The 1945 Oklahoma A&M Cowboys football team represented Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College (later renamed Oklahoma State University–Stillwater) in the Missouri Valley Conference during the 1945 college football season. The team was led by seventh-year head coach Jim Lookabaugh and played its home games at Lewis Field in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Oklahoma A&M was awarded a retroactive national championship and The Coaches' Trophy by the AFCA after compiling a 9–0 record, winning the Missouri Valley championship, defeating Saint Mary's in the 1946 Sugar Bowl, and being ranked No. 5 in the final AP Poll. The 1945 season remains the only undefeated season in school history.2016 Football Guide, p. 144.
On offense, the 1945 team averaged 31.7 points, 286.9 rushing yards, and 133.5 passing yards per game.2016 Football Guide, p. 138. On defense, the team allowed an average of 8.4 points, 108.6 rushing yards and 79.6 passing yards per game. In addition, the Aggies also outscored all opponents by a combined total of 285 to 76.2016 Football Guide, p. 140.
Halfback Bob Fenimore led the nation with 1,048 rushing yards. He also led the team with 593 passing yards, 72 points scored, and seven interceptions. Fenimore was selected as a consensus first-team halfback on the 1945 All-America college football team. He was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Three Oklahoma A&M players received first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors in 1945: Bob Fenimore, end Neill Armstrong, and lineman J. C. Colhouer.2016 Football Guide, p. 154.
In 2016, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), the organization responsible for the Coaches Poll, awarded Oklahoma A&M the 1945 national championship and The Coaches' Trophy. The AFCA tasked a Blue Ribbon Commission, consisting of former Baylor coach Grant Teaff, Georgia's Vince Dooley, and Texas A&M's R. C. Slocum, to award retroactive national titles for the years spanning 1922 to 1949 and invited schools to nominate their teams.
Schedule
Rankings
Roster Neill Armstrong A. L. Bennett M. L. "Bud" Brewton John Carey J. D. Cheek Bert Cole Jake Colhouer Mack Creager Bob DeMoss Ross Duckett Bob Faucette Bob Fenimore Jean M. Fitter Thurman Gay, Jr. Harvey Griffin Billy Grimes Cecil Hankins Bob Hargrove Bill Houck Sammy Howell George H. Ivie Ed Jeffers Afton Kelly Bill Long Alex Loyd Robert L. Memert Terry Monroe Glenn Moore Jim Parmer Jim Reynolds Otis Schellstede John Shelley Franklin Spruiell Joe Thomas Don E. Van Pool Nate J. Watson Wayne Weaver Edgar Welch Don Wiebener Marvin Wilkerson
After the season The 1946 NFL draft was held on January 14, 1946. The following Cowboys were selected.
8 66 Bert Cole Tackle Green Bay Packers 9 71 Jake Colhouer Guard Chicago Cardinals 20 182 Thurman Gay Jr. Tackle Chicago Bears 32 297 Otis Schellstede Guard Detroit Lions
References