Sooners Football: Five Biggest OU Orange Bowl Wins

Nov 21, 2015; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners mascot during the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Jan. 2, 1956 – Oklahoma 20, Maryland 6

Oklahoma and Maryland, the 1955 champion of the Atlantic Coast Conference, came into the 1956 Orange Bowl undefeated and ranked No. 1 and No. 3 in the country, according to the Associated Press.

Both schools entered the game undefeated with 10 wins. The Sooners, under legendary head coach Bud Wilkinson were in the midst of their record-setting 47-game winning streak. Oklahoma was 29 games into that incredible winning string when it took the Orange Bowl turf to face off with Maryland.

The opening quarter ended in a scoreless deadlock, but the Terrapins managed to push across a touchdown before the half to take a 6-0 lead going to the locker room. The Sooners came out on first in the second half, however, going to an up-tempo pace (something that is highly characteristic of the modern day OU team) and scoring touchdowns in its their first two possessions in the third quarter. The first score was set up by a 32-yard punt return by Tommy McDonald.

The Oklahoma defense stiffened in the second half, shutting out Maryland over the final two quarters to take home a 20-6 win and their second national championship in five seasons. The Terrapins were driving in the final quarter before OU’s Carl Dodd intercepted a pass and returned it 82 yards for the Sooners final touchdown.

An interesting side note from this game, Maryland did not return to the Orange Bowl again for over four decades (2002).

Next: Jan. 1, 1976 - Oklahoma 14, Michigan 6