What Is 2018 Oklahoma Sooners football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2018 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma during the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season, finishing with a 12–2 record and ranking No. 6 in the final AP Poll. They won the Big 12 Championship and played in the Rose Bowl, losing to Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinal.

Key Facts

Finished the 2018 season with a 12–2 overall record and 8–1 in Big 12 play
Won the Big 12 Championship by defeating Texas 39–27 on December 1, 2018
Quarterback Kyler Murray won the Heisman Trophy in December 2018
Defeated Alabama 45–34 in the 2018 Orange Bowl to reach the CFP National Championship
Ranked No. 6 in the final AP Poll after losing to Alabama in the semifinals

Overview

The 2018 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 134th season of Sooner football. Led by head coach Lincoln Riley in his second season, the team competed in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and won the Big 12 Conference championship.

They finished the regular season with an 11–1 record, their only loss coming against Texas in October. Despite the setback, Oklahoma secured a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game and earned a berth in the College Football Playoff after winning the conference title.

Head coach Lincoln Riley guided the team to a 12–2 final record, including a 39–27 victory over Texas in the Big 12 Championship Game on December 1, 2018.
Quarterback Kyler Murray threw for 4,361 yards and 42 touchdowns, winning the Heisman Trophy on December 8, 2018, becoming the second Sooner to do so under Riley.
The team averaged 48.4 points per game, ranking second nationally in scoring offense, showcasing one of the most potent offensive units in college football history.
Oklahoma defeated Alabama 45–34 in the 2018 Orange Bowl, advancing to the College Football Playoff National Championship, though this game occurred in January 2019 for the 2018 season.
The Sooners’ only two losses came against unranked Texas (48–45) in October and Alabama (45–34) in the CFP semifinal, both high-scoring matchups.

Season Performance

The 2018 campaign was defined by explosive offensive performances and a late-season push to reclaim the Big 12 title. Oklahoma rebounded from its first loss in over a year to dominate the remainder of its schedule.

Offensive scheme: The Sooners ran a high-tempo, pass-heavy spread offense, finishing with 562.3 total yards per game, the highest in the nation.
Kyler Murray: Threw for 42 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions, achieving a 181.6 passer rating, the best in the country among qualifying quarterbacks.
CeeDee Lamb: Emerged as a star wide receiver with 1,158 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns, forming a dynamic duo with Murray.
Defense struggles: Allowed 30.6 points per game, ranking 97th nationally, which raised concerns during key games despite offensive dominance.
Big 12 Championship: Defeated the Texas Longhorns 39–27, marking the first time in history two teams entered the game ranked in the top 10.
College Football Playoff: Earned the No. 1 seed and faced Alabama in the semifinal, losing 45–34 in a high-scoring Rose Bowl game on January 1, 2019.

Comparison at a Glance

Here's how the 2018 Oklahoma Sooners compared to other top teams in key statistical categories:

Team	Record	Points Per Game	Total Yards Per Game	Final AP Rank
Oklahoma	12–2	48.4	562.3	No. 6
Alabama	14–1	37.9	484.1	No. 1
Clemson	15–1	43.1	522.6	No. 2
Georgia	13–2	37.5	467.8	No. 4
Ohio State	13–1	48.1	539.5	No. 6

The 2018 Sooners led the nation in total offense and ranked among the top five in scoring. However, their defense was a liability, giving up over 30 points per game. Despite this, their offensive firepower kept them competitive with national champions like Clemson and Alabama.

Why It Matters

The 2018 season was pivotal for Oklahoma football, cementing Lincoln Riley’s status as an elite head coach and showcasing Kyler Murray’s Heisman-winning talent before he entered the NFL Draft.

Kyler Murray won the Heisman Trophy, becoming the fourth Oklahoma quarterback to do so and the second under Lincoln Riley in three years.
The team’s 12–2 record marked the third consecutive 12-win season for the Sooners, a program milestone.
Murray’s dual-threat ability redefined expectations for quarterbacks in the Big 12 and influenced NFL Draft evaluations.
Oklahoma became the first team since 2008 to reach the College Football Playoff with two losses, highlighting the strength of their conference title win.
The season elevated CeeDee Lamb and Marquise Brown into national prominence, both later selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
The offensive success reinforced the Big 12 as a premier conference for quarterback development and offensive innovation.

The 2018 Oklahoma Sooners left a lasting legacy through record-breaking performances and national recognition, setting a benchmark for future teams despite falling short of a national title.