He rushed 19 times for 102 yards as a sophomore during the Sooners' national championship season in 1950.

McPhail also served as the lead blocker for Heisman Trophy winner Billy Vessels and the pair became the first college football backfield to have two 1,000 rushers in the same season.

[5] He occasionally played running back but primarily served as the team's kicking specialist during Baltimore's inaugural season.

[8][9] After his discharge from the Army McPhail became the backfield coach at the University of California.

[8] In 1963 McPhail was interviewed to replace Bud Wilkinson as the head coach at Oklahoma, but his alma mater ultimately chose Gomer Jones.