What Is 1945 Oklahoma Sooners football team

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1945 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma during the 1945 college football season, finishing with a 4–5 record under head coach Snorter Luster. It was the team's 27th season and part of the Missouri Valley Conference.

Key Facts

The 1945 Oklahoma Sooners finished the season with a 4–5 overall record
Head coach Snorter Luster led the team in his first and only season
The team played as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference
Oklahoma scored 118 total points while allowing 138 points
The Sooners' home games were played at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman

Overview

The 1945 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma during the 1945 college football season. Competing in the Missouri Valley Conference, the team was led by first-year head coach Snorter Luster, who took over following the departure of previous coach Dewey Luster.

This season marked a transitional period for the Sooners, as they struggled to find consistency after wartime disruptions affected player availability and team cohesion. Despite high hopes for a rebound, the team finished with a losing record, reflecting the challenges of post-World War II collegiate athletics.

Season Record: The 1945 Sooners posted a 4–5 overall record, including a 2–2 mark in conference play, indicating a competitive but ultimately underperforming season.
Head Coach: Snorter Luster served as head coach for only one season, compiling a 4–5 record before stepping down, marking a brief tenure in Oklahoma football history.
Conference Affiliation: The team competed in the Missouri Valley Conference, a precursor to the later Big Eight and modern Big 12 Conference alignments.
Scoring Output: Oklahoma scored 118 total points across nine games, averaging about 13.1 points per game, a modest offensive output for the era.
Defensive Performance: The defense allowed 138 points, averaging 15.3 points per game, highlighting struggles to contain opposing offenses consistently.

Season Structure and Performance

The 1945 season followed a nine-game schedule, featuring a mix of regional rivals and conference opponents, with games played primarily in the central United States. The team showed flashes of potential but failed to maintain momentum over the full season.

Home Games:Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman hosted all home games, serving as the team's primary venue since 1925 with a capacity of around 31,000 at the time.
Season Opener: The Sooners opened with a 13–0 victory over Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State), marking a promising start under new leadership.
Key Loss: A 27–0 defeat to Kansas State in October exposed offensive limitations and derailed any hopes for a winning season.
Season Finale: The team closed with a 19–13 win over rival Oklahoma A&M in Stillwater, providing a modest positive note to end the year.
Player Availability: Many college teams in 1945 faced roster disruptions due to World War II, with veterans returning and younger players filling gaps, affecting team chemistry.
Non-Conference Opponents: The schedule included teams like Missouri, Mississippi State, and Colorado, reflecting a mix of regional and emerging national programs.

Comparison at a Glance

The 1945 season can be better understood by comparing it to adjacent years in Oklahoma football history, particularly in terms of coaching changes and performance trends.

Season	Record	Head Coach	Conference	Key Notes
1943	7–2–1	Dewey Luster	Missouri Valley	Season shortened due to WWII; strong performance
1944	6–3–1	Dewey Luster	Missouri Valley	Final season under Luster before Snorter took over
1945	4–5	Snorter Luster	Missouri Valley	First and only season under Snorter Luster
1946	5–5	Jim Tatum	Missouri Valley	Tatum began rebuilding; later succeeded by Bud Wilkinson
1947	6–5	Jim Tatum	Missouri Valley	Transition year before Oklahoma's dominant 1950s run

This comparison highlights how the 1945 season was part of a broader rebuilding phase. While not disastrous, the 4–5 record continued a downward trend from earlier strong seasons and preceded the eventual rise under Bud Wilkinson in the late 1940s and 1950s.

Why It Matters

Though not a standout season, the 1945 Oklahoma Sooners represent a critical transitional chapter in the program’s evolution, bridging the wartime era and the dawn of a golden age.

Coaching Transition: The shift from Dewey to Snorter Luster reflected instability, paving the way for Jim Tatum and later Bud Wilkinson to restore dominance.
Post-War Adjustments: Many teams, including Oklahoma, grappled with roster turnover as veterans returned, impacting team cohesion and performance.
Foundation for Success: The struggles of 1945 contrast sharply with Oklahoma’s 47-game winning streak in the 1950s, showing how low points preceded historic highs.
Conference Context: Competing in the Missouri Valley Conference kept Oklahoma competitive, setting the stage for future conference realignments and national prominence.
Historical Record: The 1945 season remains part of the official record, contributing to Oklahoma’s overall win-loss tally and historical legacy.
Fan Engagement: Even in losing seasons, games drew significant local interest, maintaining fan support during a period of national and global transition.

The 1945 season may not be remembered for championships or records, but it serves as a reminder of how athletic programs evolve through challenges, ultimately laying the groundwork for future excellence.