Oklahoma football April Fools: Five worst championship losses in Big 12 era
By Chip Rouse
#4 Dec. 6, 2003 — Kansas State 35, Oklahoma 7
Oklahoma entered the 2003 Big 12 Championship game 12-0 and ranked No. 1 in the country, a position it had held all season long. Kansas State came in at 10-3 and as champions of the Big 12 North Division.
The Sooner defense had been a strong suit all season, a primary reason why OU had dominated its 12 previous opponents, winning by an average of 30-plus points.
This game started out like every other that season, with Oklahoma jumping out in front early. Running back Kejuan Jones broke off a 42-yard touchdown run on the game’s fourth play from scrimmage, giving the Sooners an early 7-0 advantage and leaving the impression that this contest was destined to become yet another mismatch for the high-powered OU offense.
Nothing could have been further from the truth. The score remained 7-0 through the first quarter, but K-State erupted for 21 unanswered points in the second quarter. The Wildcats took Oklahoma’s best punch, then turned around and smacked the country’s top-ranked team right in the mouth, taking a commanding 21-7 lead into halftime.
The Sooners reacted as if they didn’t know what had hit them. After all, they had trailed for just six minutes all season. After the opening touchdown drive, the OU offense stuttered and sputtered behind Heisman winning quarterback Jason White. Meanwhile. Kansas State had little trouble moving the ball with an attack that was equal parts run and pass.
The rout that some were projecting after the fast Oklahoma start quickly switched sides after the opening 15 minutes.
Kansas State continued attacking in the second half behind the running of Darren Sproles and the play-action passing of Eli Roberson. The Wildcats added 14 second half points while blanking the Sooners over the final 30 minutes, giving Oklahoma a taste of the misery it had been delivering to opponents all season.
Kansas State prevailed 35-7 in a shocking upset. The Cats didn’t just upset the Sooners, they did so with authority. As one who was in attendance at that game, played at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., I can attest that the reaction from the Oklahoma faithful who were there was utter shock and disbelief.
It was like your worst nightmare. It also was — and remains so — Oklahoma’s only loss in 11 Big 12 championship games.