404:
make it 20–7 midway through the quarter. A Houston fumble led to a Fred Sims 30-yard score a few plays later. Houston responded with a 74-yard, 13-play drive culminating in a Donald Jordan 6-yard score to make it 27–14 with less than three minutes to go. After
Oklahoma recovered the onside kick, Sims' 48-yard run set up Ron Mills' touchdown plunge to make it 33–14 with 1:30 to go. John Truitt returned an interception 28 yards for a touchdown to make the final score 40–14. Darrell Shepard, despite passing for -2 yards on 1 for 5 passing, rushed for 107 yards on 17 carries for 2 touchdowns. Backup Fred Sims, who had rushed for only 179 yards the entire season, ran for 181 yards on 15 carries after an injury to
403:
knocked the ball away, and the ball went out of the end zone for a touchback. A few plays later (highlighted by a 42 run by
Shepard) ended with a touchdown plunge by Shephard to make it 17–7 early in the fourth quarter. A 14-yard punt by Houston led to Keeling's second field goal from 49 yards out to
398:
scored on a 34-yard touchdown run to make it 7–0 Oklahoma. Houston responded with a Lionel Wilson touchdown plunge to make it 7–7 at halftime. Michael
Keeling gave Oklahoma the lead back on his 32-yard field goal in the third quarter. On the ensuing Houston drive, Robert Durham caught a pass from
1574:
1374:
1940:
576:
1567:
642:
387:
and made their seventh straight bowl appearance. This was not only the first Sun Bowl appearance for both teams, but the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
1367:
1915:
1930:
1925:
1560:
1360:
820:
224:
651:
1805:
1583:
635:
368:
36:
1383:
364:
41:
1935:
1506:
585:
628:
813:
263:
1836:
1742:
1671:
1661:
1656:
1421:
1416:
1411:
1406:
745:
729:
1666:
1646:
875:
850:
737:
611:"Oklahoma 40, Houston 14 | Recaps – Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl | December 31, 2021 | el Paso, Texas"
1893:
1870:
1826:
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1011:
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1006:
269:
1757:
1747:
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1526:
1501:
1491:
1486:
1441:
1186:
1181:
1176:
1171:
1166:
673:
665:
450:
While
Houston has not returned to the Sun Bowl since this game, Oklahoma has returned twice (1993, 2009).
399:
Wilson at the Sooner 47, and he dashed for what seemed to be a sure touchdown. But at the 3-yard line,
1536:
1531:
1496:
1471:
697:
384:
380:
64:
57:
1516:
1401:
689:
1880:
865:
584:. Houston, Texas: University of Houston Department of Athletics. 2010. p. 91. Archived from
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1821:
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753:
360:
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324:
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785:
305:
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1121:
1116:
1111:
1096:
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1071:
1066:
1061:
1056:
1051:
1046:
1041:
1036:
1031:
1026:
1021:
1016:
1001:
996:
991:
986:
981:
976:
971:
966:
961:
956:
951:
946:
941:
936:
931:
926:
921:
916:
911:
906:
901:
896:
891:
405:
341:
333:
83:
610:
400:
383:, making their fourth straight bowl appearance. The Sooners finished second in the
114:
92:
1552:
860:
313:
309:
1352:
845:
829:
107:
441:
Oklahoma – Truitt 28 interception return (Keeling kick), 4Q – 1:16
1556:
1356:
802:
624:
798:
408:. Wilson threw 17 of 21 for 216 yards in a losing effort.
884:
838:
426:
Oklahoma – Shepard 1 run (Keeling kick), 4Q – 13:07
417:
Oklahoma – Shepard 34 run (Keeling kick), 1Q – 5:05
299:
289:
284:
276:
262:
250:
240:
230:
220:
212:
23:
435:Houston – Jordan 6 run (Clendenen kick), 4Q – 2:55
420:Houston – Wilson 1 run (Clendenen kick), 2Q – 3:39
1941:December 1981 sports events in the United States
1892:# denotes national championship game; † denotes
432:Oklahoma – Sims 30 run (Keeling kick), 4Q – 6:19
438:Oklahoma – Mills 2 run (kick failed), 4Q – 1:30
1568:
1368:
814:
636:
8:
578:2010 Houston Cougars Football Media Almanac
429:Oklahoma – Keeling 49 field goal, 4Q – 8:03
423:Oklahoma – Keeling 32 field goal, 3Q – 4:09
1575:
1561:
1553:
1375:
1361:
1353:
821:
807:
799:
643:
629:
621:
32:
20:
457:
567:
363:postseason bowl game that featured the
653:1981–82 NCAA football bowl game season
7:
1931:Oklahoma Sooners football bowl games
1926:Houston Cougars football bowl games
1806:2009 BCS National Championship Game
379:The Cougars finished third in the
14:
1916:1981–82 NCAA football bowl games
1507:2015 Armed Forces Bowl (January)
839:History & conference tie-ins
142:
1:
1585:Oklahoma Sooners bowl games
1957:
1837:2014 Russell Athletic Bowl
1743:1991 Gator Bowl (December)
1672:1972 Sugar Bowl (December)
1662:1970 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl
1657:1968 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl
1422:1974 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl
1417:1973 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl
1412:1971 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl
1407:1969 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl
1385:Houston Cougars bowl games
1667:1972 Sugar Bowl (January)
1647:1965 Gator Bowl (January)
1592:
1392:
876:Atlantic Coast Conference
660:
323:
319:
285:United States TV coverage
141:
31:
1894:College Football Playoff
1871:2020 Cotton Bowl Classic
1827:2013 Cotton Bowl Classic
1769:2002 Cotton Bowl Classic
1738:1989 Florida Citrus Bowl
1452:1985 Cotton Bowl Classic
1437:1980 Cotton Bowl Classic
1432:1979 Cotton Bowl Classic
1427:1977 Cotton Bowl Classic
575:"History: Bowl Recaps".
1936:1981 in sports in Texas
1758:1999 Independence Bowl
1748:1993 John Hancock Bowl
1542:2022 Independence Bowl
1527:2018 Armed Forces Bowl
1502:2014 BBVA Compass Bowl
1492:2009 Armed Forces Bowl
1487:2008 Armed Forces Bowl
1442:1980 Garden State Bowl
89:Head coach:
80:Head coach:
18:College football game
1537:2021 Birmingham Bowl
1532:2020 New Mexico Bowl
1497:2012 TicketCity Bowl
1472:2005 Fort Worth Bowl
738:Hall of Fame Classic
385:Big Eight Conference
381:Southwest Conference
1517:2016 Las Vegas Bowl
1402:1962 Tangerine Bowl
1881:2022 Cheez-It Bowl
1903:
1902:
1822:2011 Insight Bowl
1791:2005 Holiday Bowl
1550:
1549:
1477:2006 Liberty Bowl
1462:1996 Liberty Bowl
1350:
1349:
871:Pac-12 Conference
796:
795:
559:
558:
353:
352:
349:
348:
216:December 26, 1981
208:
207:
137:
136:
133:
132:
1948:
1859:2018 Orange Bowl
1842:2015 Orange Bowl
1817:2011 Fiesta Bowl
1801:2008 Fiesta Bowl
1796:2007 Fiesta Bowl
1785:2005 Orange Bowl
1763:2001 Orange Bowl
1753:1994 Copper Bowl
1732:1988 Orange Bowl
1727:1987 Orange Bowl
1722:1986 Orange Bowl
1717:1985 Orange Bowl
1712:1983 Fiesta Bowl
1702:1981 Orange Bowl
1697:1980 Orange Bowl
1692:1979 Orange Bowl
1687:1978 Orange Bowl
1682:1976 Fiesta Bowl
1677:1976 Orange Bowl
1652:1968 Orange Bowl
1642:1963 Orange Bowl
1637:1959 Orange Bowl
1632:1958 Orange Bowl
1627:1956 Orange Bowl
1622:1954 Orange Bowl
1597:1939 Orange Bowl
1586:
1577:
1570:
1563:
1554:
1522:2017 Hawaii Bowl
1467:2003 Hawaii Bowl
1386:
1377:
1370:
1363:
1354:
1323:
851:1949 controversy
832:
823:
816:
809:
800:
789:
781:
773:
765:
757:
749:
746:Astro-Bluebonnet
741:
733:
725:
717:
709:
701:
693:
685:
677:
669:
654:
645:
638:
631:
622:
615:
614:
607:
601:
600:
598:
596:
591:on July 14, 2014
590:
583:
572:
458:
369:Oklahoma Sooners
361:college football
321:
320:
143:
103:
102:
37:Oklahoma Sooners
33:
26:
21:
1956:
1955:
1951:
1950:
1949:
1947:
1946:
1945:
1906:
1905:
1904:
1899:
1886:2023 Alamo Bowl
1876:2021 Alamo Bowl
1865:2019 Peach Bowl
1848:2017 Sugar Bowl
1832:2014 Sugar Bowl
1779:2004 Sugar Bowl
1617:1951 Sugar Bowl
1612:1950 Sugar Bowl
1607:1949 Sugar Bowl
1602:1947 Gator Bowl
1588:
1584:
1581:
1551:
1546:
1512:2015 Peach Bowl
1482:2007 Texas Bowl
1457:1988 Aloha Bowl
1397:1952 Salad Bowl
1388:
1384:
1381:
1351:
1346:
1321:
880:
834:
830:
827:
797:
792:
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704:
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688:
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672:
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649:
619:
618:
609:
608:
604:
594:
592:
588:
581:
574:
573:
569:
564:
538:Penalties–yards
505:Passing (C–A–I)
456:
448:
414:
412:Scoring summary
396:Darrell Shepard
393:
377:
365:Houston Cougars
312:
308:
256:Darrell Shepard
90:
81:
42:Houston Cougars
24:
19:
12:
11:
5:
1954:
1952:
1944:
1943:
1938:
1933:
1928:
1923:
1918:
1908:
1907:
1901:
1900:
1896:semifinal game
1889:
1888:
1883:
1878:
1873:
1868:
1862:
1856:
1853:2018 Rose Bowl
1850:
1845:
1839:
1834:
1829:
1824:
1819:
1814:
1809:
1803:
1798:
1793:
1788:
1782:
1776:
1774:2003 Rose Bowl
1771:
1766:
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828:
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790:
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766:
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718:
710:
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657:
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439:
436:
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430:
427:
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413:
410:
392:
389:
376:
373:
351:
350:
347:
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338:
328:
327:
317:
316:
306:Tom Brookshier
303:
297:
296:
293:
287:
286:
282:
281:
278:
274:
273:
268:Jimmy Harper (
266:
260:
259:
252:
248:
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245:El Paso, Texas
242:
238:
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53:
52:
49:
45:
44:
39:
29:
28:
17:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1953:
1942:
1939:
1937:
1934:
1932:
1929:
1927:
1924:
1922:
1919:
1917:
1914:
1913:
1911:
1898:
1897:
1895:
1887:
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1838:
1835:
1833:
1830:
1828:
1825:
1823:
1820:
1818:
1815:
1813:
1812:2009 Sun Bowl
1810:
1807:
1804:
1802:
1799:
1797:
1794:
1792:
1789:
1786:
1783:
1780:
1777:
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1733:
1730:
1728:
1725:
1723:
1720:
1718:
1715:
1713:
1710:
1708:
1707:1981 Sun Bowl
1705:
1703:
1700:
1698:
1695:
1693:
1690:
1688:
1685:
1683:
1680:
1678:
1675:
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1505:
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1500:
1498:
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1488:
1485:
1483:
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1478:
1475:
1473:
1470:
1468:
1465:
1463:
1460:
1458:
1455:
1453:
1450:
1448:
1447:1981 Sun Bowl
1445:
1443:
1440:
1438:
1435:
1433:
1430:
1428:
1425:
1423:
1420:
1418:
1415:
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1405:
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1400:
1398:
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1371:
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1300:
1298:
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1200:
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1080:
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928:
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898:
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869:
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857:Jones Stadium
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579:
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568:
561:
554:
551:
549:Punts–average
548:
547:
543:
540:
537:
536:
532:
529:
526:
525:
521:
518:
516:Total offense
515:
514:
510:
507:
504:
503:
499:
496:
494:Passing yards
493:
492:
488:
485:
483:Rushing yards
482:
481:
477:
474:
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463:
460:
459:
453:
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406:Buster Rhymes
402:
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366:
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358:
357:1981 Sun Bowl
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129:
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110:
109:
105:
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95:
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88:
86:
85:
84:Barry Switzer
79:
78:
74:
71:
70:
67:
66:
62:
60:
59:
55:
54:
50:
47:
46:
43:
40:
38:
35:
34:
30:
22:
16:
1891:
1890:
1706:
1446:
1126:
705:
674:Garden State
666:Independence
605:
595:December 28,
593:. Retrieved
586:the original
577:
570:
527:Fumbles–lost
449:
401:Elbert Watts
394:
391:Game summary
378:
356:
354:
340:
331:
187:
165:
127:
122:
113:
106:
91:
82:
63:
56:
15:
1107:1977 (Dec.)
1102:1977 (Jan.)
1012:1958 (Dec.)
1007:1958 (Jan.)
472:First downs
344:>
332: <
93:Bill Yeoman
1910:Categories
861:Kidd Field
698:California
562:References
461:Statistics
454:Statistics
375:Background
314:Fred Dryer
310:Hank Stram
301:Announcers
277:Attendance
258:(Oklahoma)
748:(Dec. 31)
740:(Dec. 31)
732:(Dec. 31)
724:(Dec. 30)
716:(Dec. 28)
708:(Dec. 26)
700:(Dec. 19)
692:(Dec. 19)
690:Tangerine
684:(Dec. 18)
676:(Dec. 13)
668:(Dec. 12)
467:Oklahoma
446:Aftermath
325:Sun Bowl
58:Big Eight
1921:Sun Bowl
866:Sun Bowl
831:Sun Bowl
788:(Jan. 1)
780:(Jan. 1)
772:(Jan. 1)
764:(Jan. 1)
756:(Jan. 1)
367:and the
241:Location
235:Sun Bowl
166:Oklahoma
27:Sun Bowl
846:History
722:Liberty
682:Holiday
555:5–38.6
508:18–29–1
464:Houston
291:Network
264:Referee
231:Stadium
188:Houston
115:Coaches
51:(7–3–1)
48:(6–4–1)
778:Cotton
762:Fiesta
754:Orange
552:6–37.0
511:1–5–1
359:was a
337:
280:33,816
221:Season
885:Games
770:Sugar
730:Peach
714:Gator
589:(PDF)
582:(PDF)
544:7–48
160:Total
1342:2024
1337:2023
1332:2022
1327:2021
1322:2020
1317:2019
1312:2018
1307:2017
1302:2016
1297:2015
1292:2014
1287:2013
1282:2012
1277:2011
1272:2010
1267:2009
1262:2008
1257:2007
1252:2006
1247:2005
1242:2004
1237:2003
1232:2002
1227:2001
1222:2000
1217:1999
1212:1998
1207:1997
1202:1996
1197:1995
1192:1994
1187:1993
1182:1992
1177:1991
1172:1990
1167:1989
1162:1988
1157:1987
1152:1986
1147:1985
1142:1984
1137:1983
1132:1982
1127:1981
1122:1980
1117:1979
1112:1978
1097:1975
1092:1974
1087:1973
1082:1972
1077:1971
1072:1970
1067:1969
1062:1968
1057:1967
1052:1966
1047:1965
1042:1964
1037:1963
1032:1962
1027:1961
1022:1960
1017:1959
1002:1957
997:1956
992:1955
987:1954
982:1953
977:1952
972:1951
967:1950
962:1949
957:1948
952:1947
947:1946
942:1945
937:1944
932:1943
927:1942
922:1941
917:1940
912:1939
907:1938
902:1937
897:1936
892:1935
786:Rose
597:2015
541:2–27
533:2–1
522:407
489:409
355:The
342:1982
334:1980
225:1981
213:Date
25:1981
706:Sun
530:4–3
519:385
500:-2
497:228
486:157
478:15
295:CBS
270:SEC
254:QB
251:MVP
65:SWC
1912::
475:26
371:.
204:14
182:40
179:30
128:19
123:NR
108:AP
75:14
72:40
1867:†
1861:†
1855:†
1844:†
1808:#
1787:#
1781:#
1765:#
1734:#
1576:e
1569:t
1562:v
1376:e
1369:t
1362:v
822:e
815:t
808:v
644:e
637:t
630:v
613:.
599:.
272:)
201:7
198:0
195:7
192:0
176:3
173:0
170:7
157:4
154:3
151:2
148:1
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