2014 Oklahoma Sooners football team explained

The 2014 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season, the 120th season of Sooner football. The team was led by two-time Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award winner, Bob Stoops, in his 16th season as head coach. They played their home games at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. They were a member of the Big 12 Conference.

Oklahoma entered the 2014 season ranked 4th in AP Poll and were projected to capture their first Big 12 title since 2012, finishing 1st in the Big 12 media poll. The Sooners won their first four games of the season, before being upset by then-No. 25 TCU. The team also lost to then-No. 14 Kansas State two weeks later & then to No. 10 Baylor, which was the first and only win in Norman for the Bears to date. The Sooners recovered and won their next two games, which included a record-setting performance from freshman running back Samaje Perine, who ran for 427 yards, which broke the single-game rushing record set a week prior by Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon. They entered the season finale against Oklahoma State at 8–3 and ranked 18th in the AP Poll. However, the Sooners lost in overtime, giving the Cowboys their first win in Bedlam since 2011, which also earned them bowl eligibility and their first win in Norman since 2001. Oklahoma finished out the regular season with an 8–4 record, 5–4 in Big 12 play to finish in a three-way tie for fourth place. The Sooners were invited to play in the Russell Athletic Bowl against the Clemson Tigers,^[1] where they were defeated by a score of 40–6.

Following the season, Jordan Phillips was selected in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft, along with Geneo Grissom in the third, Daryl Williams and Blake Bell in the fourth, and Tyrus Thompson and Aaron Ripkowski in the sixth.

Preseason

Award watch lists

• John Mackey Award

Blake Bell^[2]

Taylor McNamara^[2]

• Lou Groza Award

Michael Hunnicutt^[3]

• Lombardi Award

Eric Striker^[4]

• Jim Thorpe Award

Zack Sanchez^[5]

• Butkus Award

Frank Shannon^[4]

Eric Striker^[4]

• Maxwell Award

Trevor Knight^[6]

• Rimington Trophy

Ty Darlington^[7]

• Outland Trophy

Daryl Williams^[8]

• Davey O'Brien Award

Trevor Knight^[9]

• Chuck Bednarik Award

Frank Shannon^[10]

Eric Striker^[10]

Charles Tapper^[10]

• Walter Camp Award

Trevor Knight^[11]

• Bronko Nagurski Trophy

Zack Sanchez^[12]

Eric Striker^[12]

Charles Tapper^[12]

Depth chart

^[13]

Game summaries

Louisiana Tech

See also: 2014 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team.

Tulsa

See also: 2014 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team.

Tennessee

See also: 2014 Tennessee Volunteers football team.

West Virginia

See also: 2014 West Virginia Mountaineers football team.

TCU

See also: 2014 TCU Horned Frogs football team.

Texas (Red River Showdown)

See also: 2014 Texas Longhorns football team and Red River Showdown.

Kansas State

See also: 2014 Kansas State Wildcats football team.

Iowa State

See also: 2014 Iowa State Cyclones football team.

Baylor

See also: 2014 Baylor Bears football team.

Texas Tech

See also: 2014 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team.

Kansas

See also: 2014 Kansas Jayhawks football team.

Kickoff was delayed from the original start time of 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. due to lightning and thunderstorms in the vicinity of the University of Oklahoma.^[14] Oklahoma true freshman running back Samaje Perine broke the NCAA single-game rushing record in this game, recording 427 yards and five touchdowns on 34 carries. Perine broke Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon's record — which only stood for seven days — on a 42-yard run early in the fourth quarter. The yardage also allowed him to become OU's single-game leading rusher, breaking the mark previously owned by Greg Pruitt (294 yards vs. Kansas State, October 23, 1971). It was the third game of the season in which Perine rushed for more than 200 yards.^[15]

Oklahoma State (Bedlam Series)

See also: 2014 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team and Bedlam Series.

Clemson (Russell Athletic Bowl)

See main article: 2014 Russell Athletic Bowl.

See also: 2014 Clemson Tigers football team.

Rankings

See also: 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings.

Statistics

Team

OU Opp Points per Game 36.4 25.9 First Downs 293 264   Rushing 161 86   Passing 118 155   Penalty 14 23 Rushing Yardage 3,395 1,383   Rushing Attempts 557 458   Avg per Rush 6.1 3   Avg per Game 261.2 106.4 Passing Yardage 2,646 3,591   Avg per Game 203.5 276.2   Completions-Attempts 210-386 (54.4%) 287-510 (56.3%) Total Offense 6,041 4,974   Total Plays 943 968   Avg per Play 6.4 5.1   Avg per Game 464.7 382.6 Fumbles-Lost 12-7 19-7

OU Opp Punts-Yards 66-2,763 (41.9 avg) 89-3,489 (39.2 avg) Punt Returns-Total Yards 15-87 (5.8 avg) 17-181 (10.6 avg) Kick Returns-Total Yards 37-840 (22.7 avg) 26-554 (21.3 avg) Onside Kicks 0-1 (0%) 0-0 Avg Time of Possession per Game 30:20 29:40 Penalties-Yards 70-648 77-614   Avg per Game 49.8 47.2 3rd Down Conversions 72/178 (40.4%) 82/214 (38.3%) 4th Down Conversions 9/15 (60%) 9/17 (52.9%) Sacks By-Yards 32-204 9-58 Total TDs 62 43   Rushing 40 15   Passing 17 23 Fields Goals-Attempts 13-18 (72.2%) 14-18 (77.8%) PAT-Attempts 60-62 (96.8%) 37-40 (92.5%) Total Attendance 510,972 248,457   Games-Avg per Game 6-85,162 5-49,691

• Most points given up in Stoops era
• Least sacks allowed since 2004
• Smallest average margin of victory (10.5), least passing touchdowns and lowest passing completion percentage since 2005
• Least rushing yards per game given up since 2006
• Least passing completions and third down conversions since 2006
• Highest passing completion percentage allowed since 2007
• Least field goals made and attempted since 2008
• Most rushing touchdowns since 2008
• Most first downs, total touchdowns and passing completions given up since 2008
• Least rushing first downs, rushing yards and yards per rush given up since 2009
• Highest fourth down conversion rate allowed since 2009
• Lowest field goal conversion rate since 2009

Scores by quarter

• Most second quarter points allowed since 2008
• Least second quarter points scored since 2009

Postseason

Coaching changes

• On January 4, 2015, co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach Jay Norvell was fired.^[16]
• On January 6, 2015, co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Josh Heupel was fired.^[17]
• On January 12, 2015, assistant head coach and cornerbacks coach Bobby Jack Wright announced his retirement from coaching.^[18]
• On January 12, 2015, East Carolina offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley was hired as Oklahoma offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.^[19]
• On February 4, 2015, Washington State wide receivers coach Dennis Simmons was hired as Oklahoma outside receivers coach.^[20]
• On February 9, 2015, Notre Dame defensive backs coach Kerry Cooks was hired as Oklahoma defensive backs coach.
• On February 10, 2015, defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery left Oklahoma to become a defensive front assistant for the Green Bay Packers.^[21]
• On February 19, 2015, Stanford defensive assistant Diron Reynolds was hired as defensive line coach.^[22]

2015 NFL Draft

The 2015 NFL draft was held at Auditorium Theatre in Chicago on April 30 through May 2, 2015. The following Oklahoma players were either selected or signed as free agents following the draft.

Player	Position	Round	Overall Pick	NFL Team
Jordan Phillips	NT	2nd	52	Miami Dolphins
Geneo Grissom	DE	3rd	97	New England Patriots
Daryl Williams	OT	4th	102	Carolina Panthers
Blake Bell	TE	4th	117	San Francisco 49ers
Tyrus Thompson	OT	6th	185	Minnesota Vikings
Aaron Ripkowski	FB	6th	206	Green Bay Packers
Julian Wilson	CB	Undrafted		Baltimore Ravens
Chuka Ndulue	NT	Undrafted		Denver Broncos
Dionte Savage	G	Undrafted		Miami Dolphins

Notes and References

1. News: Sooners Heading to Russell Athletic Bowl. Ryan. Aber. The Oklahoman. Oklahoma City. December 7, 2014. December 28, 2014.
2. News: Blake Bell, Taylor McNamara Named to John Mackey Award Watch List. Jason. Kersey. The Oklahoman. Oklahoma City. July 8, 2014. September 13, 2014.
3. News: OU's Michael Hunnicutt, Tulsa's Carl Salazar Named to Groza Award Watch List. Eric. Bailey. Tulsa World. July 10, 2014. September 13, 2014.
4. News: OU Places Four on Preseason All-Big 12 Team. Jason. Kersey. The Oklahoman. Oklahoma City. July 16, 2014. September 13, 2014.
5. News: Cornerback Zack Sanchez Lands on 2014 Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List. Jason. Kersey. The Oklahoman. Oklahoma City. July 11, 2014. September 13, 2014.
6. News: OU Quarterback Named to Maxwell Award Watch List. Joe. Buettner. The Oklahoman. Oklahoma City. July 7, 2014. September 13, 2014.
7. News: OU Center Ty Darlington on Rimington Trophy Watch List. Ryan. Aber. The Oklahoman. Oklahoma City. May 19, 2014. September 13, 2014.
8. News: Daryl Williams Named to 2014 Outland Trophy Watch List. Jason. Kersey. The Oklahoman. Oklahoma City. July 10, 2014. September 13, 2014.
9. Web site: 2014 Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award Watch List Revealed. Davey O’Brien Foundation. July 16, 2014. September 13, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140719160834/http://blog.daveyobrien.org/2014/07/16/2014-davey-o%E2%80%99brien-national-quarterback-award%C2%AE-watch-list-revealed/. July 19, 2014. dead. mdy-all.
10. News: 3 Sooners Named to Bednarik Award Watch List. Cliff. Brunt. The Oklahoman. Oklahoma City. Associated Press. July 7, 2014. September 13, 2014.
11. Web site: 50 Players Named to Walter Camp Award Watch List. Kevin. McGuire. NBC Sports. July 18, 2014. September 13, 2014.
12. News: Zack Sanchez, Eric Striker and Charles Tapper Named to Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. Jason. Kersey. The Oklahoman. Oklahoma City. July 10, 2014. September 13, 2014.
13. Web site: Depth Chart. University of Oklahoma Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. September 1, 2014. September 2, 2014.
14. News: Kansas Game Kickoff Delayed Until at Least 12:30 p.m.. Jason. Kersey. The Oklahoman. Oklahoma City. November 22, 2014. November 22, 2014.
15. News: Sooners' Samaje Perine Runs for Record 427 Yards in OU's 44-7 Win Over Kansas. Jason. Kersey. The Oklahoman. Oklahoma City. November 22, 2014. November 22, 2014.
16. News: Bob Stoops Fires Co-offensive coordinator Jay Norvell. Jason. Kersey. The Oklahoman. Oklahoma City. January 4, 2015. January 5, 2015.
17. News: Oklahoma Co-offensive coordinator Josh Heupel Fired. Ryan. Aber. The Oklahoman. Oklahoma City. January 6, 2015. January 13, 2015.
18. News: Collected Wisdom: Bobby Jack Wright, Retiring OU Assistant coach. Ryan. Aber. The Oklahoman. Oklahoma City. January 24, 2015. October 5, 2015.
19. News: OU Unveils Offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley. Dylan. Buckingham. KFOR. Oklahoma City. January 17, 2015. October 5, 2015.
20. News: Sooners Officially Announce Hires of Kerry Cooks, Dennis Simmons; Changes to Staff. Jason. Kersey. The Oklahoman. Oklahoma City. February 9, 2015. October 14, 2015.
21. News: Jerry Montgomery Will Be Loyal to Bob and Mike Stoops 'Until the Day I Die'. Jason. Kersey. The Oklahoman. Oklahoma City. February 13, 2015. October 5, 2015.
22. News: OU Hires Diron Reynolds to Replace Jerry Montgomery. The Oklahoman. Oklahoma City. February 19, 2015. October 14, 2015.