What Is 1968 Oklahoma Sooners football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1968 Oklahoma Sooners football team finished with a 5–5 record under head coach Gomer Jones, marking the program’s first losing season since 1941. They played in the Big Eight Conference and were shut out in three games, a rare setback for the historically strong program.

Key Facts

The 1968 Oklahoma Sooners finished with a 5–5 overall record
Head coach Gomer Jones was in his fifth and final season
The team played in the Big Eight Conference
They were shut out in three games: vs. USC, at Kansas, and vs. Nebraska
This was Oklahoma’s first losing season since 1941

Overview

The 1968 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma during the 1968 NCAA University Division football season. Under head coach Gomer Jones, the team struggled to maintain the high standards set by previous Sooners squads, finishing with a losing record for the first time in nearly three decades.

Competing in the Big Eight Conference, the Sooners faced tough competition and inconsistent performances throughout the season. Despite flashes of potential, the team failed to secure a winning record or bowl eligibility, marking a turning point in the program’s history.

Record: The team finished with a 5–5 overall record, their first non-winning season since 1941, ending a long streak of dominance.
Head Coach: Gomer Jones led the team in his fifth and final season, stepping down after the 1968 campaign due to the team’s underperformance.
Conference: The Sooners competed in the Big Eight Conference, finishing near the bottom with a 3–4 conference record.
Shutouts: Oklahoma was shut out in three games—against USC (14–0), at Kansas (17–0), and against Nebraska (28–0)—a rare occurrence in program history.
Home Games: The team played its home games at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, which had a capacity of over 60,000 at the time.

Performance & Season Highlights

The 1968 season was marked by offensive struggles and defensive lapses, particularly in key conference matchups. The team showed early promise but failed to maintain consistency, ultimately falling short of expectations.

Season Opener: The Sooners lost their first game to USC 14–0 in Los Angeles, setting a negative tone for the year.
Win Over Kansas State: Oklahoma defeated Kansas State 16–14 in a close contest, one of only two conference wins that season.
Loss to Nebraska: A 28–0 defeat to rival Nebraska in the regular-season finale sealed the team’s losing record and ended bowl hopes.
Offensive Struggles: The team failed to score in three games and averaged just 11.2 points per game, well below historical norms.
Defensive Issues: The Sooners allowed an average of 18.3 points per game, with particular vulnerability against power-running teams.
Player Standouts: Quarterback Steve Owens, a sophomore, began to emerge but was hampered by an inconsistent offensive line and limited support.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 1968 Sooners with the dominant 1967 and 1969 teams, highlighting the program’s fluctuation during this era.

Season	Record	Conference Finish	Points Scored	Head Coach
1967	6–5	4th in Big Eight	187 (17.0 per game)	Gomer Jones
1968	5–5	6th in Big Eight	112 (11.2 per game)	Gomer Jones
1969	6–5	4th in Big Eight	207 (18.8 per game)	Chuck Fairbanks
1970	7–4	3rd in Big Eight	243 (22.1 per game)	Chuck Fairbanks
1971	11–1	1st in Big Eight	375 (31.3 per game)	Chuck Fairbanks

The table illustrates how the 1968 season represented a low point before the program’s resurgence under new leadership. After Gomer Jones stepped down, Chuck Fairbanks took over in 1969, gradually rebuilding the team into a national contender by the early 1970s. The 1968 team’s struggles underscored the need for change and modernization in Oklahoma’s football approach.

Why It Matters

The 1968 Oklahoma Sooners season is significant as a rare downturn in a historically elite program, signaling the end of an era and the need for renewal. It led directly to a coaching change that revitalized the team in the following years.

End of an Era: Gomer Jones’s departure marked the end of a coaching tenure that began in 1964, closing a chapter in Sooners football history.
Coaching Change: Chuck Fairbanks was hired in 1969, bringing a more modern offensive system and renewed energy to the program.
Player Development: Steve Owens, who would win the Heisman Trophy in 1970, began gaining experience during this difficult season.
Program Rebuilding: The 1968 season highlighted weaknesses in recruiting and offensive strategy, prompting long-term changes.
Historical Context: It was the first losing season since 1941, breaking a streak of sustained excellence that defined Oklahoma football.
Legacy Impact: The struggles of 1968 are often cited as a catalyst for the Sooners’ dominant performance in the early 1970s.

The 1968 season remains a footnote in Oklahoma’s storied football history, but it played a crucial role in shaping the program’s future success through necessary change and adaptation.