User:Dcheagle/OU season/2015

The 2015 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season, the 121st season of Sooner football. The team was led by two-time Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award winner, Bob Stoops, in his 17th season as head coach. They played their home games at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. They were a charter member of the Big 12 Conference.

Conference play began on October 3, 2015 with a 44–24 win against West Virginia in Norman, Oklahoma and ended with a 58–23 win against Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Oklahoma on November 28, 2015. Oklahoma finished conference play with a 8–1 record winning their ninth Big 12 Championship, their first since 2012.

Oklahoma was selected as the 4th seed to play in the 2015 College Football playoff against 1st seed Clemson on December 31, 2015 in the Orange Bowl which they lost 17–37. Oklahoma finished the season with an 11–2 record.

Previous season
The 2014 Oklahoma Sooners football team finished the regular season 8–4, with the four losses in conference play towards Baylor, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, and TCU. Oklahoma became bowl eligible after defeating Iowa State on November 1, 2014. The Sooners were invited to play in the 2014 Russell Athletic Bowl against the Clemson Tigers. Oklahoma fell short against the Tigers in Orlando with a loss of 6–40.

Staff changes
After the 2014 season in which the team went 8-5, Head coach Bob Stoops announced the firings of Co-offensive coordinators Josh Heupel and Jay Norvell. Secondary's coach Bobby Jack Wright announced that he would retire from coaching. Following their departures Stoops promoted defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery to Co-Defensive coordinator after being with the team for two years but weeks later Montgomery accepted a position with the NFL'S Green Bay Packers. On January 12, 2015 ECU Offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley was announced as the new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. On February 9, 2015 Notre Dame defensive backs coach Kerry Cooks was hired for the same position, along with Cooks hiring Stoops also hired Washington State outside receivers coach Dennis Simmons for the same position. On February 19, 2015 Stoops hired Stanford defensive assistant Diron Reynolds to replace former defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery.

Along with personal changes, Stoops also changed several coaches positions within the coaching staff. On defense Mike Stoops will switch from defensive backs to outside linebackers and Tim Kish will coach inside linebackers. On offense Cale Gundy will become assistant head coach and move from running backs to inside receivers coach, Special teams coordinator Jay Boulware will add running backs and fullbacks to his coaching assignments.

Award watch lists

 * Lombardi Award
 * Dominique Alexander
 * Eric Striker


 * Jim Thorpe Award
 * Zack Sanchez


 * Butkus Award
 * Dominique Alexander
 * Erik Striker


 * Maxwell Award
 * Baker Mayfield
 * Samaje Perine
 * Sterling Shepard


 * Rimington Trophy
 * Ty Darlington


 * Outland Trophy
 * Ty Darlington


 * Chuck Bednarik Award
 * Zack Sanchez
 * Erik Striker
 * Charles Tapper


 * Walter Camp Award
 * Samaje Perine


 * Biletnikoff Award
 * Sterling Shepard


 * Bronko Nagurski Trophy
 * Dominique Alexander
 * Zack Sanchez
 * Erik Striker
 * Charles Tapper


 * Doak Walker Award
 * Samaje Perine

Schedule
Oklahoma announced their 2015 football schedule on November 19, 2014. The 2015 schedule consist of 6 home games, 5 away games and 1 neutral game in the regular season. The Sooners hosted two non conference games where they defeated Akron in their first meeting and Tulsa and traveled to its other non conference foe Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee where they won in double overtime. Oklahoma met for the first time against the Akron Zips at home to open the season. The Sooners will host Big 12 foes Iowa State, TCU, Texas Tech, and West Virginia and will travel to Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, and Oklahoma State. Oklahoma played Texas in Dallas, Texas at the Cotton Bowl for the 110th time on October 10 for the Red River Showdown.

Weekly Awards

 * Big 12 Player of the Week
 * Baker Mayfield (Week 3 vs Tulsa)
 * Baker Mayfield (Week 10 at Baylor)


 * Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week
 * Samaje Perine (Week 8 vs Texas Tech)


 * Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week
 * Zack Sanchez (Week 2 at Tennessee)
 * Eric Striker (Week 5 vs West Virginia)
 * Zack Sanchez (Week 7 vs Kansas State)
 * Charles Tapper (Week 8 at Kansas)
 * Zack Sanchez (Week 11 vs TCU)


 * Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week
 * Austin Seibert (Week 5 vs West Virginia)

Honors & Awards

 * Ty Darlington
 * Academic All-America (First Team)


 * Baker Mayfield
 * Burlsworth Trophy

2016 NFL Draft
The 2016 NFL draft was held from April 28-30, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. Four players were drafted durning the draft with a further three signing as undrafted free agents.