Bowl History

OU Football History & Tradition | Updated Jan. 23, 2020

Firmly entrenched among the most tradition-rich schools in America, the Sooners have been a mainstay in college football's bowl tradition with 53 appearances all time. OU enjoys favored status among the bowl community, partly for its tradition, but also for its fan following. Regardless of the location, Sooner fans flock to follow a bowl tradition that is as fresh as it is historic. OU has made 21 consecutive bowl appearances, the third-longest active streak in the nation behind Virginia Tech (27) and Georgia (23).

Bowl Quick Facts Total Bowl Games 53 - T-No. 4 Nationally Bowl Wins 29 - T-No. 6 Nationally Overall Bowl Record 29-23-1 (.557) Longest Win Streak 4 on three occasions (1954-59, 1972-76, 1979-81) Most Appearances 20 - Orange Bowl (12-8 Record) as Higher-Ranked Team 17-9-1 (.648) - 27 Games as Lower-Ranked Team 11-12 (.478) - 23 Games Both Teams Unranked 1-2 (.333) - 3 Games Highest Attendance 92,844 - 2018 Rose Bowl Most Common Opponent Florida State - 4 games (3-1, OU)

Bowl Destinations

Due to the longstanding tradition that sent the Big 8 Conference champion to the Orange Bowl, Oklahoma has played in Miami 20 times and earned 12 Orange Bowl crowns -- more than any other team. OU has also played in the Sugar Bowl eight times (6-2) and five other bowl games more than once.

No. Bowl Record Last Visit 20 Orange Bowl 12-8 2018 Season 8 Sugar Bowl 6-2 2016 Season 7 Other bowl games 3-4 2019 Season 5 Fiesta Bowl 2-3 2010 Season 3 Gator Bowl 2-1 1991 Season 2 Rose Bowl 1-1 2017 Season 2 Cotton Bowl 1-1 2012 Season 2 Bluebonnet Bowl 0-1-1 1970 Season 2 Sun Bowl 2-0 2009 Season 1 BCS National Championship 0-1 2008 Season

Bowl Opponents

Oklahoma has played a total of 31 different opponents in bowl games. The Sooners have met nine teams more than once in a bowl including Florida State four times (last in the 2001 Orange Bowl).

No. Opponent Record Last 4 Florida State 3-1 2001 Orange Bowl 3 Alabama 1-1-1 2014 Sugar Bowl 3 Arkansas 2-1 2002 Cotton Bowl 3 Clemson 0-3 2015 Orange Bowl 3 LSU 1-2 2019 Peach Bowl 2 Auburn 2-0 2017 Sugar Bowl 2 Maryland 2-0 1956 Orange Bowl 2 Penn State 2-0 1986 Orange Bowl 2 Tennessee 1-1 1968 Orange Bowl 1 29 Others - -

Bowl Game MVPs

Thirty-six Sooners have earned Most Valuable Player honors in a Sooner bowl game including quarterbacks Jack Mildren and J.C. Watts who earned honors in two games. Most recently, quarterback Baker Mayfield was named the 2017 Sugar Bowl MVP in Oklahoma's 35-19 win over Auburn.