Sooners Football: Five Biggest OU Orange Bowl Wins
By Chip Rouse
Oct 3, 2015; Norman, OK, USA; The Oklahoma Sooners mascots celebrate after a touchdown against the West Virginia Mountaineers in the second quarter at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners players run onto the field before the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 30, 2014; Norman, OK, USA; Former Oklahoma Sooners head coach Barry Switzer comes out of the tunnel at the end of the third quarter against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
No team has made more appearances in the Orange Bowl than the Sooners have.
Oklahoma played in its first Orange Bowl game on Jan. 2, 1939, a 17-0 loss to Tennessee. Since then, the Sooners have played in 18 Orange Bowl games, more than any other school. Nebraska is second in all-time Orange Bowl appearances with 17.
The Sooners have come away the winner in 12 of those contests, and they are seeking lucky number 13 later today against top-ranked Clemson in one of the two national semifinal games that are part of the 2015 College Football Playoff.
To be fair, most of the Orange Bowl appearances for OU were the result of contractual agreements with the conference.
Oklahoma has a fair representation in all if the major bowl venues, making 49 total bowl appearances all-time. The Sooners overall 28-19-1 bowl record (.594 winning percentage) is the fourth best among FBS schools that have appeared in at least 40 bowl games.
The Sooners have won four of their seven national championships in football with victories on the floor of the Orange Bowl. They would like nothing better to make it five – or at least a stepping stone to same – with a College Football Playoff win over Clemson.
Here is a look at five of the best Oklahoma Orange Bowl wins in the program’s storied history:
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