1956 Oklahoma Sooners football team

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year = 1956

| team = Oklahoma Sooners

| sport = football

| image = Oklahoma Sooners Logo 1951-1966.png

| image_size =

| conference = Big Seven Conference

| short_conf = Big 7

| CoachRank = 1

| APRank = 1

| record = 10–0

| conf_record = 6–0

| head_coach = Bud Wilkinson

| hc_year = 10th

| captain = Ed Gray

| captain2 = Jerry Tubbs

| stadium = Oklahoma Memorial Stadium

| champion = Consensus national champion
Big 7 champion

}}

The 1956 Oklahoma Sooners football team was an American football team that represented the University of Oklahoma during the 1956 college football season. In their tenth season under head coach Bud Wilkinson, the Sooners compiled a 10–0 record and repeated as consensus national champions. The Sooners were led on offense by quarterback Jim Harris and played their home games at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma.

After another undefeated season, Oklahoma was first in both final polls in early {{nowrap|December.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uAQrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=05cFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5199%2C1690371 |newspaper=Reading Eagle |location=(Pennsylvania) |agency=United Press |last=Miller |first=Norman |title=Oklahoma voted grid champion in final AP and UP polls |date=December 4, 1956 |page=23}}}} Their winning streak was up to forty {{nowrap|games,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=y2wpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TecDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4131%2C1067852 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |agency=Associated Press |title=Oklahoma wins 40th in a row |date=December 2, 1956 |page=1, sports }}}} but they did not play in a bowl game due to the Big Seven's {{nowrap|no-repeat rule;{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uAQrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=05cFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5199%2C1690371 |newspaper=Reading Eagle |location=(Pennsylvania) |agency=United Press |last=Miller |first=Norman |title=Oklahoma voted grid champion in final AP and UP polls |date=December 4, 1956 |page=23}}}} runner-up Colorado was invited to and won the Orange Bowl.

Schedule

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 1956

| poll = AP

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 29

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| rank = 1

| opponent = North Carolina

| site_stadium = Oklahoma Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Norman, OK

| score = 36–0

| attend = 57,559

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ponca-city-news-sooners-rip-tar-heel/138160733/|work=The Ponca City News|title=Sooners rip Tar Heels, 36–0|date=September 30, 1956|accessdate=January 6, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 6

| w/l = w

| rank = 1

| opponent = Kansas State

| site_stadium = Oklahoma Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Norman, OK

| score = 66–0

| attend = 39,981

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 13

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| neutral = y

| rank = 1

| opponent = Texas

| site_stadium = Cotton Bowl

| site_cityst = Dallas, TX

| gamename = Red River Shootout

| tv = NBC

| score = 45–0

| attend = 75,504

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123798831/ou-stampedes-steers-450-for-33rd-stra/|work=Tulsa Sunday World|title=OU stampedes Steers, 45–0, for 33rd straight|date=October 14, 1956|accessdate=April 30, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 20

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 1

| opponent = Kansas

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Lawrence, KS

| score = 34–12

| attend = 30,129

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 27

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| rank = 2

| opponent = Notre Dame

| site_stadium = Notre Dame Stadium

| site_cityst = Notre Dame, IN

| tv = NBC

| score = 40–0

| attend = 60,128

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 3

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 1

| opponent = Colorado

| opprank = 18

| site_stadium = Folsom Field

| site_cityst = Boulder, CO

| tv = NBC

| score = 27–19

| attend = 46,563

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 10

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 1

| opponent = Iowa State

| site_stadium = Clyde Williams Stadium

| site_cityst = Ames, IA

| score = 44–0

| attend = 11,409

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 17

| w/l = w

| rank = 1

| opponent = Missouri

| site_stadium = Oklahoma Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Norman, OK

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 67–14

| attend = 57,647

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 24

| w/l = w

| rank = 1

| opponent = Nebraska

| site_stadium = Oklahoma Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Norman, OK

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 54–6

| attend = 50,039

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = December 1

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| rank = 1

| opponent = Oklahoma A&M

| site_stadium = Lewis Field

| site_cityst = Stillwater, OK

| gamename = Bedlam Series

| score = 53–0

| attend = 36,500

}}

{{Cite web|url=http://www.soonerstats.com/football/seasons/schedule.cfm?seasonid=1956|title = 1956 OU Football Season Schedule - SoonerStats - Historical scores, records, and stats for Oklahoma Sooners football, basketball, baseball, and softball}}

Rankings

{{Ranking movements

| poll1title = AP

| poll1firstweek = 0

| poll1lastweek = 11

| poll1_0=1 (111)

| poll1_1=1 (91)

| poll1_2=1 (60)

| poll1_3=1 (76)

| poll1_4=1 (67)

| poll1_5=2 (44)

| poll1_6=1 (143)

| poll1_7=1 (116)

| poll1_8=2 (92)

| poll1_9=1 (111)

| poll1_10=1 (81)

| poll1_11=1 (104)

}}

Game summaries

=Texas=

{{AFB game box start

|Title=

|Visitor=Texas

|V1=0 |V2=0 |V3=0 |V4=0

|Host=Oklahoma

|H1=6 |H2=13 |H3=13 |H4=13

|Date=October 13

|Location=Cotton Bowl

|StartTime=

|TimeZone=

|ElapsedTime=

|Attendance=75,504

|Weather={{convert|83|F}}

|Referee=

|TVAnnouncers=

|TVStation=NBC

}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |FirstEntry=yes |Quarter=Q1 |Time=11:57 |Team=OKLA |Event=Thomas 2 yard run (kick failed) |Score=OKLA 6–0 |LastEntry=}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |FirstEntry= |Quarter=Q2 |Time=14:27 |Team=OKLA |Event=McDonald 4 yard run (kick failed) |Score= OKLA 12–0|LastEntry=}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |FirstEntry= |Quarter= Q2|Time=:27 |Team=OKLA |Event= McDonald 27 yard pass from Harris (Harris kick) |Score= OKLA 19–0|LastEntry=}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |FirstEntry= |Quarter=Q3 |Time=8:41 |Team=OKLA |Event=Thomas 8 yard run (kick failed) |Score=OKLA 25–0 |LastEntry=}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |FirstEntry= |Quarter=Q3 |Time=1:32 |Team=OKLA |Event=McDonald 44 yard run (Pricer kick) |Score=OKLA 32–0 |LastEntry=}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |FirstEntry= |Quarter=Q4 |Time=12:55 |Team= OKLA|Event= Thomas 1 yard run (Pricer kick) |Score=OKLA 39–0 |LastEntry=}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |FirstEntry= |Quarter=Q4 |Time=:45 |Team= OKLA|Event=Day 25 yard interception return (kick failed) |Score=OKLA 45–0 |LastEntry=yes}}

[http://stats.texassports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/stats/56/ut-ou.htm]. Retrieved 2015-Jul-25.

Roster

QB Jimmy Harris, Sr.
HB Tommy McDonald, Sr.
C Jerry Tubbs, Sr.

Awards

C Jerry Tubbs (All-American, Heisman Finalist)
G Bill Krisher (All-American)
HB Tommy McDonald (All-American)
G Ed Gray (All-American)

[http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=208798500 SoonerSports.com]. Retrieved 2015-Jul-25.

NFL draft

The following players were drafted into the National Football League following the season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1957/draft.htm|title=1957 NFL Draft Listing|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=November 29, 2020}}

{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/schools/oklahoma/drafted.htm|title=Oklahoma Drafted Players/Alumni|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=April 23, 2023}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader\|team=Oklahoma Sooners\|border=2\|Round\|Pick\|Player\|Position\|NFL team}}
1	10	Jerry Tubbs	Center	Chicago Cardinals
3	31	Tommy McDonald	Wide receiver	Philadelphia Eagles
5	50	Jimmy Harris	Quarterback	Philadelphia Eagles
6	65	Billy Pricer	Back	Baltimore Colts
7	75	Ed Gray	Tackle	Los Angeles Rams
12	142	Bob Derrick	Back	Chicago Cardinals
28	336	Tom Emerson	Guard	Chicago Bears

References

Oklahoma

Category:Oklahoma Sooners football seasons

Category:College football national champions

Category:Big Eight Conference football champion seasons

Category:College football undefeated seasons

Oklahoma Sooners football