What Is 2019 Oklahoma Sooners football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2019 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the NCAA Division I FBS football season. They finished with an 12-2 record, won the Big 12 Championship, and advanced to the College Football Playoff. Quarterback Jalen Hurts threw for 3,851 yards and 32 touchdowns.

Key Facts

The 2019 Oklahoma Sooners finished the season with a 12-2 record
They defeated Baylor 30-23 in the Big 12 Championship Game on December 7, 2019
Quarterback Jalen Hurts passed for 3,851 yards and 32 touchdowns
The team advanced to the College Football Playoff, losing to LSU in the semifinals
Oklahoma ranked 2nd in the final AP Poll before the playoff loss

Overview

The 2019 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma during the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by head coach Lincoln Riley, the team competed in the Big 12 Conference and played their home games at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma.

The Sooners finished the regular season with an 11-1 record, claiming their fourth consecutive Big 12 title. They earned a spot in the College Football Playoff after winning the conference championship, marking the second straight year Oklahoma reached the national semifinals.

Record: The team finished the season with a 12-2 overall record, including a 9-0 mark in Big 12 play.
Big 12 Championship: Oklahoma defeated Baylor 30-23 on December 7, 2019, in Arlington, Texas, to win the conference title.
Quarterback performance: Jalen Hurts threw for 3,851 yards and 32 touchdowns while adding 1,298 rushing yards and 20 scores on the ground.
College Football Playoff: The Sooners advanced to the semifinals, losing 28-63 to the eventual national champion LSU Tigers on December 28, 2019.
Final ranking: Oklahoma finished ranked No. 6 in the final AP Poll following their playoff loss.

How It Works

The 2019 Oklahoma Sooners football season operated under a high-powered offensive scheme known as the 'Air Raid' system, emphasizing quick passes, vertical stretches, and dual-threat quarterback play. This approach allowed the team to dominate conference opponents and remain competitive on the national stage.

Air Raid Offense: The Sooners utilized a spread-based Air Raid system, focusing on quick decisions, short passes, and explosive plays. This system maximized quarterback Jalen Hurts’ dual-threat capabilities.
Quarterback Rotation: Jalen Hurts started all 14 games, but backup Spencer Rattler saw limited action, completing 10 of 14 passes for 151 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Offensive Line: The offensive line allowed only 18 sacks in 14 games, protecting Hurts effectively and enabling consistent rushing production.
Defensive Strategy: Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch implemented an aggressive 3-3-5 scheme, focusing on pressure and coverage behind the line to force turnovers.
Special Teams: Kicker Austin Seibert converted 16 of 20 field goals, while punter Tory Taylor averaged 41.2 yards per punt.
Schedule Structure: The team played a balanced schedule, including non-conference games against Houston, South Dakota, and Florida, followed by a nine-game Big 12 slate.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2019 Oklahoma Sooners compared to key rivals and national contenders in major statistical categories:

Team	Record	Points Per Game	Total Yards Per Game	Passing Yards	Rushing Yards
Oklahoma	12-2	42.8	534.1	342.6	191.5
LSU	15-0	48.8	565.3	376.4	188.9
Texas	8-5	35.4	467.8	287.9	179.9
Baylor	11-3	33.7	426.5	242.1	184.4
Clemson	15-1	44.6	507.2	308.5	198.7

The Sooners ranked among the nation’s top offenses, averaging 42.8 points and 534.1 total yards per game. While LSU and Clemson outperformed them in scoring and efficiency, Oklahoma’s consistency in Big 12 play secured their playoff berth. Their loss to LSU in the Peach Bowl semifinal highlighted defensive limitations against elite spread attacks.

Why It Matters

The 2019 season solidified Oklahoma’s status as a national powerhouse and demonstrated the effectiveness of developing dual-threat quarterbacks under Lincoln Riley’s system.

National Recognition: Reaching the College Football Playoff for the second consecutive year elevated Oklahoma’s national profile and recruiting appeal.
Jalen Hurts’ Legacy: Hurts’ 6,149 total yards and 52 total touchdowns in 2019 revitalized his career after transferring from Alabama.
Recruiting Momentum: The team’s success helped secure a top-10 recruiting class in 2020, including five-star prospects.
Big 12 Dominance: Winning four straight conference titles established Oklahoma as the premier program in the Big 12.
Defensive Evolution: The hiring of Alex Grinch signaled a shift toward more aggressive defensive schemes, aiming to complement the high-scoring offense.
Player Development: The season showcased Oklahoma’s ability to develop NFL-ready quarterbacks, with Hurts later signing as a professional with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The 2019 Oklahoma Sooners exemplified offensive excellence and conference supremacy, leaving a lasting impact on college football despite falling short of a national title.