There are, however, some potential upsets that could do a lot to shake up the College Football Playoff rankings. There are also some decent Big 12 games on the schedule, including interesting matchups in Morgantown and Lubbock.

Texas at West Virginia (-3.0) - Connor Williams returns from injury for Texas this week, which will be a huge boost for an offensive line that has been badly depleted all season. Texas’ running game has been atrocious because of those offensive line struggles, but the addition of a preseason All-American could turn that around this week. They’ll also be facing a West Virginia defense that has has allowed 191.1 yards per game on the ground in addition to allowing 4.7 yards per carry on the season. Having said all of this, West Virginia is at home and this line is just too low. Gambling pick: West Virginia covers. Over 53

TCU (-7.0) at Texas Tech - Okay, so TCU could potentially be without Kenny Hill this week. I think most OU fans would prefer to see the Horned Frogs in the Big 12 Championship as opposed to Okie State, so let’s hope he’s good to go. If he sits, highly-touted freshman Shawn Robinson will lead the way. Robinson is a very athletic QB who could give this offense a bit of a different look, so there’s a chance that TCU may not miss a beat this week against a mediocre Texas Tech defense. On the other side, the Frogs may also be without linebacker and leading tackler Travin Howard, linebacker Montrel Wilson and safety Nico Small. Gambling pick: I’m betting that at least some of the guys mentioned (including Hill) end up playing, so I think TCU covers. Over 57

Michigan at Wisconsin (-7.5) - Everything would just be so much simpler if Wisconsin would just lose a game. The problem is that Michigan, although 8-2, is not actually very good. As much as this one means for the College Football Playoff picture, I still don’t think I’ll pass on watching this. I’ll end up taking a nap if I watch more than five minutes. Gambling pick: Wisconsin covers. Under 39

Virginia at Miami (-19.5) - This one has all the makings of a letdown for the Miami Hurricanes. After all the energy that was on display at “The Rock” last weekend, they have to play a noon game against the Virginia Cavaliers. That team won’t get anyone pumped up, but they’re probably good enough to get a W if Miami doesn’t bring their best. Gambling pick: Miami wins, but I think Virginia beats the spread unless they turn it over a bunch (which is quite possible against Miami). Under 50.5

Kansas State at Oklahoma State (-20) - There’s now way that Kansas State can keep up with Oklahoma State on the scoreboard, but that’s a pretty big line. However, Skylar Thompson, who struggled against West Virginia last week, will likely be the guy for the Wildcats this weekend. He isn’t the runner that Alex Delton is, so I don’t envision them being able to do a whole lot offensively. Gambling pick: Oklahoma State covers and hands K-State its sixth loss. Under 65

Oklahoma (-37) at Kansas - To be perfectly honest, that line probably isn’t high enough. A second-half reprieve from facing Baker Mayfield just means that the Jayhawks will have to deal with Kyler Murray. This won’t turn out well for them. Gambling pick: Oklahoma covers and maybe sets some records. Over 70.5

UAB at Florida (-10.5) - America’s second-favorite team goes into The Swamp to face a Florida team that has an interim coach and no offense whatsoever. The conditions are in place for a hilarious upset, but will it actually happen? Gambling pick: No, it won’t happen, but I think UAB beats the spread. Under 48

What position will Sanders play at the next level? Well, that’s not exactly set in stone. If you’re going by Oklahoma’s graphic (seen above), it appears that they see him as a tight end at this point. However, the 6’5”, 210-pound playmaker is also listed as an outside linebacker or even a dual-threat QB by some services. What is obviously apparent is that he has an enormous ceiling as a football player, and his current offer list is evidence of how highly schools already think of him. As only a sophomore in high school, he already has offers from Baylor, Georgia, Oregon and TCU.

Sanders is ranked as the No. 7 overall player in the state of Texas for 2020, and he joins four-star running back Jase McClellan (No. 1 2020 recruit in Texas) as one of two members of Oklahoma’s class. With so many elite 2019 and 2020 prospects already committed, it’s obvious that Riley is taking a very proactive approach to recruiting, and I think that’s certainly an encouraging sign for the future of the program. It’s very early in the process for those guys, but this is at least a great barometer of how things have been going out there on the trail.

Perhaps the most noteworthy message coming out of today’s press conference was when Baker Mayfield openly challenged the fans to set a new standard for crowd noise. Mayfield referenced how the Tech game from ‘08 is always brought up for how impactful the fans can be, and he wants this week to be the new benchmark.

“I got one last thing. Being at one of the last home games we’re gonna have, it’s important to our college football playoff run. I’m gonna call out our fans. It’s gonna be an important one for us. 7 o’clock game. Night game. I don’t want to hear any talk about the 2008 Texas Tech game. This needs to be the new talk for the future, this crowd needs to be going. We give it our all week in and week out. I expect the fans to do the same for me this Saturday.”

Fans, I know we can rise to the occasion. For those in attendance, do your part and be the difference. Let’s make the TCU game from 2017 the new standard for the future.

Lincoln Riley took the podium after the players and touched on a little bit of everything from the past weekend and previewed Gary Patterson’s Horned Frogs. Check out some of the highlights from Riley’s Q&A with the press on Monday:

“I think he’ll respond well, he’s a competitor. I think some of his youth showed up the other day [. . .] but he’ll learn, he’ll grow, he’s competitive. He’s a really, really good player and he’ll be much better for it.”

“I feel like he’s just gotten more comfortable, and we’ve gotten more comfortable with him. He’s able to play more reps, and he’s making more plays as the reps go up.”

“It’s uneducated. When we sit here and play our conference every single week and we play great offenses every single week, we’ve seen what happens. We’ve also seen, going back to the bowl games last year, there’s one conference that gave up under 20 points per game and that was the Big 12 where everybody is playing out of conference teams. People want to talk about (Big 12 defenses), but we didn’t have any problems moving the ball against SEC defenses — one of the best ones in the country last year in the bowl game.”

“He’s the best one I’ve ever coached and probably the best one I’ve been around. I’ve been around other guys that maybe did a few things better here or there, but you talk about the total package of intelligence, arm talent, leadership, drive, being able to move, he’s the most complete one I’ve been around.”

Lincoln Riley announced that safety Kahlil Haughton will miss this weekend’s game against TCU with an injury, cornerback Jordan Thomas is listed as questionable and defensive tackle Neville Gallimore should return this week after missing the last two games. Haughton’s injury is especially crucial because the other safety, Will Johnson, will miss the first half of the TCU game after being tagged with a targeting call on Saturday.

Full Press Conference Links:

Orlando Brown also spoke about Baker Mayfield and his Heisman chances. It is apparent that this award would mean a lot to Brown and the o-line unit.

“He may say it doesn’t mean much to him, but as on offensive line it means a lot to us. We want him to win that Heisman Trophy. We want him to win every award he can win. We want to send him out of this university as one of the best players of all time.”

On the day, there was a lot of talk about emerging star receiver Marquise Brown. Baker Mayfield was asked who he thinks is faster between Brown and the 2016 Biletnikoff Award winner, Dede Westbrook.

“I think Marquise is even faster. Love Dede, but Marquise, he’s got another gear.”

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For starters, Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph owns nearly every major school passing record and currently leads the nation in total passing yards. That being said, a couple of teams have already provided the blueprint on how to limit his effectiveness.

Against TCU, Rudolph struggled going through his progressions if his first target was not open. Part of this was how well the Horned Frogs’ secondary was covering, but the other essential factor to this was the pressure TCU’s defensive front was able to get against OSU’s weak and depleted offensive line, as seen here:

If Oklahoma’s front seven can apply consistent pressure either on the edges or up the middle, giving Mason little time to go through his reads, the Cowboys should have a difficult time creating big plays in the passing game. It’ll be easier said than done this time around, as that offensive line is in much better shape health-wise than it was at that point.

In the game against Texas, Rudolph’s completion percentage was 12 percent higher than it was against TCU, but his 7.4 yards per attempt was the lowest it’s been all season. This is primarily because Rudolph opted for the shorter passing routes over the deep bombs that typically define the Cowboys’ offense. Oklahoma State wants to throw it down the field often, but this strategy is rendered quite ineffective if that part of their game is suppressed.

Now, it’s been one of the more discussed concerns among Sooner fans, so I won’t pile on too much, but the defense needs to put together a more complete game across the board. If OU isn’t going to position its corners at the line, then they cannot let OSU’s receivers get behind them. Stout coverage is the obvious key, but underneath tackling can make all the difference.

Speaking of receivers, there was talk about how deep and talented the Cowboys’ receiving unit is all off-season, and by all accounts they have backed up those claims with some tremendous performances. Take the Pitt game for an example of what they’re capable of:

Headlined by the big-play threat wearing 28, James Washington is really an all-around great receiver. He has excellent control of his body and his top-end speed in the open field is highlight material. The Cowboys also feature the big bodied Marcell Ateman, who uses his size to snatch the ball over the top of defenders and is a difficult matchup for undersized corners. The quick and agile Jalen McClesky is heavily used in the slot but does appear on the outside as well. Tackling McClesky is easier said than done, but it will be crucial. Finally, Dillon Stoner is young but has a knack for getting open and uses his hands well like a seasoned vet. Defending this bunch is a tall task, but the Sooners mustn’t be passive in their defensive approach. OU has to be smart, yet aggressive.

Against Texas Tech, Oklahoma switched from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense after the first quarter and saw results almost immediately. Utilizing a four-man front will be something the Sooners should go to once again this weekend because the increased front helps stymie the opposing run game. OSU will want to establish the run to open up the passing attack. If OU can dictate the game defensively by forcing Oklahoma State to shy away from the run, this should help the defensive backs in a big way, especially on longer conversion attempts.

Lastly, many times a good offense can be the best defense. In this case, the best kind of offense for the Sooners could be the kind that drains clock in bunches. TCU nearly doubled its time of possession against Oklahoma State, which not only kept OSU’s offense on the sideline, it also kept Mason Rudolph and company out of rhythm. It is highly conceivable for this Oklahoma team to execute such a game plan. Combining OU’s deep and powerful offensive line with its plethora of capable running backs should go a long way towards containing the offensive counterparts.

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I’m still in a very bad mood after Saturday, and I’m not alone. I fully expected the Oklahoma Sooners to just take care of business against the Iowa State Cyclones. I expected to continue to feel good about Oklahoma’s chances at a title despite the defense’s flaws. I expected to be excited about my trip to Dallas. Above all, I expected to be excited for a trip to Dallas for OU-Texas weekend. But sometimes life throws you a curveball. Sometimes college football makes you feel like crap.

Anyway, enough with the moping. I’m going to try to be positive about things in the lead-up to one of the greatest rivalry games in all of sports. I’m going to try to not let Mike Stoops ruin my week for seemingly the 50th time.

Here are my Big 12 Power Rankings through Week 6:

1. TCU (5-0, 2-0) - Not much to debate here. The Horned Frogs didn’t look perfect against WVU, but I’m still of the opinion that the Mountaineers are pretty damn good. TCU’s pass defense isn’t exceptional, but there isn’t a pass defense in the league that is, and the Frogs excel at pretty much everything else.
2. Oklahoma State (4-1, 1-1) - Is Oklahoma State actually better than Oklahoma? They both have significant defensive issues, but the nature of said issues seems to differ. Oklahoma State’s defense probably isn’t as talented as OU’s, but I’d take Glenn Spencer over Mike Stoops at this point. I’ll flip OU and OSU if the Sooners beat Texas, but OU needs to show me something first. Is OU’s offense better than Oklahoma State’s as a whole? Baker Mayfield and the OU offensive line are still great, but the losses of CeeDee Lamb and Abdul Adams made the Sooners waaaaay less effective on Saturday. If they’re out against Texas, the Sooners are in trouble. I’ll flip these two teams in next week’s rankings if OU beats Texas, but they have to show me something first.
3. Oklahoma (4-1, 1-1) - I don’t like the chances of OU’s defense righting the ship in 2017, which is unfortunate considering the fact that there’s more talent on that side of the ball than there was in 2016. This team could end the regular season with an 11-1 record, win the Big 12 and make the CFP, or they could finish 8-4 and end up in San Antonio or Orlando.
4. West Virginia (3-2, 1-1) - The Mountaineers were very close to beating TCU in Ft. Worth last weekend, and out-gained the Frogs by over 100 yards in the process. OU hasn’t lost to WVU since they joined the Big 12, but it could definitely happen this season if they can’t right the ship. They host Texas Tech this week for what will probably be a pretty damn good football game.
5. Texas (3-2, 2-0) - Sam Ehlinger looks looks like he’ll be a problem for Big 12 defenses for years to come. The defense looks alright, too. Is Texas back? Not yet, but we’ll see what happens this weekend.
6. Texas Tech (4-1, 1-1) - Texas Tech’s defense looks better than Oklahoma’s. That’s just sad.
7. Iowa State (3-2, 1-1) - Iowa State’s backup quarterbacks took home Big 12 Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week honors this week. That’s also just sad.
8. Kansas State (3-2, 1-1) - The Wildcats probably shouldn’t fall this far just for losing at Texas in overtime, but here they are anyway. If they beat TCU in Manhattan this week (which could definitely happen), they’ll be back in the top half and the Big 12 will be a bigger mess than it already is.
9. Baylor (0-5, 0-2) - I usually root for any team that plays OSU, but not this week. I hope Baylor finishes 0-12.
10. Kansas (1-4, 0-2) - This team will prevent Baylor from going 0-12.

Week 7 Big 12 Schedule

Kansas at Iowa State - 11 a.m. CT (Fox Sports Net)

Texas Tech at West Virginia - 11 a.m. CT (ESPNU)

TCU at Kansas State - 11 a.m. CT (FS1)

Baylor at Oklahoma State - 2:30 p.m. CT (FS1)

Oklahoma vs. Texas (Dallas) - 2:30 p.m. CT (ESPN)

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Stepping up in the right place, at the right time, for No. 1 option Mark Andrews after the Sooners lost the star tight end to a leg injury early on, the senior wasted little time in putting on a clinic in versatility and stealth-like efficiency from literally all over the field. Flowers, a natural blocker in the run game surprisingly led the Sooners in rushing in the absence of Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine in Ames a season ago (22 carries, 115 yards), and somehow on Sept. 9 he added a team-high in receiving to his growing resume, as well. In his biggest performance to date, the dynamic Flowers went for seven catches and 98 yards including a dazzling 36-yard gallop in the open field for OU’s first touchdown of the night.

We knew Dimitri’s all-around talents would be part of Oklahoma’s offense coming into the season. But in his biggest moment he comfortably became one of the go-to guys as if he’s tailor made for it.

At 6-2, 247 pounds, the easy-going, unassuming Flowers arrived in Norman three years ago carrying some favorable comparisons to former Sooner fullback Trey Millard, an excellent all-around player in his own right before a leg injury cut his career short in 2013. Fans and media alike got their first look at Flowers’ gifted backfield skill set that was on full display in Ames a year ago, but his play in the open field of Ohio Stadium catching passes with the ease and fluidity of a wideout took his game — and the Oklahoma offense — to another level.

It was a breakout performance that was truly something to behold. Many Sooners stepped up big on the road for Lincoln Riley and Mayfield last weekend, but no one’s impact on the offense was felt more than that of Flowers.

The senior was quite possibly the nation’s most versatile secret weapon coming into the Ohio State game with his ability to run the ball to go with his excellent blocking abilities as a natural fullback. He left Columbus as Oklahoma’s most impressive and possibly most dangerous player outside of its Heisman-contending quarterback.

The Buckeyes had no idea what was about to hit them and they are still probably scheming for how to match up with the multi-talented Flowers. He is one of the most unique football players to date, and I have a distinct suspicion the best is yet to come.

No other player at OU — perhaps anywhere in the country — could’ve replaced the special abilities of Andrews in quite the way Flowers did. North Carolina State H-Back Jaylen Samuels is one similar player who comes to mind. While Samuels has certainly been more productive statistically than Flowers as a consistent focal point of the Wolfpack’s offense the last three seasons, the 5-11, 240-pound senior hasn’t recorded a performance quite like this on this big a stage to date. Additionally, while Samuels is a good blocker, he’s not in the same league as Flowers as far as run blocking is concerned.

As far as overall versatility is concerned, it can be argued that Flowers is tops in the country. Arguments can be made for defensive players such as Florida State’s Derwin James or Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick, but I think it’s safe to say that he currently leads that race on the offensive side of the ball due to his ability to catch, run and block at an elite level as well as his ability to line up in a multitude of locations.

Baker Mayfield may be the most valuable and talented player at Oklahoma — arguably in all of college football — but Flowers could be considered the most impactful with his array of contributions in nearly every facet of the game. As freshmen Trey Sermon and CeeDee Lamb along with the electrifying grad transfer Jeff Badet broke out in their own right on the road last Saturday, Dimitri Flowers was the one who truly made things go.

It’s tantalizing for fans and nightmarish for opposing defenses to imagine what the new-and-improved Flowers can do when Mark Andrews returns. It’s an embarrassment of riches that just keeps getting richer.

There was not a matchup on the field that could slow him down, let alone stop him, on Ohio State’s roster. A player like Flowers illustrates in poetic fashion the true extent of Oklahoma’s quality depth, versatility and outlandish offensive capability — his unique display of power and grace that few could imagine, let alone replicate, seemingly on the fly in primetime.

The senior from San Antonio is one special player. And we as college football fans are truly lucky to see in front of us the unfolding of just how special he can be.

1. #2 Oklahoma Sooners (2-0, Last Week: 1)
Last Week: Won at #2 Ohio State, 31-16

That was a huge win for Oklahoma, and it's impossible to argue that anyone should have this spot over them. In fact, this win alone pretty much guarantees them the top spot until they lose.

Up Next: vs Tulane (1-1) at 5:00PM

2. #9 Oklahoma State Cowboys (2-0, LW: 2)
Last Week: Won at South Alabama, 44-7

A strange road game at South Alabama didn't prove to be a test for this team at all. This week we'll get to see how this team will handle itself on the road.

Up Next: @ Pitt (1-1) at 11:00AM on ESPN

3. #20 TCU Horned Frogs (2-0, LW: 6)
Last Week: Won at Arkansas, 28-7

Going in to Arkansas and dominating the game like that was most impressive, and so they get the nod in the 3 spot this week. They are heavily favored against a mediocre SMU squad, and I'm expecting them to show why.

Up Next: vs SMU (2-0) at 2:30PM on ESPNU

4. #18 Kansas State Wildcats (2-0, LW: 3)
Last Week: Won vs Charlotte, 55-7

Another sacrificial lamb for Kansas State. This week should allow us to actually get a sense of what this team is going to be like.

Up Next: @ Vanderbilt (2-0) at 6:30PM on ESPNU

5. West Virginia Mountaineers (2-0, LW: 5)
Last Week: Won vs East Carolina, 56-20

They absolutely destroyed a bad East Carolina team, and this week should be more of the same.

Up Next: vs Delaware State (0-2) at 11:00AM

6. Texas Tech Red Raiders (1-0, LW: 4)
Last Week: BYE

This is correcting the mistake I made in my first rankings, after I switched the Sagarin rankings of Texas Tech and TCU. A bye last week was not only strangely timed, but it means that they can't add to any accomplishments to justify staying up in the top half of the league.

Up Next: vs Arizona State (1-1) at 7:00PM

7. Texas Longhorns (1-1, LW: 9)
Last Week: Won vs San Jose State 56-0

That score looks a lot closer than the game actually was. Some fortunate special teams plays turned into 14 points, but Maryland completely dominated the Longhorns on offense and defense. Not the debut that Tom Herman was expected to have. At least they weren't Baylor though.

Up Next: @ #4 USC (2-0) at 7:30PM on FOX

8. Iowa State Cyclones (1-1, LW: 7)
Last Week: Lost vs Iowa, 44-41 (OT)

That was a nut punch of a loss. Iowa scored on a last minute drive to tie it, and you could tell in OT that the Cyclones were just completely deflated. I still don't know if Iowa State is better this year or Iowa is significantly worse, but the next few weeks should give us all the information we need. If Iowa State can cruise through this game, I'll be willing to move them up.

Up Next: @ Akron (1-1) at 11:00AM on CBS Sports

9. Kansas Jayhawks (1-1, LW: 8)
Last Week: Lost vs Central Michigan, 45-27

The ONLY thing keeping Kansas out of the cellar is the fact that Baylor lost again to a horrible team, and they showed just how inept their offense can be. If Kansas gets blown out on the road in Ohio this week, I might have to move them into the bottom spot regardless of what happens to Baylor at Duke.

Up Next: vs Ohio (1-1) at 11:00AM on ESPNU

10. Baylor Bears (0-2, LW: 10)
Last Week: Lost vs UT San Antonio, 17-10

Baylor absolutely embarrassed themselves this last week, and that's pretty much the only reason I'm acknowledging them this week, despite Mike's declaration that we should ignore them.

Up Next: @ Duke (2-0) at 11:30AM on ACC Network

Fun With Stats

Unfortunately, we once again don’t have anything that we can celebrate here, and I wasn’t in the mood to try and dig too deep to find something obscure. If we somehow magically pull off a win, I’ll make sure we get something here next week.

In short, the lawsuit claims that Bledsoe consumed a large scoop of Inner Armour protein powder that belonged to an unnamed teammate and later purchased protein powder of a different brand. After submitting to a random test on Oct. 5, Bledsoe’s urine tested positive for the banned substance.

Here’s where it gets a bit interesting:

The lawsuit states Bledsoe submitted the proteins and multi-vitamins he had recently taken and submitted them to athletic trainer Scott Anderson. Bledsoe and OU submitted the substances to an independent laboratory in Nashville, Tenn.

Testing revealed the Inner Armour substance contained clomiphene, but Bledsoe’s other powder and vitamins did not. After the testing, the laboratory purchased and tested another container of Inner Armour, and the test came back negative.

Bledsoe appealed his NCAA suspension on Nov. 28, and on Dec. 5, NCAA officials notified OU that Bledsoe’s appeal had been denied.

Cody Stavenhagen of the Tulsa World

Regardless of the outcome, Bledsoe will be eligible to play in Oklahoma’s Oct. 7 game against Iowa State, and the talented DE will provide Oklahoma’s defensive front with some quality depth. Bledsoe came to OU in 2016 in as a four-star prospect out of Lawrence, Kansas, and appeared in six games, recording three tackles and a pass breakup before being suspended.

I’m going to describe someone, and you see if you can figure out who I’m talking about. He was a two-year starting quarterback at one of the premier high school football programs in the state of Texas and led his team to a state championship. He also played baseball in high school and was a .300+ hitter. He enrolled at a power-five program and spent his freshman year splitting playing time with another quarterback. He eventually got frustrated by his coach’s inability to settle on one QB and chose to transfer to Oklahoma where he knew he would have to compete with an established starter for playing time. He’s often criticized for being undersized for a QB. Did you figure it out yet?

If you answered either Baker Mayfield or Kyler Murray, you are correct.

When Murray first arrived in Norman in December 2015, it looked as though his college career would continue to mirror Mayfield’s to a tee. He would sit out a year following his transfer, earn his chops on the scout team and assume the starting position for three years following Mayfield’s departure. Six months later, a surprise Big 12 ruling threw a wrench in his plans. The announcement that Mayfield would be granted a fifth year of eligibility meant that Murray would be resigned to carrying the clipboard for another year.

Three years ago, it would have been inconceivable to think that the No. 1 quarterback in the class of 2015 would have to wait three whole years before becoming a full-time starter in college, but that is the reality that Murray is now facing. Outwardly, he seems to remain upbeat about his role on the team. “The opportunity, when it presents itself, it’ll come,” Murray told the Tulsa World regarding Mayfield’s decision to return for a fifth season. “That was his decision. I can’t control what he does. I’m just gonna keep working hard for this team.”

While Murray’s opportunity to take the reigns as a starter may have to wait another year, his chance to help his team might not. By many accounts, Murray might be the fastest player on OU’s entire roster. His blazing speed gives Lincoln Riley a plethora of options for utilizing him in the offensive scheme.

The most obvious use for Murray would be to run a scheme similar to the “Belldozer” package from a few years ago. A Murray variation would obviously look different as he is much smaller and quicker than Blake Bell, but the idea of having a package specifically designed for a running quarterback could make its way back into the Oklahoma Sooners’ offensive repertoire this season. OU will be looking for guys to step up to fill the production void in the backfield left by the departures of Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon. A run-first scheme centered around Murray could also save Mayfield a bit of wear-and-tear.

Another possible use for Murray’s unique combination of speed and arm strength could be trick plays. He could potentially line up out wide as a receiver and end up throwing the ball. Don’t be surprised if Riley dials up something (maybe something similar to what Alabama did with Ardarius Stewart?) to try and catch opposing defenses off guard.

While Murray’s abilities as an athlete may earn him the majority of his snaps this season, his true value to the Sooners goes far beyond that. Murray’s experience and abilities far exceed that of your average backup quarterback. He gives OU an assurance that not all is lost should Mayfield go down with an injury.

The drop-off between the OU’s starter and backup quarterbacks has been steep in past years, and it has cost them dearly. If Sam Bradford had a backup like Murray in 2007, Bob Stoops might have won a second national championship ring. God forbid something should happen to Mayfield, Murray could prove to be invaluable to keeping the Sooners’ Big 12 title and College Football Playoff hopes alive.

Murray will no doubt get his chance to show the world what he can do over the next few years. For now, he remains the quarterback equivalent of homeowners insurance. You hope you never need it, but if your house burns down you’ll sure be glad you have it.

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In 1999, first-year head coach Bob Stoops led the Oklahoma Sooners to a bowl game for the first time since the 1994 season. There was plenty of reason for optimism in 2000, and Oklahoma fans were pumped about making appearances in the preseason polls for a change. The excitement was palpable, but I don’t think even the most loyal Oklahoma fans envisioned what was about to come next.

Bob Stoops led his Sooners to a 13-0 record and an BCS Championship in 2000, and the Sooners had more than their share of incredible moments along the way. Let’s take a look at the most memorable moments form that season, shall we?

The Texas Massacre

Oklahoma entered the Red River Shootout with a 4-0 record, but the Sooners really hadn’t faced a quality opponent up until that point. Because of that fact, many were skeptical as to whether or not No. 10 OU could hang with the No. 11 Texas Longhorns. Oklahoma didn’t just hang with UT that day — they hung 63 points on them.

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Bob Stoops and Oklahoma experienced a run against Texas that we will unfortunately never see again (though one can wish, right?). The five-year streak fittingly began with a 63-14 blowout in which the Sooners allowed only 154 yards of total offense. Quentin Griffin led the way with six rushing touchdowns — a school record that still stands to this day. My favorite moment from this one has to be Rocky Calmus’ pick-six with his left arm in a cast.

Bob’s first big road win

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On Oct. 14 of 2000, Bob Stoops would finally face his old mentor in Manhatton for an opportunity to claim his first big win on the road. On top of all that, Oklahoma was finally starting to gain some much-deserved national attention, having cracked the top 10 in both polls after its big win over Texas the previous week. Wagner Field was rocking that day, but OU was still able to jump out to a 38-14 by the middle of the third quarter. However, K-State was a team loaded with playmakers such as Aaron Lockett, Quincy Morgan and Terrance Newman, and they would not go away quietly. The Wildcats scored 17 unanswered points to make it a one-score game with about 10 minutes remaining, but the Sooners had the resolve to eventually suppress the late charge.

OU fans storm the field after beating No. 1 Nebraska

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After two straight wins over top-10 teams, Oklahoma hosted the Nebraska Cornhuskers for one of the most heavily-hyped games in school history. The 11 a.m. kickoff didn’t deter Norman from being at its rowdiest, and the atmosphere was like nothing I had ever seen before or since. The night before the game, my dad said, “Jack, you’ve never been to a wild football game before”. I kind of shrugged it off, but I now know that he was trying to prepare me for what I was about to experience — stuff that a child probably shouldn’t be allowed to see and hear in person.

In spite of the raucous crowd, the Huskers jumped out to an early 14-0 lead. That lead, however, would diminish in the blink of an eye, as OU would score 24 unanswered points in the second quarter. Derrick Strait’s pick-six to begin the second half would serve as the icing on the cake, as Oklahoma would go on to win by a score of 31-14. Afterwords, Oklahoma fans (myself included) stormed the field en masse, something that hasn’t happened in Norman since.

Torrance Marshall stuns the Aggies

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Texas A&M was out for revenge after the 51-6 shellacking from the previous season, and the Aggies were primed to ruin No. 1 Oklahoma’s perfect season. For a while, it looked like it would happen, as A&M would build a 24-10 advantage by the middle of the third quarter. After OU clawed back to make it 24-21, A&M wrecking ball Ja’Mar Toombs rumbled his way into the endzone, which is why a door at my parents’ house still doesn’t shut properly to this day. Luckily, OU clawed back again with Quentin Griffin TD run and a two-point conversion. What followed was one of the greatest plays in OU history.

Derrick Strait saves the season

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The Cowboys limped into Bedlam with a record of 3-7, and Bob Simmons was on his way out in Stillwater. However, rivalry games have a tendency to defy expectations, and that’s just what happened that day. After OU had jumped out to a 12-0 lead, OSU freshman Tatum Bell raced to the endzone to make it a ballgame once again. With 3:20 left in the game, the Cowboys went for it on fourth down to for a chance to take the lead. Derrick Strait would be having none of that, as he knocked the ball out of Marcellus Rivers’ hands to turn the Cowboys over on downs.

The rematch with K-State

Oklahoma was able to escape Manhattan with big “W” earlier in the season, but they needed a bit of late-game magic to get it done. Needless to say, the Wildcats were out for blood on that cold (and I mean COLD) December night at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. With a Big 12 Championship on the line, both teams were exceptionally physical from start to finish, and it made for a great game that is often overshadowed in OU lore by other great victories from that season.

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OU would come out on top once again, this time by a score of 27-24. Trent Smith was the hero of the night, hauling in nine catches for 96 yards and a touchdown.

The icing on the cake

Despite carrying a No. 1 ranking and an unblemished record, Oklahoma entered the Orange Bowl as a double-digit underdog to No. 2 Florida State. The Seminoles were led by Heisman Trophy winner, but a certain Oklahoma linebacker didn’t think Chris Weinke deserved the award to begin with.

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Marshall’s calling-out of Weinke set the tone for the Oklahoma defense, who held the best offense in college football to 301 total yards — 248 yards under its season average up to that point — and zero points.

Leading 6-0 late in the game, Rocky Calmus knocked the ball out of Weinke’s arms and into Roy Williams’ grasp to give OU the ball in the red zone. Two plays later, Quentin Griffin took it 10 yards into the end zone, and OU was sitting pretty. Florida State later scored a pair of points when the ball was snapped over punter Jeff Ferguson’s head, but it was all for nothing as OU would go on to win 13-2 and claim its seventh championship.

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Which units are the strongest for Stoops and the Sooners?

As Oklahoma Sooners fans well know, not every unit is created equal.

Winning big requires excellence on both sides of the ball, but unless you’re Alabama it’s tough to make everything great at the same time. In OU’s case, a trendy young coordinator has led to an offensive explosion while Mike Stoops’ early-aughts era defense struggles to keep up with the Big 12. So it goes.

But to be more specific, which position groups really stand out in this 2017 Sooners lineup? OU’s groups aren’t nearly so lopsided as, say, Texas Tech’s, but there’s a definite hierarchy to the talent on Owen Field this year.

Here are OU’s position groups, ranked from first to worst:

1. Quarterback

Even on an offense chock full of talent, there’s no doubt that OU’s quarterbacks — including one Heisman finalist, one five-star recruit and two four-stars — have the most concentrated quality on the whole roster. And while it’s disappointing to have lost out on Cameron Rising, many fans have correctly pointed out that this unit will still be set for years to come barring a mass exodus or some awful busts.

I don’t know about you, but I’m already looking forward to a battle royale for the starting spot next spring.

2. Offensive Line

At the all-important left tackle position, Orlando Brown looks poised to end OU’s streak of first-round NFL Draft shutouts. Ben Powers, Dru Samia, Alex Dalton and Jonathan Alvarez provide crucial positional flexibility, Erick Wren is a diamond in the rough at center and Cody Ford is an absolute beast — who might not even start! Top it off with Bobby Evans at right tackle and you’ve got a reasonably young, talented unit that’s the best in the Big 12. Heck, Creed Humphrey may even prove to be too good to redshirt.

3. Wide Receiver

Minus Dede Westbrook this becomes a tough-ish call, but there’s plenty of returning talent and exciting new faces that make this group one of the best on the team. Mark Andrews is a red-zone handful no matter where he lines up; talented veterans like Jeffrey Mead give this unit a pretty high floor; and there are plenty of reason to get excited about potential breakout players like Marquise Brown and Mykel Jones (as well as freshmen CeeDee Lamb and Charleston Rambo). I think this group is going to be better than fine (again).

4. Running Back

I really almost went with linebacker here — it’s not ideal for the offense to have a clean sweep of the top spots — but with the depth they’ve amassed and the potential they’ve shown, I think these backs have earned the benefit of the doubt. What’s the worst-case scenario here — that Rodney Anderson isn’t a superstar (or, God forbid, gets hurt again)? Give Marcelias Sutton a try. Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

5. Linebacker

What this group lacks in proven depth, it makes up for with promise and a couple of big-time guys. I’m leaving out Obo Okoronkwo here — like it or not, his hand will be in the dirt much more often. But Caleb Kelly might turn into the best player on the whole defense, and Emmanuel Beal had an underrated first year. With the recruiting class OU just pulled down, this linebacker unit might be leading the defense for awhile.

6. Defensive Backs

I could have broken this down into corners / safeties, but the whole unit is basically in the same place. It’s a frustrating but potential-filled mix of high-ceiling veterans (Steven Parker, Jordan Thomas), exciting young stars (Parnell Motley, Jordan Parker) and the hold-your-breath-and-say-a-prayer types (Will Johnson, Will Sunderland) who will have to play much better collectively for the Sooners to make the Playoff this year.

Many also all happen to share names.

I’m expecting better things from this group than what we saw in the first half last year. Maybe Parnell Motley and Jordan Thomas can be the lockdown corners OU so desperately needs.

7. Defensive Line

Admittedly, since Obo’s quasi-arrival, this unit isn’t the total basement-dweller it used to be. But beyond him and Neville Gallimore there are still huge questions about this group and how effective it can be at getting after quarterbacks and stuffing runs.

Maybe the transition to a 4-3 is exactly what this group needed to rejuvenate — and start recruiting big-time players — again.

What do you think, Sooner Nation? Share your rankings in the comments and let us know which groups will surprise this season.