5. 2000 Oklahoma Sooners (13-0, 8-0 Big 12)
The season: Coach Bob Stoops was just beginning to rebuild the Sooners -- or so everyone else believed. After a 7-5 record in 1999, the Sooners opened the season ranked No. 19 in the preseason coaches' poll. They scored 176 points in their first four games, which were easy victories over UTEP, Arkansas State, Rice and Kansas. What the Sooners did next was truly remarkable. In a three-game stretch dubbed "Red October," Oklahoma blasted No. 11 Texas 63-14, the largest margin of victory in the century-old series. Then the Sooners upset No. 2 Kansas State 41-31 and No. 1 Nebraska 31-14, becoming the first team to upset No. 1 and No. 2 in consecutive games. After knocking off the Cornhuskers, Oklahoma was ranked No. 1 in the country for the first time since 1987. The Sooners won their next four games before beating No. 8 Kansas State 27-24 in the Big 12 championship game.
Signature moment: Ranked No. 1 in the country with an 8-0 record, the Sooners trailed No. 23 Texas A&M by 10 points in the fourth quarter at Kyle Field. Oklahoma cut the Aggies' lead to 31-28 on Quentin Griffin's 2-yard touchdown run. On Texas A&M's next play, linebacker Torrance Marshall intercepted Mark Farris' pass and returned it 41 yards for a touchdown in the 35-31 win.
The championship game: Despite finishing the regular season with a 12-0 record, Oklahoma was an 11-point underdog against defending national champion Florida State in the Orange Bowl. The once-beaten Seminoles led the country with 42.4 points and 549 yards per game. But Oklahoma's defense rose to the occasion, limiting FSU to only a safety in a 13-2 victory. Oklahoma's defense confused Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke, who completed 25 of 51 passes for 274 yards with two interceptions. The Sooners dropped five or six defensive backs into coverage and dared FSU to run. The Seminoles ran 27 times for 17 yards.
The stars: Quarterback Josh Heupel cooled off considerably down the stretch but still finished the season with 3,606 passing yards with 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Griffin ran for 823 yards and 17 touchdowns, and Antwone Savage caught 50 passes for 621 yards and three scores. Oklahoma's underrated defense, led by All-Americans linebacker Rocky Calmus and free safety J.T. Thatcher, ended up being the difference.
Why they're No. 5: Few teams have been more impressive while climbing their way up the rankings. The Sooners beat six ranked teams during their championship season and during a three-game stretch outscored No. 11 Texas, No. 2 Kansas State and No. 1 Nebraska by a 135-59 margin. The Sooners started the season blowing opponents off the field with their high-powered offense and finished it by playing stingy defense.
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