Baker Mayfield returning to Oklahoma for 2017 senior season
By John Buhler
After beating the rival Oklahoma State Cowboys on Saturday, Oklahoma Sooners junior quarterback Baker Mayfield says he will return for his senior season.
The Oklahoma Sooners may have two losses on the year, but they won the 2016 Big 12 Championship on Saturday by besting the Oklahoma State Cowboys in Norman, 38-20. Oklahoma also received great news as redshirt junior quarterback Baker Mayfield said he will come back to school for his redshirt senior season in 2017.
Mayfield could have gone pro at the end of the season, as he had to sit out the 2014 NCAA season after transferring from Texas Tech to Oklahoma. He was a former walk-on at Texas Tech, but until this summer would have had to forfeit a year of eligibility by transferring in-conference before graduation.
Seven of the 10 Big 12 schools, including Texas Tech, voted to allow Mayfield an extra year of eligibility at Oklahoma. On Saturday, Mayfield left no debate about his 2017 decision.
He told the Oklahoma Daily, “I’m coming back. I’ll be here for another year for the opportunity of a three-peat and the ultimate goal of winning a national title.”
Oklahoma has won the Big 12 in both seasons that Mayfield has been the starting quarterback. Unless chaos happens on Saturday night, a two-loss Oklahoma team won’t reach the 2017 College Football Playoff.
Mayfield could also increase his chances at being a Heisman Trophy winner. He finished fourth as a redshirt sophomore in 2015, but did not receive the formal invitation to go to New York last December. Mayfield could get the invite in 2016 for his stellar play this season.
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Even if Mayfield doesn’t get to New York next Saturday, he and the Sooners would be expected to reach the 2018 College Football Playoff as the presumed favorite to win the Big 12. It’s a good day to be a Sooner.