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Best college football coach in history from each state

By Nathaniel Reeves

TUSCALOOSA, AL - CIRCA 1958-1982: Paul Bryant, head coach of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team observes the play during a game at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Alabama) (Photo by University of Alabama/Collegiate Images/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL - CIRCA 1958-1982: Paul Bryant, head coach of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team observes the play during a game at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Alabama) (Photo by University of Alabama/Collegiate Images/Getty Images) /
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NORMAN, OK – OCTOBER 29: Oklahoma Sooners helmets on the field before the game against the Kansas Jayhawks October 29, 2016 at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners defeated the Jayhawks 56-3. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK – OCTOBER 29: Oklahoma Sooners helmets on the field before the game against the Kansas Jayhawks October 29, 2016 at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners defeated the Jayhawks 56-3. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /

Oklahoma: Bud Wilkinson 

As the owner of one of the greatest college football dynasties since World War II, Wilkinson earns the top coaching spot in the history of The Sooner State.

Wilkinson was born in Minnesota and played for the Golden Gophers, as a quarterback and guard from 1934 to 1936 under Bierman, winning three consecutive national championships in the process. Five years after graduating, Wilkinson took his first coaching job as an assistant at Syracuse before eventually joining Tatum at Oklahoma for the 1946 season.

When Tatum shocked everyone by leaving for Maryland, the Sooners promoted Wilkinson to head coach after one year with the program. Following a 7-2-1 debut campaign, Wilkinson put together a dominant run from 1948-1958 with a 107-8-2 record including four perfect seasons.

The Sooners claimed their first national championship in school history in 1950 despite the loss to Bryant’s Wildcats and added two more titles before Wilkinson left the school to enter politics in 1963. Wilkinson’s most impressive accomplishment on a long list of accolades was a 47-game winning streak from 1953 to 1957, which is still a record for the FBS level.

Despite a few middling years to close out his coaching career, Wilkinson finished his Oklahoma career with a record of 145-29-4 and won 14 conference titles. Barry Switzer matched Wilkinson with three national championships and current major head coaches Bob Stoops and Mike Gundy are enjoying plenty of success, but Wilkinson’s dominant run is impossible to match in state history.

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