Oklahoma vs. Kansas State: Five Biggest Games in Stoops-Snyder Era

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Sep 17, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners players are introduced before the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

October 14, 2000 – Oklahoma 41, Kansas State 31

The Sooners were coming off a huge win over their chief rival, the Texas Longhorns (Sound familiar? Only, back in 2000 it was a huge win, 63-14, the second most lopsided victory in the now 111-year history of the Red River rivalry series), and had not beaten Kansas State in the previous five meetings dating back to 1993.

Oklahoma came into the 2000 regular-season matchup with Kansas State ranked eighth in the nation and was going up against its second ranked opponent in as many weeks. K-State was No. 2 in the Associated Press poll at the time of this game.

This was Stoops’ first game against his former team, and the game was being played in Manhattan. The underdog Sooners surprised everyone by jumping out to a 17-7 first-quarter lead, and expanded their advantage to 31-14 after the first 30 minutes. Going into the fourth quarter, OU was up 38-14. K-State rallied late with two touchdowns in the final quarter, but fell short, 41-31.

Quarterback Josh Heupel led the Sooner offense, completing 29 of 37 passes for 374 yards. Antwone Savage caught seven passes for 116 yards and Josh Norman was on the receiving end of six targets from Heupel for an additional 93 yards.

It was a signature win for the Sooners in a season that would end in a national championship, the seventh in Oklahoma football history.

The following weekend, No. 1 Nebraska came to Oklahoma, which had climbed to No. 3 in the national polls. The Sooners disposed of the Cornhuskers 31-14, scoring the final 31 points in the game, and moved to No. 1 in the country for the first time since 1987.

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