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American college football season
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 December.[ 1] Their winning streak was up to forty games,[ 2] but they did not play in a bowl game due to the Big Seven's no-repeat rule;[ 1] runner-up Colorado was invited to and won the Orange Bowl .
Date Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance Source September 29 North Carolina * No. 1 W 36–057,559 [ 3] October 6 Kansas State No. 1 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK W 66–039,981 October 13 vs. Texas * No. 1 NBC W 45–075,504 October 20 at Kansas No. 1 W 34–1230,129 October 27 at Notre Dame * No. 2 NBC W 40–060,128 November 3 at No. 18 Colorado No. 1 NBC W 27–1946,563 November 10 at Iowa State No. 1 W 44–011,409 November 17 Missouri No. 1 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK (rivalry ) W 67–1457,647 November 24 Nebraska No. 1 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK (rivalry ) W 54–650,039 December 1 at Oklahoma A&M * No. 1 W 53–036,500 *Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
[ 4]
Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking Week Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final AP 1 (111) 1 (91) 1 (60) 1 (76) 1 (67) 2 (44) 1 (143) 1 (116) 2 (92) 1 (111) 1 (81) 1 (104)
1
2 3 4 Total
Texas
0
0 0 0
0
• Oklahoma
6
13 13 13
45
Date: October 13Location: Cotton Bowl Game attendance: 75,504Game weather: 83 °F (28 °C)Television network: NBC Scoring summary Q1 11:57 OKLA Thomas 2 yard run (kick failed)OKLA 6–0 Q2 14:27 OKLA McDonald 4 yard run (kick failed)OKLA 12–0 Q2 :27 OKLA McDonald 27 yard pass from Harris (Harris kick) OKLA 19–0 Q3 8:41 OKLA Thomas 8 yard run (kick failed) OKLA 25–0 Q3 1:32 OKLA McDonald 44 yard run (Pricer kick) OKLA 32–0 Q4 12:55 OKLA Thomas 1 yard run (Pricer kick) OKLA 39–0 Q4 :45 OKLA Day 25 yard interception return (kick failed) OKLA 45–0
[ 5]
QB Jimmy Harris, Sr.
HB Tommy McDonald, Sr.
C Jerry Tubbs, Sr. [ 6]
The following players were drafted into the National Football League following the season.[ 7] [ 8]
^ a b Miller, Norman (December 4, 1956). "Oklahoma voted grid champion in final AP and UP polls" . Reading Eagle . (Pennsylvania). United Press. p. 23. ^ "Oklahoma wins 40th in a row" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 2, 1956. p. 1, sports.^ "Sooners rip Tar Heels, 36–0" . The Ponca City News . September 30, 1956. Retrieved January 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "1956 OU Football Season Schedule - SoonerStats - Historical scores, records, and stats for Oklahoma Sooners football, basketball, baseball, and softball" .^ [1] . Retrieved 2015-Jul-25.^ SoonerSports.com . Retrieved 2015-Jul-25.^ "1957 NFL Draft Listing" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved November 29, 2020 .^ "Oklahoma Drafted Players/Alumni" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved April 23, 2023 .
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold
1936–1949 1950s 1960s
1960 Minnesota (AP, Coaches, NFF ) / Ole Miss (FWAA) 1961 Alabama (AP, Coaches, NFF) / Ohio State (FWAA) 1962 USC 1963 Texas 1964 Alabama (AP, Coaches) / Arkansas (FWAA) / Notre Dame (NFF) 1965 Alabama (AP, FWAA) / Michigan State (Coaches, FWAA, NFF) 1966 Notre Dame (AP, Coaches, FWAA, NFF) / Michigan State (NFF) 1967 USC 1968 Ohio State 1969 Texas 1970s 1980–1991
MVIAA Big Six Big Seven Big Eight National championships in bold
