1979 Oklahoma Sooners football team


The 1979 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the college football 1979 NCAA Division I-A season. Oklahoma Sooners football participated in the former Big Eight Conference at that time and played its home games in Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium where it has played its home games since 1923. The team posted an 11-1 overall record and a 7-0 conference record to earn the Conference title outright under head coach Barry Switzer who took the helm in 1973. This was Switzer's seventh conference title and fourth undefeated conference record in seven seasons.
The team was led by All-Americans Billy Sims and George Cumby. After winning the conference title outright, it earned a trip to the Orange Bowl for a bout with Florida State. During the season, it faced three different ranked opponents. All three of these opponents finished the season ranked. It endured its only defeat of the season against Texas in the Red River Shootout. The Sooners started the season with a four consecutive wins before losing to Texas and then won their remaining seven games. Sims and J.C. Watts both posted for 100-yard games in the Orange Bowl.
Sims led the nation in scoring with 138 points. Sims led the team in rushing with 1670 yards, Watts led the team in passing with 821 yards, Freddie Nixon led the team in receiving with 293 yards, Cumby led the team with 160 tackles and Bud Hebert posted 4 interceptions. Billy Sims set numerous Oklahoma offensive records that still stand including career 200-yard games, single-season rushing touchdowns

Schedule

Game summaries

Iowa

Tulsa

Rice

Colorado

Oklahoma faced its former coach Chuck Fairbanks for the first time since his departure following the 1972 season.

Texas (Red River Shootout)

Kansas State

Oklahoma State (Bedlam Series)

Kansas

Missouri

Florida State (Orange Bowl)

Roster

Awards and honors

The following Sooners were selected in the following year's NFL Draft.
PlayerPositionRoundOverall PickNFL Team
Billy SimsRB11Detroit Lions
George CumbyLB126Green Bay Packers
Darrol RayS240New York Jets
John GoodmanDE256Pittsburgh Steelers
Fred NixonWR487Green Bay Packers
Paul TaborC5130Chicago Bears
Darry HebertDB5179New York Giants
Barry BurdetLB9235New England Patriots
Mike BabbDB11284Atlanta Falcons