Two of Stoops’ players — Josh Heupel and Roy Williams — were on the ballot again but did not make the cut for the 2021 class.
Stoops praised OU’s administration, his assistant coaches and support staff but said it was the players that ultimately were most responsible for the success.
“I am so appreciative of all the guys who played for me,” Stoops said. “I felt a great connection to our players from my first year in 1999 and all the way through my last season in 2016, and if I did anything right it was always connecting wholeheartedly with them.