OU top 25 games of last 25 seasons, Nos. 19-17: Field storming time

You could debate for hours and hours about the greatest OU games of the last 25 seasons. So, um, why don’t we?

As we head into the 2025 season under head coach Brent Venables, we’re going to take look back at the previous 25 seasons (2000-2024).

A trip down the memory lane if ever there was one. And let’s rank them. Take one game per season, give it a number (from 25 for No. 1 to 1 for No. 25), and let’s see which OU games have stood the test of time.

From Nebraska in 2000 to “Jump Around” vs. Texas Tech in 2008 and everywhere in between, let’s go. Where do some of the biggest Red River Rivalry and Bedlam wins stack up? There are no wrong answers.

Included are the individual scores from SoonerScoop’s Josh McCuistion, Bob Przybylo, Eddie Radosevich and George Stoia.

The top 25 OU games of the last 25 seasons

No. 19: 2024 – 24-3 vs. Alabama – 31 points

McCuistion: 5
Przybylo: 12
Radosevich: 11
Stoia: 3

The game

A defensive masterpiece. Not sure if there is any other way to describe it. Anticipating the Crimson Tide walking into Norman and nailing the season’s coffin shut. Instead, it was the Sooners destroying Alabama.

The defense just taking over in the second half. Three interceptions, punctuated by another Kip-Six from linebacker Kip Lewis. Eli Bowen getting it all started and having everyone believe this could actually happen.

The party was on in Norman. Taking out a season’s worth of frustration for one magical night in Norman.

Historical impact

To be fair, this remains to be seen. What we actually know? This was the game that made OU bowl eligible because it wasn’t looking pretty after the Missouri collapse.

And flip it over to the Crimson Tide side, this was the inexcusable loss that kept Bama from making the college football playoff.

The first field storming in 24 years as well.

Honorable mention: None.

No. 18: 2010 – 47-41 at OSU – 34 points

McCuistion: 9
Przybylo: 6
Radosevich: 4
Stoia: 15

The game

If you say the names Cameron Kenney or James Hanna to an OU fan, then everybody knows what game we’re about to talk about.

It was 33-24 for OU with five minutes to left, and then we just went crazy. Big play after big play, but the Sooners coming out on top.

Quarterback Landry Jones threw for 468 yards and four touchdowns. OU picked off Brandon Weeden three times (Quinton Carter 2, Austin Box).

An 86-yard touchdown pass to Kenney and a 76-yard one to Hanna in the final minutes as the two teams combined for 40 points in the fourth.

Historical impact

Just an insane final few minutes of that fourth quarter. Not sure there has been anything that has lived on for years and years since, though.

Always nice to win in Stillwater.

Honorable mention: vs. Texas (28-20).

No. 17: 2007 – 28-21 vs. Texas – 36 points

McCuistion: 14
Przybylo: 7
Radosevich: 9
Stoia: 6

The game

A fun one and a game OU had to have after suffering a head-scratching loss earlier in the season.

This was the only victory for Sam Bradford against the Longhorns, but he certainly showed out on this Saturday.

Bradford threw 244 yards and three touchdowns, and DeMarco Murray added a 65-yard touchdown run in the second half.

Historical impact

Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy never paired up in a bad game. And you add in the hurdle from DeMarco Murray, that’s some good stuff.

This was key for OU in terms of breaking the two-game losing streak against the Longhorns, which was short-lived as Texas would win the next two after as well.

Honorable mention: None.

Parts I & II

No. 25: 2022 – 28-13 vs. OSU – 11 points

McCuistion: 3
Przybylo: 2
Radosevich: 2
Stoia: 4

The game

You might remember the first quarter blitz. It had you thinking this could be one of the all-time Bedlam blowouts. OU scored all 28 points in the first quarter.

And had it kept up that way? It would have been way up in the list. Instead, the Sooners offense went into a funk, even confusing by time management standards in the second half.

The OU defense had four interceptions and earned win No. 6 for the Sooners to become bowl eligible under Venables.

Quarterback Dillon Gabriel threw for two touchdowns and ran for another.

Historical impact

As strange as it is to say, we don’t know when there will be another Bedlam. So, yea, this is the last Bedlam victory for OU at this point.

It was also incredibly pivotal for Venables as OU had fallen from 5-3 to 5-5 and in danger of missing a bowl game in his initial season.

Honorable mention: None.

No. 24: 2005 – 37-30 2OT vs. Baylor – 16 points

McCuistion: 2
Przybylo: 1
Radosevich: 6
Stoia: 7

The game

Does the name Jacob Gutierrez mean anything to anybody? With Adrian Peterson hurt and Kejuan Jones suspended, this was the night for Gutierrez.

He rushed for 173 yards on 30 attempts with two touchdowns, as OU played in its first-ever double overtime game.

Quarterback Rhett Bomar hit freshman wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias for the game-winning touchdown in double overtime.

Historical impact

The rare overtime game in Norman, to begin with. This game made sure OU remained undefeated against Baylor to that point.

A little sign of things to come. Not too much was known about Iglesias at this juncture, but we know what a career he would go on and have for the crimson and cream.

OU was finally over .500 for the season at 4-3 and would begin to get back on track the rest of the way.

Honorable mention: vs. Oregon (17-14).

No. 23: 2009 – 27-0 vs. OSU – 19 points

McCuistion: 4
Przybylo: 4
Radosevich: 1
Stoia: 10

The game

OSU came into Norman as the one to watch, at 9-2 and ranked No. 12 in the country. What transpired, though, was a complete beatdown by the 6-5 Sooners.

It wasn’t a big numerical game for running back DeMarco Murray, but he did rush for two touchdowns.

OSU was limited to 109 total yards of offense, an incredible effort by the OU defense.

And the play everybody remembers is Norman’s own Ryan Broyles. An 87-yard punt return for a touchdown to stamp this Bedlam victory. Broyles also had nine catches for 103 yards.

Historical impact

Oh, not much, probably why it doesn’t rank higher. It hasn’t been often where OSU came into Norman as the higher-ranked squad. Probably gave the crowd a little juice, and OU delivered a stellar performance on a Saturday afternoon.

Honorable mention: vs. Stanford (31-27).

No. 22: 2016 – 35-19 vs. Auburn – 22 points

McCuistion: 6
Przybylo: 11
Radosevich: 3
Stoia: 2

The game

OU head coach Bob Stoops, of course, wasn’t afraid to talk about playing the SEC. A lot of SEC fans were hoping the Tigers could shut up the Sooners in the Sugar Bowl.

Nope. Quarterback Baker Mayfield threw for 298 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Joe Mixon rushed for a couple of scores. Auburn was up 7-0 at one point, but it was 35-13 until Auburn scored a meaningless touchdown as time expired.

OU went from 1-2 to 11-2 and everybody was fired up for the 2017 season.

Historical impact

A couple of massive notes here. Nobody had any clue at all this would end up being the final official game coached by Stoops. He would step in, obviously, in 2021 for OU vs. Oregon in the Alamo Bowl, but this Sugar Bowl was it.

Then you had running back Samaje Perine. He rushed for 86 yards and a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, he became the all-time leading rusher in OU’s illustrious history.

Honorable mention: vs. Texas (45-40)

No. 21: 2014 – 44-7 vs. KU – 22 points

McCuistion: 1
Przybylo: 5
Radosevich: 15
Stoia: 1

The game

Quick, who was the starting quarterback for OU? You might win some money on that one. Yes, this was one of the only Cody Thomas starts with the Sooners.

Thomas completed three passes for 39 yards because you might remember the rushing attack for this one.

On a dreary, wet, rainy Saturday afternoon, freshman running back Samaje Perine went bonkers.

All said and done, 34 carries for 427 yards and five touchdowns. The 427 yards set the single-game record in FBS that still stands today.

Historical impact

Not often you see history made like that. This season was one of such incredible high hopes that got dashed repeatedly.

It was not the 2014 everybody hoped for, but this was Perine’s day.

Honorable mention: None.

No. 20: 2006 – 21-7 vs. Nebraska – 28 points

McCuistion: 7
Przybylo: 3
Radosevich: 7
Stoia: 11

The game

The redemption story for quarterback Paul Thompson. After losing the job to Rhett Bomar, Thompson became the 2006 savior after Bomar was kicked off the team before the season.

Thompson threw for 265 yards and two touchdowns. And you might remember the 99-yard drive in the third quarter to put this one away.

Wide receiver Malcom Kelly had 10 catches for 142 yards and both of the touchdowns. OU picked off Zac Taylor three times on a cold night in Kansas City.

Historical impact

Another Big 12 championship is always nice. Game gets lost a bit in the shuffle because the Boise State game was right after this.

And, of course, you have the legendary Kelly rap after the game that is still recited by OU players today, nearly 20 years later.

Honorable mention: None.