The Oklahoma Legacy: Reliving the 2000s (Part Two)

2009 (8-5, 5-3; won Sun Bowl):

Sep 22, 2012; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooner quarterback Landry Jones (12) throws in the pocket against the Kansas State Wildcats at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

After a historic 2008 campaign that ended in a crushing defeat, the Sooners were hungry for another great year, but this time to finish as champions. It seemed possible with Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Sam Bradford returning and star running back DeMarco Murray, also, coming back. Though, OU’s elite tight end Jermaine Gresham would suffer a season-ending injury before their 2009 opener in Dallas.

Things would get worse when the Sooners went down to the BYU Courgars and Sam Bradford did, too. Literally.

Bradford suffered an AC joint sprain that caused him to miss three weeks until a home contest against Baylor. Freshman Landry Jones stepped in and played well. Although the Sooners lost to BYU by one, they routed Idaho State and Tulsa in the next two games, lead by Jones. Then came a matchup against #17 Miami. The Sooners again lost a heart-breaker, losing by one in Miami.

After a dominating win over Baylor in Bradford’s return, the Sooners were ready for #1 Texas, and played valiantly, holding the nation’s top offense to only 16 points, but lost by three.

To add to the disappointing loss, Bradford re-aggravated his injury and missed the rest of the season. After winning their next two against Kansas and Kansas State, the Sooners lost to Nebraska in Lincoln. The team thrashed the Aggies of Texas A&M, but lost to Texas Tech in Lubbock donning Nike Pro Combat uniforms that would never see the light of day after that loss.

Oklahoma did reel off a very impressive win over their in-state rival Oklahoma State, though, and the Sooners settled for a Sun Bowl invitation against a Stanford team lead by Jim Harbaugh. Stoops had the upper hand, winning 31-27.

Sam Bradford would declare for the draft after the season and would be taken with the first overall pick

by the St. Louis Rams.

2010 (12-2, 6-2; Big 12 Champions, won Fiesta Bowl)
With Colorado joining the Pac-12 and Nebraska joining the Big 10, 2010 was the final year of the Big 12’s Conference Championship game. It seems fitting that the school that had dominated the conference would win the last one, and that’s just what happened, as Oklahoma captured its seventh Big 12 Championship, defeating the Cornhuskers in the game and sending them off with one final loss between the rivals.

Entering the season, the Sooners were ranked seventh in the country. After a close call against Utah State, OU dropped to #10 heading into a big showdown against #17 Florida State. The Sooners responded well, winning 47-17 in front of a national audience. Following their blowout win, OU chalked up wins over Air Force, Cincinnati, #21 Texas, and Iowa State to start the season 6-0.

This set up a crucial road outing against #18 Missouri. The Tigers came out on top, 36-27. The Sooners would respond by winning against Colorado, but then lost to Texas A&M in an upset win for the Aggies.

The Sooners would win their final five games, though. After defeating Texas Tech and Baylor, the Sooners went to Stillwater and defeated the #10 Cowboys, 47-41 in a game that was decided in the final minutes.

Thanks to a tie-breaker, the Sooners were headed to Arlington to play in the last Big 12 Championship against Nebraska, coming back from 17 down to win, 23-20. The Sooners got the automatic bid to the BCS and beat UConn in the Fiesta Bowl, 48-20, to end the Sooners’ five-game BCS losing streak.

Landry Jones made a name for himself in the season, winning the Sammy Baugh Trophy, presented to the nation’s top college passer. He was also an honorable mention All-American.