#2 1974 Oklahoma Sooners
The 1974 Oklahoma football was on probation for NCAA recruiting violations. That meant the Sooners were not eligible in 1974 for postseason play and were not recognized in the weekly Coaches Poll. The Associated Press did recognize the Sooners, however, and designated them as preseason No. 1.
The Sooners boasted eight All-Americans on its roster after the 1974 season, four on offense and four on defense (RB Joe Washington, WR Tinker Owens, OG John Roush and C Kyle Davis on offense, and DT Lee Roy Selmon, LB Dewey Selmon, DB Randy Hughes and LB Rod Shoate on defense).
The probation did nothing to stop or even slow down Oklahoma on the field. The Sooners led the nation in scoring that season, averaging 43 points per game. Only one team (Texas) managed to finish a game within 14 points of the Sooners, and four teams failed to score at all.
QB Steve Davis triggered the OU’s vaunted Wishbone offense. Between Davis, Washington and fullback Jim Litrell, the OU triple-option attack averaged 73.9 running plays per game. The Sooners were equally tough on both sides of the ball, which made them a difficult challenge for everyone they played that season.
OU opened the season No. 1 in the AP poll, but dropped down two spots two weeks into the season despite a 28-11 win over Baylor in the opening week of the season. A 72-3 hammering of Utah State was enough to move Oklahoma up to No. 2, where the Sooners remained the next six weeks before regaining the top spot following a 37-0 shutout of Missouri.
When Alabama lost to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl, Oklahoma became the only undefeated team in the country in the 1974 season. Despite the fact that the Sooners did not play in a postseason bowl, their 11-0 record was enough to land them at No. 1 in the final AP poll.