Appreciating Oklahoma

#1

LittleCat

aka Bat
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#1
Hey guys, LC here. I'm not a consistent FF poster, but I do enjoy posting now and then. I've really enjoyed the last year or so, and the energy of VN with anticipation for what looks to be a breakout year of the Vols. I for one can't wait to see what the future holds.

I've enjoyed the OU vs UT match-up, and VN has been entertaining in the lead up to the 2nd game. I took some time today and put together some information for you guys. OU vs UT is a historical match-up, with two of the best programs all time facing each other for only the 4th time ever. It's good to sit back and appreciate just how good these two programs are. We're all excited for what the game can be, and rightfully so.

Oklahoma, to anybody that knows college football history, demands respect.

  • They have the most wins since WW2.
  • They can claim 43 conference titles, tied with Nebraska for the most of any team nationally.
  • OU has finished the AP poll ranked over 50 times, and are able to claim 7 titles since 1950, more than any other school.
  • OU has the most 10+ win seasons, the most 11+ win seasons, and the fewest losing seasons, of any team nationally.
  • OU is the only program with four coaches who all have over 100 wins.

I'm not here just to brag about Oklahoma. Simply to provide some interesting information. I have friends in Lexington that are Vol fans, and we enjoy talking about sports of all kinds. I asked about the OU matchup, and what they thought of the two programs. They commented on some of the history of the OU program and how a lot of SEC fans don't really consider OU like that. I had never done that much digging about OU, and was surprised to see some of the statistics I did. Seeing what the OU program is, it makes me appreciate the game more, and enjoy OOC games that don't get to happen much. I respect both teams immensely for scheduling difficult games. It's more than two good teams taking the field, it's pride vs pride, history vs history. UT is one of the greatest programs, playing in the nations best conference. That's no easy feat.

Hope at least a few people find it interesting to realize just how great these programs are. OU and UT is a match up you don't get to see very often.

UT is 1-2 vs OU all time. I wouldn't be shocked to see it 2-2 after the next game. I sincerly hope UT can kick some OU butt. I won't lie, I like OU, but I hope the orange make a statement on Saturday and run the Sooners out of Neyland Stadium. Good luck!

Stats were taken from School Index | College Football at Sports-Reference.com so excuse any mistakes.
 
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#4
#4
OU deserves no respect.. unless you like to beat women. Boren and Stoops are sacks of **** and deserve nothing.
 
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#7
#7
OU deserves no respect.. unless you like to beat women. Boren and Stoops are sacks of **** and deserve nothing.

You should really try to express yourself more and tell us how you really feel. Bottling everything up like this just isn't healthy. lol
 
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#8
#8
LittleCat, there is no question whatsoever that Oklahoma is one of the great college football programs of all time, but there is also something else that you must take into consideration. For decades, Oklahoma and Nebraska were the "big two" and the rest of the Big Eight comprised the "little six." The gulf between those two tiers was often as deep as the Grand Canyon.

We agree on one critically important point; this game is special. Intersectional matchups of this magnitude are rare. To this day, we have never played Texas except in bowl games, nor have we played Nebraska, Ohio State or Michigan during the regular season. Nebraska is tentatively scheduled for a home-and-away series in 2026 and 2027 (Tennessee Volunteers Football Schedules and Future Schedules). Ohio State pulled out of a previously scheduled series when the Big Ten expanded their conference schedule.
 
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#12
#12
"For decades, Oklahoma and Nebraska were the "big two" and the rest of the Big Eight comprised the "little six." The gulf between those two tiers was often as deep as the Grand Canyon."

That's like telling Joe DiMaggio that his 56 game hitting streak would be more impressive if he had done it during interleague play
 
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#13
#13
LittleCat, there is no question whatsoever that Oklahoma is one of the great college football programs of all time, but there is also something else that you must take into consideration. For decades, Oklahoma and Nebraska were the "big two" and the rest of the Big Eight comprised the "little six." The gulf between those two tiers was often as deep as the Grand Canyon.

We agree on one critically important point; this game is special. Intersectional matchups of this magnitude are rare. To this day, we have never played Texas except in bowl games, nor have we played Nebraska, Ohio State or Michigan during the regular season. Nebraska is tentatively scheduled for a home-and-away series in 2026 and 2027 (Tennessee Volunteers Football Schedules and Future Schedules). Ohio State pulled out of a previously scheduled series when the Big Ten expanded their conference schedule.

OU has put up it's numbers in a conference that is vastly inferior to the SEC, no doubt. That being said, there is a statistic ranking SOS has Oklahoma at 36th and UT at 38th. However, any average person can tell you that the SEC, when it's even average, is better than every other conference out there. So I do agree. But on the big stage OU has performed well. We always criticize OSU for it's weak schedule, but if they beat good teams at the end it doesn't mean much.
 

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#14
#14
"For decades, Oklahoma and Nebraska were the "big two" and the rest of the Big Eight comprised the "little six." The gulf between those two tiers was often as deep as the Grand Canyon."

That's like telling Joe DiMaggio that his 56 game hitting streak would be more impressive if he had done it during interleague play


DiMaggio hit .408 over the course of his 56-game hitting streak. Ted Williams hit .406 over the course of the entire 1941 season (Joe DiMaggio Hitting Streak by Baseball Almanac). Which do you consider to be more impressive?

I am not being critical of Oklahoma's achievements in the slightest. It isn't their fault that Nebraska was their only consistent competition in the Big Eight. If we look at the period from, say, 1950-1996, when the Big Eight dissolved, we find that Oklahoma and Nebraska were 2nd and 4th nationally in winning percentage, respectively. Colorado was 3rd in the conference for that period and 31st nationally. Conversely, Missouri was 66th, Oklahoma State was 77th, Kansas was 85th, Iowa State was 95th and Kansas State was 107th in winning percentage (I-A Winning Percentage 1950-1996). Colorado presented a relatively frequent but not consistent challenge to Oklahoma and Nebraska. Personally, I believe that it is entirely accurate to characterize the gulf between Nebraska, Oklahoma and the rest of the Big eight as often being "as deep as the Grand Canyon."
 
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#16
#16
OU has put up it's numbers in a conference that is vastly inferior to the SEC, no doubt. That being said, there is a statistic ranking SOS has Oklahoma at 36th and UT at 38th. However, any average person can tell you that the SEC, when it's even average, is better than every other conference out there. So I do agree. But on the big stage OU has performed well. We always criticize OSU for it's weak schedule, but if they beat good teams at the end it doesn't mean much.


I am not disputing Oklahoma's rightful place among the absolute crème de la crème of college football programs. The Big 12 conference, however, is a stronger and more balanced conference than the old Big Eight. Furthermore, several of the programs that currently are good (Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma State) have never sustained the level of success that Oklahoma and Nebraska did over many decades. Traditional powers are designated as such because their peaks have been higher and longer than lesser programs. Conversely, their valleys typically have been less severe and of briefer duration.
 
#17
#17
"For decades, Oklahoma and Nebraska were the "big two" and the rest of the Big Eight comprised the "little six." The gulf between those two tiers was often as deep as the Grand Canyon."

That's like telling Joe DiMaggio that his 56 game hitting streak would be more impressive if he had done it during interleague play

This is true about the Big 2, but it many years they were top 5 teams. So tough for Missouri, Colorado, Oklahoma St. (even with really good teams) to break through that. Although Colorado won a NC in '90. Also, Important to remember that OU played Texas (also one of the top programs of all time) every year in a non-conference game back then.
 
#18
#18
Great post OP, only problem is "They have the most wins since WW2."

That's always a pet peeve of mine. You can pretty much pick any time period and manipulate the numbers to play in your favor.

I have a buddy who is a Miami fan. He constantly reiterates "My team is the most successful team in your lifetime" (I was born in 1985). Vandy could also say they are 2-1 against us in the last 3 years, those kind of stats don't mean much.
 
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#19
#19
Great post OP, only problem is "They have the most wins since WW2."

That's always a pet peeve of mine. You can pretty much pick any time period and manipulate the numbers to play in your favor.

I have a buddy who is a Miami fan. He constantly reiterates "My team is the most successful team in your lifetime" (I was born in 1985). Vandy could also say they are 2-1 against us in the last 3 years, those kind of stats don't mean much.

I understand what you are saying, BUT 70 years is a pretty good sample size! Lol. Hardly nitpicking to find a stat that works. 😉
 
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#20
#20
I understand what you are saying, BUT 70 years is a pretty good sample size! Lol. Hardly nitpicking to find a stat that works. 😉

Well the Vols are the winningest program since 1926. Whatchu got to say about that?
 

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