Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma football has survived but not thrived from championship controversy

By Chip Rouse

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 28: Head coach Lincoln Riley of the Oklahoma Sooners and quarterback Joe Burrow #9 of the LSU Tigers embrace after LSU Tigers wins the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl 28-63 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 28: Head coach Lincoln Riley of the Oklahoma Sooners and quarterback Joe Burrow #9 of the LSU Tigers embrace after LSU Tigers wins the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl 28-63 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS – JANUARY 4: Quarterback Jason White #18 of the Oklahoma Sooners hands the ball off during the game against the Louisiana State Tigers in the Nokia Sugar Bowl National Championship on January 4, 2004 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.  (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS – JANUARY 4: Quarterback Jason White #18 of the Oklahoma Sooners hands the ball off during the game against the Louisiana State Tigers in the Nokia Sugar Bowl National Championship on January 4, 2004 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.  (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Oklahoma football has been no stranger to championship controversy the past two decades.

light. Related Story. Sooners among the best teams that failed to win a national title

Several of the Sooners’ championship runs over the past 20 years have been the subject of controversy. For example, in each of the last two years, Oklahoma was the final team to make it into the College Football Playoff, and both times it was surrounded by some controversy.

The same was true in 2015, when the Sooners got the nod over Ohio State for the fourth and final CFP spot and became the first Big 12 team to make an appearance in the new playoff format to determine the national champion.

There is a common thread that runs through all three of these years in which Oklahoma has been a Playoff participant. While the Sooners were fortunate to have survived the debate surrounding their selection as one of the four Playoff teams, they were unable to take advantage of the good fortune when they were there.

Oklahoma has played in the national championship game or been involved in the CFP format to make it into the national championship game a total of eight times since the 2000 season. That is tied with Alabama for the most among FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) teams.

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