Oklahoma is the first team to reach both the men’s basketball Final Four and College Football Playoff, a stat that comes off as less impressive when you remember football’s final four has only been around for two seasons. But having top-four teams in college athletics’ two biggest moneymaking sports is still a somewhat rare feat.
There wasn’t any overlap with 2014’s College Football Playoff (Oregon, Florida State, Ohio State, Alabama) and the Final Four (Duke, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Kentucky), though Michigan State did finish No. 8 in football. In 2015, the College Football Playoff was Oklahoma, Clemson, Alabama and Michigan State; the final four is Oklahoma, Villanova, Syracuse and North Carolina.
Florida is the standard-bearer for football and basketball success in the same school year, winning the 2006 BCS Championship and the 2007 NCAA Tournament. Kansas came close in 2007-2008 (No. 7 in football, 2008 basketball champs) as did Texas in 2002-2003 (No. 9 in football, Final Four) and Oklahoma in 2001-2002 (No. 10 in football, Final Four).
Ohio State finished No. 2 in the final AP football poll and reached the Final Four in the 1998-1999 school year. Florida finished just outside football’s final top four (No. 5) and reached the Final Four in 1993-1994. Michigan, in the Fab Five days, was No. 5 and No. 6 in football in 1991 and 1992 and reached the NCAA Tournament championship games the following springs.
Yes, Oklahoma finished No. 5 in the final AP poll this year, but since there was a playoff, we’ll consider them top four. Which means, since 1990, only two other schools have done what Oklahoma has this year: Florida (2006-2007) and Ohio State (1998-1999).
Even though Oklahoma lost to Clemson in the College Football Playoff, and Buddy Hield & Co.'s fate is to be determined, this is an awfully impressive year for Joe Castiglione and Sooner athletics.
