Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma football: Ranking every Sooners’ starting QB since 1999

By Aaron Gelvin

NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 23: A Ruf/Nek parades the Oklahoma Sooners flag around the field after a touchdown against the TCU Horned Frogs on November 23, 2019 at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. OU held on to win 28-24. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 23: A Ruf/Nek parades the Oklahoma Sooners flag around the field after a touchdown against the TCU Horned Frogs on November 23, 2019 at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. OU held on to win 28-24. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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02 Dec 2000: Quarterback Josh Heupel #14 of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrates with an orange in hand after defeating the Kansas State Wildcats 27-24 during the Big 12 Championship at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Oklahoma will play for the national championship at the Orange Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr/ALLSPORT
02 Dec 2000: Quarterback Josh Heupel #14 of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrates with an orange in hand after defeating the Kansas State Wildcats 27-24 during the Big 12 Championship at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Oklahoma will play for the national championship at the Orange Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr/ALLSPORT /

No. 5 — Josh Heupel

Twelve starts in 1999, 13 Starts in 2000

Now we arrive at the inaugural quarterback under Stoops and the only one on this list to lead the Sooners to an undefeated season and win a national championship. Heupel was excellent in both of his years as the starter, and was a Heisman finalist in 2000, losing out on the award to Chris Weinke of Florida State.

Heupel and the OU defense would get their revenge in the BCS National Championship game against Weinke and his Florida State Seminoles in the Orange Bowl. The Sooners won that game 13-2, capturing their most recent national championship.

Despite the fact he was only at OU for two years as a player, Heupel meant so much to the program and to the fan base. OU finally had an excellent QB again and he was a leader on a team that captured college football’s ultimate prize. Heupel also made the transition to the new offense easier with how reliable he was.

Heupel slots in at fifth, because he had the aid of an impressive team around him, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The 2000 defense was the driving force behind OU’s abundant success. Heupel didn’t have incredible stats, but he didn’t need to. He won football games.

Heupel was the offensive coordinator for the Sooners for four seasons, before being fired following the 2014 season. He has been the head coach at both UCF and Tennessee, and 2022 will mark his second season patrolling the sidelines in Knoxville, as the Volunteers have high expectations after overachieving in 2021.

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