SOONER PERFECTION: Bob Stoops Leads 2000 Oklahoma to 13-0 Undefeated National Championship Season in Just His Second Year

The 2000 Oklahoma Sooners football team, under the leadership of second-year head coach Bob Stoops, accomplished what few believed possible at the beginning of the season: an undefeated national championship run that not only restored the program’s luster but also signaled the arrival of a new college football powerhouse. What Stoops and his staff built in Norman that season was a combination of disciplined defense, explosive offense, and relentless belief. It wasn’t just that the Sooners went 13-0; it was the manner in which they dismantled expectations and opposition alike that made their title run one for the ages. From their early-season dominance to their BCS National Championship victory over Florida State, every step of the journey revealed a program reborn and a team forged in toughness, resilience, and preparation.

The story of the 2000 Sooners began in the offseason, where Bob Stoops, just one year removed from taking over a once-proud program that had slipped into mediocrity, doubled down on his vision. The pieces were coming together, and Stoops’ recruiting savvy and commitment to an aggressive, high-octane system were beginning to bear fruit. The hiring of offensive coordinator Mark Mangino and the emergence of quarterback Josh Heupel as a legitimate Heisman contender gave the Sooners the firepower to compete at the highest level. While the preseason projections didn’t place Oklahoma among the elite, Stoops and his staff believed otherwise. That belief quickly turned into results.

The Sooners opened their season with a dominant 55-14 win over UTEP, setting the tone for what was to come. Their early-season non-conference slate saw them dispatch Arkansas State and Rice with relative ease, but it wasn’t until the showdown with Kansas State in early October that Oklahoma truly announced itself as a national contender. In a gritty, rain-soaked game in Manhattan, the Sooners relied on a relentless defense and timely throws from Heupel to topple the then-No. 2 Wildcats 41-31. That win, in enemy territory, galvanized the team and put the rest of the nation on notice: Oklahoma was back.

What followed was arguably the most defining three-week stretch in Oklahoma football history. Facing a gauntlet of three top-10 opponents, the Sooners ran the table in spectacular fashion. First came a stunning 63-14 demolition of No. 11 Texas in the Red River Rivalry—a game in which the Sooners were expected to struggle but instead asserted themselves with shocking ease. A week later, Oklahoma welcomed No. 2 Kansas State to Norman and outlasted them once again, this time in a tighter 31-14 victory. Then came the ultimate test: No. 1 Nebraska, a longtime nemesis and the face of Big 12 dominance throughout the 1990s.

The Sooners fell behind early to the Cornhuskers but rallied in front of a raucous home crowd at Memorial Stadium. Heupel was steady, the defense forced key turnovers, and by the time the dust settled, Oklahoma had secured a 31-14 victory over the top-ranked team in the country. With that win, they climbed to No. 1 in the AP poll and had become the darlings of college football, an unanticipated juggernaut barreling toward the postseason.

Much of the credit for Oklahoma’s resurgence was due to the brilliance of Josh Heupel. A cerebral, accurate left-handed quarterback, Heupel was the perfect signal-caller for Mangino’s spread attack. He finished the season with over 3,800 passing yards and 20 touchdowns, finishing as the Heisman Trophy runner-up to Florida State’s Chris Weinke. Heupel’s composure, leadership, and ability to execute Stoops’ game plan made him the heartbeat of the Sooners’ offense. He spread the ball to a deep group of receivers, including Antwone Savage, Curtis Fagan, and tight end Trent Smith. Running back Quentin Griffin added balance to the offense, providing key yardage on the ground and showing a knack for big plays in high-stakes moments.

But as good as the offense was, it was Oklahoma’s defense that gave the team its championship pedigree. Defensive coordinator Mike Stoops and co-coordinator Brent Venables crafted a unit that was fast, physical, and opportunistic. Led by linebacker Rocky Calmus, defensive back Roy Williams, and defensive linemen like Ryan Fisher and Corey Heinecke, the Sooners swarmed to the ball and suffocated opponents with aggressive schemes. Williams, in particular, emerged as a star, showcasing his ability to deliver punishing hits and game-changing plays. The defense held opponents to an average of just over 15 points per game, and in the most critical contests, they were nearly impenetrable.

As the regular season rolled on, Oklahoma continued to rack up wins. They dispatched Baylor, Texas A\&M, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma State to finish the regular season undefeated, securing a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game against Kansas State for the second time that year. The rematch was a slugfest. Kansas State’s defense made life difficult for Heupel and the Sooners’ offense, but once again, Oklahoma’s defense stood tall when it mattered. They eked out a 27-24 win that preserved their perfect season and punched their ticket to the BCS National Championship Game in the Orange Bowl against Florida State.

The matchup with the Seminoles was billed as a clash of titans. Florida State, the defending national champions, entered the game with the nation’s top-ranked offense, led by Heisman winner Chris Weinke. Most analysts predicted that the Sooners’ Cinderella run would end in Miami. But Bob Stoops had other plans. Oklahoma’s defense turned in its most complete performance of the season, dominating every phase of the game. The Sooners held Florida State to just two points—a safety—and allowed only 27 rushing yards. They intercepted Weinke twice and battered him throughout the game. It was a masterclass in defensive football, with Roy Williams delivering perhaps the most memorable hit of the game that jarred a ball loose and symbolized the Sooners’ physical dominance.

Offensively, Oklahoma didn’t light up the scoreboard, but they didn’t need to. Heupel managed the game effectively, and Tim Duncan’s four field goals provided all the cushion the Sooners needed. Quentin Griffin’s short touchdown run sealed the 13-2 victory and secured Oklahoma’s seventh national championship, its first since 1985. As the confetti fell at Pro Player Stadium, Bob Stoops was carried off the field, a young head coach who had brought Oklahoma back to the pinnacle of college football in just two years.

The 2000 Sooners’ title run was not just about winning games—it was about reviving a program that had fallen on hard times. In the years following Barry Switzer’s departure in 1988, Oklahoma had experienced a revolving door of coaches and disappointing seasons. Stoops changed all of that. He brought with him a culture of accountability, innovation, and toughness. The 2000 team reflected his values: a group of hard-nosed, unheralded players who played with unity and passion.

The legacy of the 2000 Oklahoma Sooners is immense. They not only won a national title but also laid the groundwork for over a decade of sustained excellence. Under Stoops, Oklahoma would become a perennial national contender, and many of the assistants on that 2000 staff—including Mark Mangino, Mike Stoops, and Brent Venables—would go on to become head coaches or elite coordinators elsewhere. Josh Heupel would eventually return to Norman as offensive coordinator and later become a head coach himself.

Perhaps more importantly, the championship affirmed that tradition-rich programs could rise again through the right leadership and culture. Oklahoma wasn’t just back—they were the new standard. Their undefeated run was a blend of old-school toughness and new-school innovation, and it reminded the college football world that the Sooners’ legacy was not confined to dusty trophy cases or black-and-white footage.

In hindsight, the 2000 Oklahoma Sooners stand as one of the most remarkable teams of the modern era. They didn’t boast a roster filled with five-star recruits or future NFL Hall of Famers, but they had something arguably more powerful: belief, grit, and execution. Every championship team leaves behind a story, and the Sooners’ story was one of revival, resilience, and redemption. Bob Stoops took a chance on a rebuilding program, and in just two seasons, he delivered one of the most improbable national titles in college football history.

For the fans in Norman and alumni across the country, that season was more than a championship—it was a rebirth. The echoes of 2000 still resonate through the halls of Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. The banners, the memories, the moments—they’re a constant reminder that greatness isn’t given; it’s built. And in 2000, Bob Stoops and the Oklahoma Sooners built something truly unforgettable.