Five Toughest Oklahoma Football Opponents All-Time
By Chip Rouse
No. 4 – Be Ware of Hurricane Season
Barry Switzer faced the University of Miami (Fla.) five times in his 16 seasons as the Sooners head coach. In three of those meetings, the Sooners were ranked No. 1 in the country.
Oklahoma and Miami played five times in the Switzer era. The Sooners won the first two games by a combined seven points, but lost all three times the two teams met in the 1980s.
The Sooners and Hurricanes played in three straight seasons between 1985 and 1987. Twice during that time, OU was ranked No. 1. The two teams met as one and two in the nation in the third game of the 1986 season, with the Hurricanes winning 28-16 in Miami. That was the only loss the Sooners would suffer that season.
The following year, in 1987, the same two teams met in the Orange Bowl. The No. 2 Hurricanes handed undefeated and No. 1 Oklahoma its only loss that season, as well, defeating the Sooners 20-14 in a game that would cost Oklahoma a chance for its then seventh national championship and a fourth national crown under Switzer.
Miami also was responsible for the Sooners only loss in their 1985 national championship year. Oklahoma came into the 1985 game ranked No. 3; Miami was unranked at the time the two teams played. Longtime Sooner fans will remember that Troy Aikman started the game for the Sooners at quarterback, but suffered a broken ankle and was forced to leave the game.
That was Aikman’s sophomore year, and he would not play another down at OU. Jamelle Holieway was his replacement, and Aikman would transfer to UCLA the following year.
Oh, and by the way, Oklahoma would lose to unranked Miami in the 1985 contest, 27-14.
Miami and Oklahoma also played a two game series in the Bob Stoops era, with Oklahoma winning big at home, 51-13 in 2007, and the Hurricanes returning the favor, 21-20, at home in 2009.
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