OU top 25 games of last 25 seasons, Nos. 22-20: Bob Stoops' final blow vs. SEC

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. 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.

Part I, Nos. 25-23.