Robert Aillet (SEC)
* TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui (play-by-play), Bob Trumpy (analyst), Bob Griese (sideline), and Jimmy Cefalo (sideline)

| Scoring summary

1| 8:17| PSU| Tim Manoa 1-yard run (Massimo Manca kick)| PSU 7–0
2| 14:35| OU| Tim Lashar 26-yard field goal| PSU 7–3
12:26| OU| Keith Jackson 71-yard pass from Jamelle Holieway (Tim Lashar kick)| OU 10–7
5:20| OU| Tim Lashar 31-yard field goal| OU 13–7
1:49| OU| Tim Lashar 21-yard field goal| OU 16–7
0:01| PSU| Massimo Manca 27-yard field goal| OU 16–10
3| 3:09| OU| Tim Lashar 22-yard field goal| OU 19–10
4| 1:42| OU| Lydell Carr 61-yard run (Lashar kick failed)| OU 25–10

Main article: 1986 Orange Bowl

See also: 1985 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

Earlier in the day, UCLA had crushed #4 Iowa 45-28 in the Rose Bowl. SEC champion Tennessee and Miami were playing in the Sugar Bowl, with the Hurricanes allowed an outside shot at the title with a Penn State loss. The Sooners needed either a win combined with a Miami loss or a blowout victory to claim the title during the 1986 Orange Bowl.[21]

On their opening possession, Oklahoma reached into their bag of tricks and a handoff to Keith Jackson was flipped to Anthony Stafford, but linebacker Shane Conlan was ready for it, stuffing the play for a two-yard loss. This set the initial tempo of the game, as the Penn State defense showed itself to be ready for the speedy Sooner wishbone option.[21]

The game was very close, and remained a defensive struggle into the 4th quarter, but Oklahoma proved to be too much for the Lions, particularly after it was announced at the half that Tennessee was pounding Miami to the tune of 28-7 in the Sugar Bowl. The Sooner defense played inspired football, Tim Lashar nailed four critical field goals, Keith Jackson caught a 71-yard bomb from Jamelle Holieway in stride, and Lydell Carr put the nail in the coffin with a brilliant 61-yard touchdown scamper with 1:42 remaining on the clock.[21][22]

The Sooners scored a 25-10 victory over the top team in the land in the 1986 Orange Bowl and the team's sixth National Championship.

| PSU | OU

|
|

First Downs | 14 | 12
Rushing Yards | 36–103 | 52–228
Passing | 18–34–4 | 3–6–0
Passing Yards | 164 | 91
Total Offense | 267 | 319
Fumbles Lost | 1 | 1
Penalties | 6–49 | 7–45
Time of Possession | 31:23 | 28:37

## Awards and honors

[edit]

### All-Americans

[edit]

* Brian Bosworth, Linebacker – Irving, Texas
* Tony Casillas, Noseguard – Tulsa, Okla.
* Kevin Murphy, Defensive end – Richardson, Texas

### Individual award winners

[edit]

* Brian Bosworth – Dick Butkus Award
* Tony Casillas – Lombardi Award

## Postseason

[edit]

### NFL draft

[edit]

Main article: 1986 NFL draft

The following players were drafted into the National Football League following the season.[23]

Round  | Pick  | Player  | Position  | NFL Team

|
|
|
|

1 | 2 | Tony Casillas | Defensive tackle | Atlanta Falcons
2 | 40 | Kevin Murphy | Linebacker | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
5 | 116 | Jeff Tupper | Defensive end | St. Louis Cardinals

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "University of Oklahoma Official 1985 Championship Page". SoonerSports.com. University of Oklahoma Athletic Department. Archived from the original on July 18, 2007. Retrieved August 21, 2007.
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "1985 OU Football Season Schedule - SoonerStats - Historical scores, records, and stats for Oklahoma Sooners football, basketball, baseball, and softball".
3. ^ "1985 University of Oklahoma Football Schedule". Soonerstats.com. 2007. Retrieved April 18, 2007.
4. ^ "Sooners Prevail by 13-7". The New York Times. September 29, 1985. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
5. ^ SoonerStats.com. Retrieved 2018-Feb-18.
6. ^ "45-yard run gives No. 2 OU 14-7 win over Texas." Gainesville Sun. October 13, 1985
7. ^ "Texas Picks Up Only Four First Downs as Oklahoma Wins, 14-7". The Los Angeles Times. October 13, 1985. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
8. ^ "1985 OU-Texas Game". Soonerstats.com. 2007. Retrieved May 17, 2007.
9. ^ "MIAMI BEATS SOONERS, 27-14". The New York Times. October 20, 1985. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
10. ^ "1985 OU-Miami Game". Soonerstats.com. 2007. Retrieved May 17, 2007.
11. ^ "Oklahoma, Holieway Stun Iowa State, 59-14". The Los Angeles Times. October 27, 1985. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
12. ^ SoonerStats.com. Retrieved 2018-Feb-18.
13. ^ SoonerStats.com. Retrieved 2018-Feb-18.
14. ^ SoonerStats.com. Retrieved 2018-Feb-18.
15. ^ Gainesville Sun. November 17, 1985
16. ^ a b c d e f "1985 OU-Nebraska Game". Soonerstats.com. 2007. Retrieved May 17, 2007.
17. ^ Eugene Register-Guard. 1985 Dec 01.
18. ^ SoonerStats.com. Retrieved 2018-Feb-18.
19. ^ "Sooners leave Cowboys cold, 13-0." Eugene Register-Guard. 1985 Dec 01. Retrieved 2020-Nov-22.
20. ^ SoonerStats.com. Retrieved 2018-Feb-18.
21. ^ a b c "1986 Orange Bowl". Soonerstats.com. 2007. Retrieved May 17, 2007.
22. ^ "1986 Orange Bowl Official Recap". Orangebowl.org. 2007. Retrieved February 14, 2007.[permanent dead link]
23. ^ "1986 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 29, 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* Soonerstats.com breakdown of the 1985 schedule
* Roster for the 1985 Sooners
* Jamelle Holieway's 71 yard touchdown pass to Keith Jackson 1986 Orange Bowl

* v
* t
* e

1985 Oklahoma Sooners football—consensus national champions

* Troy Aikman
* Brian Bosworth
* Sonny Brown
* Lydell Carr
* Tony Casillas
* Patrick Collins
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* Rickey Dixon
* Jamelle Holieway
* Mark Hutson
* Chris Howard
* Keith Jackson
* Dante Jones
* Tim Lashar
* Paul Migliazzo
* Lee Morris
* Kevin Murphy
* Anthony Phillips
* Darrell Reed
* Caesar Rentie
* Derrick Shepard
* Travis Simpson
* Spencer Tillman
* Todd Thomsen

* Head coach: Barry Switzer

* Assistant coaches: Tim Billings
* Joe Dickinson
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* Merv Johnson
* Charlie Sadler
* Lucious Selmon

* v
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Oklahoma Sooners football

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Bowls & rivalries|

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Culture & lore|

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Big Eight|

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