1971 Oklahoma Sooners football team

1971 Oklahoma Sooners football
Sugar Bowl champion
Sugar Bowl, W 40–22 vs. Auburn
Conference	Big Eight Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 3
AP	No. 2
1971 record	11–1 (6–1 Big 8)
Head coach	Chuck Fairbanks (5th year)
Offensive coordinator	Barry Switzer (6th year)
Offensive scheme	Wishbone
Defensive coordinator	Larry Lacewell (2nd year)
Home stadium	Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (Capacity: 61,836)
Seasons ← 1970 1972 →

1971 Big 8 football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
#1 Nebraska $	7	–	0	–	0			13	–	0	–	0
#2 Oklahoma	6	–	1	–	0			11	–	1	–	0
#3 Colorado	5	–	2	–	0			10	–	2	–	0
Iowa State	4	–	3	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
Kansas State	2	–	5	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Oklahoma State	2	–	5	–	0			4	–	6	–	1
Kansas	2	–	5	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Missouri	0	–	7	–	0			1	–	10	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

#8 Oklahoma Sooners vs. #3 Texas Longhorns

1 2 3 4 Total • #8 Oklahoma 14 17 7 10 48 #3 Texas 14 7 6 0 27 Date: October 9 Location: Cotton Bowl, Dallas Game weather: Sunny

Scoring summary 1 10:29 TEX Donnie Wigginton 5-yard run (Steve Valek kick) TEX 7-0 1 7:59 OU Greg Pruitt 1-yard run (John Carroll kick) Tied 7-7 1 5:04 TEX Donnie Wigginton 44-yard run (Steve Valek kick) TEX 14-7 1 2:04 OU Roy Bell 3-yard run (John Carroll kick) Tied 14-14 2 10:33 OU Greg Pruitt 4-yard run (John Carroll kick) OU 21-14 2 9:09 OU Gregg Pruitt 20-yard run (John Carroll kick) OU 28-14 2 4:53 TEX Jim Bertelsen 3-yard run (Steve Valek kick) OU 28-21 2 0:01 OU John Carroll 26-yard field goal OU 31-21 3 7:17 OU Jack Mildren 7-yard run (John Carroll kick) OU 38-21 3 2:16 TEX Jim Bertelsen 15-yard run (kick failed) OU 38-27 4 3:29 OU John Carroll 27-yard field goal OU 41-27 4 2:10 OU Jack Mildren 1-yard run (John Carroll kick) OU 48-27

Scoring summary
1	10:29	TEX	Donnie Wigginton 5-yard run (Steve Valek kick)	TEX 7-0
1	7:59	OU	Greg Pruitt 1-yard run (John Carroll kick)	Tied 7-7
1	5:04	TEX	Donnie Wigginton 44-yard run (Steve Valek kick)	TEX 14-7
1	2:04	OU	Roy Bell 3-yard run (John Carroll kick)	Tied 14-14
2	10:33	OU	Greg Pruitt 4-yard run (John Carroll kick)	OU 21-14
2	9:09	OU	Gregg Pruitt 20-yard run (John Carroll kick)	OU 28-14
2	4:53	TEX	Jim Bertelsen 3-yard run (Steve Valek kick)	OU 28-21
2	0:01	OU	John Carroll 26-yard field goal	OU 31-21
3	7:17	OU	Jack Mildren 7-yard run (John Carroll kick)	OU 38-21
3	2:16	TEX	Jim Bertelsen 15-yard run (kick failed)	OU 38-27
4	3:29	OU	John Carroll 27-yard field goal	OU 41-27
4	2:10	OU	Jack Mildren 1-yard run (John Carroll kick)	OU 48-27

#6 Colorado Buffaloes at #2 Oklahoma Sooners

1 2 3 4 Total #6 Colorado 0 0 17 0 17 • #2 Oklahoma 14 10 7 14 45 Date: October 16 Location: Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma Game attendance: 61,826

Scoring summary 1 OU Pruitt 66-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 7-0 1 OU Harrison 54-yard pass from Mildren (Carroll kick) OU 14-0 2 OU Carroll 36-yard field goal OU 17-0 2 OU Mildren 3-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 24-0 3 COL Nichols 64-yard pass from Johnson (Dean kick) OU 24-7 3 OU Pruitt 14-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 31-7 3 COL Davis 16-yard run (Dean kick) OU 31-14 3 COL Dean 32-yard field goal OU 31-17 4 OU Wylie 68-yard pass from Mildren (Carroll kick) OU 38-17 4 OU Bell 3-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 45-17

Scoring summary
1		OU	Pruitt 66-yard run (Carroll kick)	OU 7-0
1		OU	Harrison 54-yard pass from Mildren (Carroll kick)	OU 14-0
2		OU	Carroll 36-yard field goal	OU 17-0
2		OU	Mildren 3-yard run (Carroll kick)	OU 24-0
3		COL	Nichols 64-yard pass from Johnson (Dean kick)	OU 24-7
3		OU	Pruitt 14-yard run (Carroll kick)	OU 31-7
3		COL	Davis 16-yard run (Dean kick)	OU 31-14
3		COL	Dean 32-yard field goal	OU 31-17
4		OU	Wylie 68-yard pass from Mildren (Carroll kick)	OU 38-17
4		OU	Bell 3-yard run (Carroll kick)	OU 45-17

1 2 3 4 Total • Oklahoma 14 27 13 21 75 Kansas St 7 7 7 7 28 Date: October 23 Location: KSU Stadium, Manhattan, Kansas Game attendance: 40,000

Scoring summary 1 KSU Butler 2 yard run (Goerger kick) Kansas St 7–0 1 OKLA Mildren 1 yard run (kick failed) Kansas St 7–6 1 OKLA Pruitt 15 yard run (Chandler pass from Mildren) Oklahoma 14–7 2 OKLA Bell 24 yard run (Carroll kick) Oklahoma 21–7 2 KSU Butler 1 yard run (Goerger kick) Oklahoma 21–14 2 OKLA Pruitt 38 yard run (Carroll kick) Oklahoma 28–14 2 OKLA Pruitt 15 yard run (Carroll kick) Oklahoma 35–14 2 OKLA Bell 5 yard run (kick failed) Oklahoma 41–14 3 OKLA Bell 6 yard run (Carroll kick) Oklahoma 48–14 3 KSU Butler 1 yard run (Goerger kick) Oklahoma 48–21 3 OKLA Mildren 42 yard run (kick failed) Oklahoma 54–21 4 OKLA Chandler 15 yard pass from Mildren (Carroll kick) Oklahoma 61–21 4 KSU Butler 1 yard run (Goerger kick) Oklahoma 61–28 4 OKLA Bell 11 yard run (Carroll kick) Oklahoma 68–28 4 OKLA Marshall 6 yard run (Carroll kick) Oklahoma 75–28

Scoring summary
1		KSU	Butler 2 yard run (Goerger kick)	Kansas St 7–0
1		OKLA	Mildren 1 yard run (kick failed)	Kansas St 7–6
1		OKLA	Pruitt 15 yard run (Chandler pass from Mildren)	Oklahoma 14–7
2		OKLA	Bell 24 yard run (Carroll kick)	Oklahoma 21–7
2		KSU	Butler 1 yard run (Goerger kick)	Oklahoma 21–14
2		OKLA	Pruitt 38 yard run (Carroll kick)	Oklahoma 28–14
2		OKLA	Pruitt 15 yard run (Carroll kick)	Oklahoma 35–14
2		OKLA	Bell 5 yard run (kick failed)	Oklahoma 41–14
3		OKLA	Bell 6 yard run (Carroll kick)	Oklahoma 48–14
3		KSU	Butler 1 yard run (Goerger kick)	Oklahoma 48–21
3		OKLA	Mildren 42 yard run (kick failed)	Oklahoma 54–21
4		OKLA	Chandler 15 yard pass from Mildren (Carroll kick)	Oklahoma 61–21
4		KSU	Butler 1 yard run (Goerger kick)	Oklahoma 61–28
4		OKLA	Bell 11 yard run (Carroll kick)	Oklahoma 68–28
4		OKLA	Marshall 6 yard run (Carroll kick)	Oklahoma 75–28

#1 Nebraska at #2 Oklahoma

1 2 3 4 Total • #1 Nebraska 7 7 14 7 35 #2 Oklahoma 3 14 7 7 31 Date: 1971-11-25 Location: Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma Game start: 1:50 pm CST Game attendance: 61,826 Referee: Vance Carlson TV announcers (ABC): Chris Schenkel, Bud Wilkinson, and Bill Flemming (sideline)

#3 Oklahoma Sooners at Oklahoma State Cowboys

1 2 3 4 Total • #3 Oklahoma 17 20 7 14 58 Oklahoma State 0 7 0 7 14 Date: December 4 Location: Lewis Field, Stillwater, Oklahoma Game attendance: 37,500

Scoring summary 1 OU Carroll 26-yard field goal OU 3-0 1 OU Mildren 4-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 10-0 1 OU Harrison 77-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 17-0 2 OU Mildren 1-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 24-0 2 OU Pruitt 1-yard run (kick failed) OU 30-0 2 OSU Garrett 38-yard run (Pruss kick) OU 30-7 2 OU Chandler 18-yard pass from Mildren (Carroll kick) OU 37-7 3 OU Pruitt 7-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 44-7 4 OSU Graham 7-yard pass from Pounds (Pruss kick) OU 44-14 4 OU Bell 4-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 51-14 4 OU Dodd 5-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 58-14

The 1971 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 1971 NCAA University Division season. Oklahoma was a member of the Big Eight Conference and played its home games in Oklahoma Memorial Stadium where it has played its home games since 1923. The team posted an 11–1 and 6–1 conference record to under head coach Chuck Fairbanks. The Sooners finished the season ranked #2, losing only once, 35–31 to eventual national champion Nebraska in the 1971 Nebraska vs. Oklahoma football game, which has become known as Game of the Century.

In 1971, offensive coordinator Barry Switzer perfected the wishbone offense as it led the nation in both scoring (45 points average) and total yards (563 total yards average), and set an NCAA record by averaging over 472.4 (5196 in 11 games) rushing yards in a season. The team holds the current school record with 7.07 yards per rushing attempt and 7.6 yards per play as well as the records for 469.6 rushing yards (5635 in 12 games counting bowl game) and 566.83 yards of total offense per game. The team also holds the single-season rushing touchdowns record of 62 and rushing touchdowns per game record of 5.17. The team's records of 711 single-game rushing yards and 785 total yards stood for nine seasons. Jack Mildren's single-season record for yards rushing by a quarterback of 1140 would be broken three seasons later by Freddie Solomon.

Greg Pruitt set the current national single-season record with 8.98 yards per attempt, the school's single-game records of 294 rushing yards and 374 all-purpose yards. Meanwhile, Jon Harrison set the single-season and career yards per reception with 29.1 and 27.0. His 2066 single-season all-purpose yards record stood until Quentin Griffin broke it in 2002. Joe Wylie's kickoff return average record of 28.5 stood for 27 years.

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