Eyes on Oklahoma

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🏈 A quarterback controversy?

www.eyesonoklahoma.com

🏈 A quarterback controversy?

For the last six years, OU's quarterback hasn't been a question. Amid a perfect season, Lincoln Riley faces his toughest decision yet.

Joe Buettner
Oct 11, 2021
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🏈 A quarterback controversy?

www.eyesonoklahoma.com

âœŒđŸœ Happy Monday, friends. Let’s ride.

đŸ€” Trivia: Which former Oklahoma player has the most rushing yards in a single game vs. Texas? [Answer in footnotes]

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💭 QB controversy!

It’s Monday, Oct. 11.

Oklahoma is undefeated and ranked fourth in the AP Top 25.

The Sooners just handed their most hated rival an epic loss to win their fourth straight game against the Longhorns.

And somehow 
 somehow through all of this, Oklahoma has managed to stumble upon one of the toughest decisions of Lincoln Riley’s tenure.

Spencer Rattler or Caleb Williams?

Riley wouldn’t commit to either as OU’s Week 7 starter against Texas Christian, which marks the second time this year the Sooners’ head coach is leaving Gary Patterson in the dark about a quarterback-related decision.

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The answer seems simple to me. Caleb Williams was the spark a sluggish OU team needed in Dallas, and he’s earned the right to carry that momentum into the next week. But I won’t be shocked if Riley sticks with Rattler.

Both quarterbacks are likely to play in some capacity. Williams made cameos in OU’s wins over Tulane and Kansas State. Rattler returned to the Texas game for the first time since being benched on the two-point conversion that would tie the game at 41.

After a few years of one-and-done quarterbacks, it would be a change of pace if Williams were to win the job and be the Sooners’ guy for the next two-and-a-half years. That’s Baker Mayfield-level stability.

But if Riley handles this like he does most of his “quarterback battles,”

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the decision will likely come at game time.

It’s simply wild that we’re here, especially after such a classic Red River Showdown.

Speaking of which, I have a few thoughts regarding the Sooners’ win over Texas, which is linked below.

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🔋 Big 12 power ranking

For an OU-centric newsletter, I was not excited for you to see Texas at No. 1 in the new power ranking when the Longhorns were ahead 28-7 on Saturday.

Shoutout Caleb Williams for preventing that from happening. Here’s my new ranking:

  1. Oklahoma (6-0, Last week: 1): Anything that could go wrong did for the Sooners in the first half against Texas. A quarterback switch, a motivated defense and the reliable leg of Gabe Brkic fueled, however, a historic OU-Texas comeback — one we’ll never forget.

  2. Oklahoma State (5-0, Last week: 2): The Pokes enjoyed an off week. They get the Longhorns this weekend.

  3. Baylor (5-1, Last week: 4): Unlike Texas, Baylor held on to an early 28-7 lead, stomping West Virginia 45-20 on Saturday. Next, the Bears host BYU on Saturday.

  4. Texas (4-2, Last week: 3): If you weren’t aware, the Longhorns lost this weekend. Texas looked BACK back early against Oklahoma. The Longhorns collapsed, however, and let a huge victory slip away. I won’t be shocked if the Longhorns get another crack at OU in December.

  5. Iowa State (3-2, Last week: 5): The Cyclones took this weekend off. They will enter this Saturday as 4.5-point favorites at Kansas State.

  6. Kansas State (3-2, Last week: 6): The Wildcats were also off.

  7. TCU (3-2, Last week: 8): TCU rushed for 394 yards en route to a 52-31 win at Texas Tech on Saturday. The Frogs visit Norman at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.

  8. Texas Tech (4-2, Last week: 7): The Red Raiders’ defense remains a liability. They at least boast running back SaRodorick Thompson, who scored three touchdowns and rushed for 118 yards.

  9. West Virginia (2-4, Last week: 9): The Mountaineers aren’t Kansas. So, that’s good. Neal Brown on the hot seat?

  10. Kansas (1-4, Last week: 10): It’s just sad at this point.

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🎧 Podcast launch!

Eyes on Oklahoma is happy to introduce our own podcast. Episodes will be weekly and are available on all major podcast platforms.

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The first episode drops later tonight. We will be recapping OU-Texas and looking ahead to the Sooners’ bout with TCU with CBS Sports college football reporter Shehan Jeyarajah.

Where you can subscribe:

  • Apple Podcasts

  • Spotify

  • Stitcher

  • Google

  • TuneIn


📈 OU moves up

The Sooners moved from No. 6 to No. 4 in the latest AP Top 25.

OU received three votes at No. 2 and seven votes at No. 3. The Sooners were ranked as low as No. 8 by three voters.

Other notable moves:

  • Cincinnati is No. 3, which is the program's highest ranking ever in the AP Top 25.

  • Georgia is the unanimous No. 1 team.

  • Texas A&M jumps to No. 21 after its upset of Alabama.

  • Texas stayed at No. 25 after its loss to Oklahoma.

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đŸ“ș OU-TCU set for prime time

If you missed the announcement Saturday, OU and TCU will kick off at 6:30 p.m. on ABC.

A few notes:

  • The contest will mark OU’s third home night game of the season.

  • OU has played TCU in prime time every year the two have met in Norman since TCU joined the Big 12.

  • The Sooners are 8-1 against TCU overall since 2012.

  • Since 2000, OU is 87-25 (78%) in games televised by ABC.

    Share Eyes on Oklahoma


⏰ On this day

Eighteen years ago today, top-ranked Oklahoma rocked Texas 65-13 in Dallas.

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De'Mond Parker. He rushed for 291 yards against Texas in 1997.

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Hello, Chandler Morris.

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No matter how everyone knew Kyler Murray was better than Austin Kendall and Jalen Hurts was better than Tanner Mordecai.

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If you don’t see your favorite podcast app, let me know, and we’ll get it there

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🏈 A quarterback controversy?

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