1972 Oklahoma Sooners football team

The 1972 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the college football 1972 NCAA Division I-A season. Oklahoma Sooners football participated in the former Big Eight Conference at that time and played its home games in Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium where it has played its home games since 1923. The team posted a 11–1 overall record and a 6–1 conference record, which were later changed to 8–4 overall record and a 3–4. This was Chuck Fairbanks' last season as Sooner head coach.

There is actually a discrepancy as to the Sooners' record. The NCAA never officially forced Oklahoma to forfeit games, having only penalized scholarships, TV appearances, bowl appearances, etc. Oklahoma had used players (including Kerry Jackson, the teams first black quarterback) with falsified transcripts and at one point volunteered to forfeit all its games. Eventually, the Big Eight conference asked them to forfeit three victories despite the fact that the NCAA still recognizes them.

The team was led by four All-Americans: Rod Shoate (Oklahoma's second three-time All-American), Greg Pruitt, Tom Brahaney and Derland Moore. This was the first season that the Selmon brothers Lucious, Lee Roy and Dewey, who would all become All-Americans, anchored the defensive line for Oklahoma. The team played a schedule that included seven ranked opponents (In order, #10 Texas, #9 Colorado, #14, #14 , #5 Nebraska, #20 , and #5 Penn State). Four of these opponents finished the season ranked. The team only loss on the field was in the fifth game against Colorado. The team concluded its season with a victory over Penn State in the.

Pruitt led the team in rushing with 1024 yards, Dave Robertson led the team in passing with 1136 yards, Tinker Owens led the team in receiving for the first of what would become four consecutive seasons with 430 yards, Pruitt led the team in scoring with 86 points, Shoate led the team in tackles with 145, and Dan Ruster led the team in interceptions with 7.

The team twice posted 37 first downs, which was a school record that stood for 16 seasons.

Awards & Honors

 * All-American: Greg Pruitt, Rod Shoate, Tom Brahaney and Derland Moore