What Is 1995 Oklahoma Sooners football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1995 Oklahoma Sooners football team finished with a 5–6 record under head coach Howard Schnellenberger, marking their first losing season since 1961 and failing to qualify for a bowl game.

Key Facts

The 1995 Oklahoma Sooners had a final record of 5 wins and 6 losses
Head coach Howard Schnellenberger resigned after the season with a 5–6 record
The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma
They scored 202 points and allowed 229 points over 11 games
This was Oklahoma’s first losing season since 1961, ending a 34-year streak

Overview

The 1995 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma during the 1995 NCAA Division I-A football season. Competing in the Big Eight Conference, the team struggled under head coach Howard Schnellenberger, failing to reach postseason play for the first time in over three decades.

The season was marked by inconsistent offense and defensive lapses, culminating in a losing record. Despite high expectations following Schnellenberger’s arrival in 1994, the program failed to gain momentum, leading to major coaching changes after the year concluded.

Record: The team finished with a 5–6 overall record, their first losing season since 1961, ending a 34-year streak of non-losing campaigns.
Head Coach: Howard Schnellenberger resigned after just two seasons, stepping down with a 10–12 overall record after failing to meet expectations.
Home Stadium: The Sooners played all home games at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, which held over 76,000 fans.
Scoring: Oklahoma scored 202 total points (18.4 per game) while allowing 229 (20.8 per game), indicating narrow losses and offensive struggles.
Conference: As a member of the Big Eight Conference, the team finished in the lower half of the standings with a 3–4 conference record.

Season Performance

The 1995 campaign was defined by missed opportunities and underperformance across both lines and skill positions. While the team showed flashes of potential, consistency remained elusive throughout the season.

September Start: The Sooners began 3–1, including a 20–3 win over Texas A&M, but lost four of their next five games.
Key Loss: A 24–14 defeat to Kansas State on October 21 highlighted defensive shortcomings, as the Wildcats rushed for over 200 yards.
Quarterback Play: Starter Billy Sims Jr. (not the Heisman winner) threw for 1,347 yards but had 12 interceptions, reflecting offensive inefficiency.
Defensive Struggles: The defense allowed 20+ points in six games, including a 27–24 loss to unranked Colorado in November.
Rivalry Game: Oklahoma lost to Oklahoma State 35–31 in the Bedlam Series, marking only the second time since 1977 they lost to their in-state rival.
Final Game: The season ended with a 37–27 loss to Kansas, sealing the 5–6 record and eliminating any bowl eligibility.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 1995 season compares to recent prior years in key performance metrics:

Season	Overall Record	Conference Record	Bowl Game	Head Coach
1993	8–3–1	4–2–1	Yes (Citrus Bowl)	Gary Gibbs
1994	5–6	3–4	No	Howard Schnellenberger
1995	5–6	3–4	No	Howard Schnellenberger
1996	11–3	6–1	Yes (Fiesta Bowl)	John Blake
1997	8–4	4–3	Yes (Holiday Bowl)	John Blake

The 1995 season sits at a low point between the end of the Gary Gibbs era and the eventual resurgence under John Blake. While 1994 also ended at 5–6, hopes were high for improvement under Schnellenberger, who had previously revived programs at Louisville and Miami. Instead, the 1995 team regressed slightly in competitiveness and morale, contributing to Schnellenberger’s resignation. The contrast with 1996’s 11–3 season under new coach John Blake highlights how pivotal the 1995 campaign was as a turning point.

Why It Matters

The 1995 season is a notable chapter in Oklahoma football history due to its role in reshaping the program’s leadership and trajectory. It underscored the challenges of rebuilding a storied team and led to long-term changes.

End of an Era: The season marked the end of Howard Schnellenberger’s brief and unsuccessful tenure, which lasted only two years.
Coaching Change: His resignation paved the way for John Blake, the program’s first Black head coach at any major college level.
Recruiting Impact: The losing record hurt recruiting momentum, though Blake stabilized the pipeline over the next few years.
Historical Low: It was the first losing season since 1961, breaking a streak of 34 consecutive non-losing campaigns.
Program Rebuilding: The failure prompted administrative changes and greater oversight in coaching hires.
Cultural Shift: The season highlighted the growing pressure to maintain elite status in college football’s evolving landscape.

Ultimately, the 1995 Oklahoma Sooners serve as a cautionary tale about the volatility of college football programs, even those with rich traditions. While overshadowed by championships in other years, this season played a crucial role in the program’s eventual return to prominence in the 2000s.