Year-by-Year: 1987
November 24, 1987 10:00 AM
Sooner Steamroll Razorbacks
Oklahoma 42
Arkansas 8
The University of Oklahoma capped its third consecutive season as Big 8 Champions with a 42-8 rout of the Arkansas Razorbacks in the 1987 Orange Bowl.
The first quarter of the 53rd annual Orange Bowl saw both teams fail to put any points on the scoreboard, but that would soon change for the Sooners as they began their offensive assault early in the second quarter with a Spencer Tillman 77-yard touchdown run. Tillman wasn't done. After a second Arkansas interception in as many possessions, Tillman found his way into the endzone from 21-yards out, putting the Sooners up 14-0 at the half.
Oklahoma only attempted one pass in the first half, but their ground attack proved to be more than enough behind the senior Tillman, who rushed for 107 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.
To start the second half, Oklahoma's defense sacked the Razorbacks' Greg Thomas twice forcing a three and out situation for the scoreless Hogs. On the Sooners next possession quarterback Jamelle Holieway called his own number and scored on a 2-yard run.
With Oklahoma leading 28-0, the Razorbacks continued to self-destruct as Thomas threw two more interceptions in the fourth quarter. Although neither turnover resulted in a Sooner score, Oklahoma still put more points on the board with two more touchdowns in the fourth.
Arkansas did manage to avoid a shutout with less than 25 seconds left in the game on a 1-yard touchdown run by senior fullback Derrick Thomas. Unfortunately for the Razorbacks it was too little too late as the Sooners won convincingly 42-8.
GAME STATISTICS
  Oklahoma Arkansas
First Downs 11 17
Rushing Attempts 48 45
Rushing Yards 366 48
Passes Attempted 5 33
Passes Completed 2 16
Had Intercepted 0 5
Passing Yards 47 192
Total Offense 413 240
Punting/Avg. 5/47.6 9/41.1
Fumbles/Lost ; 3/2 2/0
Penalties/Yards 4/40 3/25
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Oklahoma 0 14 14 14 20
Arkansas 0 0 0 8 14
SCORING SUMMARY
OU: Tillman 77 run (Lashar kick); OU: Tillman 21 run (Lashar kick); OU: Holieway 2 run (Lashar kick); OU: Holieway 4 run (Lashar kick); OU: Stafford 13 run (Lashar kick); OU: Parham 49 run (Lashar kick); AR: D. Thomas 2 run (Shibest pass from Bland) ... MVPs: Spencer Tillman and Dante Jones (Oklahoma)
Oklahoma Head Coach Barry Switzer
Arkansas Head Coach Ken Hatfield