Oklahoma softball among greatest college sports dynasties

The best runs of all-time
NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

Under Patty Gasso, the Oklahoma Sooners have morphed not only into one of the greatest college softball dynasties, but also one of the best dynasties in all of college sports.

Looking at the best dynasty from different sports, including the Sooners' recent reign in college softball, here's a look at the five best dynasties to ever consume college sports.

5 best college sports dynasties

Oklahoma softball (2000-present)

The Sooners' streak of four straight national championships finally ended, but OU's softball dynasty isn't over yet. Since winning their first under Patty Gasso in 2000, the Sooners have claimed eight national titles in the last 25 years and more are likely on the way.

OU's dominance really hit a new level in 2016. Since then, the Sooners have won six of the last nine national titles. That included back-to-back titles in 2016-17 and four in a row in 2021-24.

The Sooners have also won conference titles in two different conferences during that span after winning the regular-season crown and being tournament co-champs in their first year in the SEC this past season.

UCLA men's basketball (1963-75)

After ending OU's title streak in the 2025 Women's College World Series, Texas Tech coach Gerry Glasco compared Gasso's dynasty at OU to the one John Wooden built at UCLA.

What Wooden accomplished with the Bruins has become the epitome of a dynasty today. Between 1963 and 1975, UCLA won 10 national championships. That included an unbelievable streak of seven in a row. The Bruins were also a perfect 30-0 during four of those seasons.

Alabama football (2009-20)

This dynasty is fresh on everyone's minds.

Between 2009 and 2020 under Nick Saban, Alabama won six national championships in 12 years. That's half of them during that time. Saban has more national titles than any other college football coach with those six plus another at LSU.

The Crimson Tide won back-to-back national titles in 2011 and 2012, and although there was never a long streak of championships, it was still the most dominant run in college football history.

UConn women's basketball (1995–present)

Like OU softball, it doesn't seem like the UConn Huskies will be dethroned anytime soon.

The Huskies this past season won their 12th national championship under Geno Auriemma, who has been leading UConn women's basketball for 41 years. The Huskies won three in a row in 2002-04, then upped themselves with four consecutive titles in 2013-16. UConn then went nine years without another championship before 2025, but still never missed the Elite Eight during that drought.

Oklahoma State wrestling

Gasso's Sooners aren't the first to create a dynasty in the state.

Overall, Cowboy wrestling has 34 national championships as it proclaims to be the greatest dynasty in all of sports. Most recently, Oklahoma State won five team titles under John Smith between 1992 and 2024. Four of those came in a row in 2003-06. And that wasn't even the Pokes' most impressive run, as they were champions six years in a row between 1937 and 1942.

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