[4][5] This was Chuck Fairbanks' last season as Sooner head coach;[4] he left for the New England Patriots of the NFL.

"[9] Oklahoma had used players (including Kerry Jackson, the team's first black quarterback) with falsified transcripts and on April 18, 1973, voluntarily forfeited eight games.

[16] This was the first season that the Selmon brothers Lucious, Lee Roy and Dewey, all eventual All-Americans,[17] anchored the defensive line.

The team concluded its season with a 14–0 victory over Penn State in the Sugar Bowl on New Year's Eve.

Pruitt led in scoring with 86 points, Shoate in tackles with 145, and Dan Ruster in interceptions with seven.