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Oklahoma Sooners |
Southern Cal Trojans © |
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Played September 29, 1973 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, California |
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Teams' Belt Records
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Team |
Belt Reigns |
Overall Record |
Home Record |
Away Record |
Neutral Record |
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W |
L |
T |
PCT |
W |
L |
T |
PCT |
W |
L |
T |
PCT |
W |
L |
T |
PCT |
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| Oklahoma | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| Southern Cal © | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
Previous Belt Meetings: None
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1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
Final |
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Oklahoma |
0 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
7 |
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Southern Cal |
0 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
In Oklahoma’s first title shot, first-year coach Barry Switzer brought his 8th ranked, 1-0 Sooners to Los Angeles to play the top-ranked, 2-0 Southern Cal Trojans of John McKay. Southern Cal’s defense came into the game having not allowed a TD in their first 2 victories. The Selmon brothers – Lee Roy, Dewey, & All-American Lucious with All-American LB Rod Shoate anchored the Oklahoma defense while the offense featured QB Steve Davis & All-Big 8 RB Joe Washington. Although Oklahoma dominated in the statistical battle, the two powerhouse programs fought to a 7-7 tie. The Sooners avoided trailing very early in-spite of turning the ball over through fumbles on 2 of their first 4 offensive plays. After the second turnover, Trojans' QB Pat Haden threw an apparent touchdown pass to All-Pac 8 TE Jim Obradovich but the play was nullified when Obradovich was flagged for being offsides. The Trojans scored early in the 2nd quarter after a fumbled Sooners' punt return by CB Clyde Powers was recovered by Southern Cal LB Tom Bohlinger giving the Trojans the ball at the Oklahoma 25-yard line. Haden hit WR J.K. McKay for a 15-yard touchdown to give Southern Cal the lead 7-0 which they held at halftime. In the first half, Sooners’ PK Rick Fulcher missed a 32-yard field goal attempt & had a 40-yard attempt blocked. Oklahoma opened the 2nd half driving 70 yards in 13 plays for their only score, a 2-yard keeper by Davis that tied the score at 7-7. Neither team threatened the rest of the game & The Belt did not change hands (“To Be The Man, You Have To Beat The Man”). In the final period, Southern Cal drove only to the Sooners’ 45-yard line while Oklahoma was unable to cross midfield. Oklahoma finished with 330 yards rushing while outgaining the Trojans 339-161 but 3 turnovers & the 2 botched field goal attempts probably kept them from claiming The Belt. Haden finished with just 59 yards passing with his touchdown while All-American WR Lynn Swann was held to 2 catches for 12 yards. For Oklahoma, Davis rushed for 102 yards with his touchdown, Washington added 84 yards rushing & RB Waymon Clark rushed for 126 yards. Southern Cal finished the season 9-2-1; Pac-8 Champions & ranked 8th nationally while the Sooners finished the season 10-0-1; Big 8 Champions & ranked 3rd nationally. Oklahoma would play again for The Belt in 1992.
