Oklahoma football: Five best Oklahoma defenses since 2000

By Chip Rouse | Mar 29, 2023

Oklahoma's Jalen Redmond (31) pressures Oklahoma State's Spencer Sanders (3) in the first half during the Bedlam college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov., 19, 2022.Presto Id /

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Nov 19, 2022; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker DaShaun White (23) and defensive back Woodi Washington (0) bring down Oklahoma State Cowboys wide receiver John Paul Richardson (17) during a game at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Terry-USA TODAY Sports /

4. 2009 Oklahoma Sooner defense

In 2008, Oklahoma won 12 games, lost 2, won the Big 12 championship for a sixth time in nine seasons and played for the BCS National Championship against Florida. That was an offensive-dominant Sooner team quarterbacked by Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford. Defensively, though, OU was average at best. The 2008 OU defense ranked 68th in total defense.

A year later, however, in 2009, Oklahoma fell to 8-5 overall and tied for third in the Big 12 with a very pedestrian for OU 5-3 conference record. Yet, that Sooner team fielded a defense that ranked No. 8 in the country in total defense, averaging 273 total yards allowed per game. OU allowed just 93 rushing yards, the fourth least by a Sooner defense in over two decades dating back to the 2000 season, and 180 yards through the air, which ranked 20th nationally.

Not a year to celebrate overall, but an outstanding year of Oklahoma defensive play.

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