Oklahoma football: 5 reasons Sooners will win the Big 12, again

ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 01: Oklahoma Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley raises the trophy after winning the Big 12 Championship Game between Oklahoma and Texas on December 1, 2018 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. (Photo by George Walker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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5. Jalen Hurts

Let’s just talk about the elephant in the room right away. Jalen Hurts left the Alabama Crimson Tide to come to the Oklahoma Sooners. Still, it took until this week for Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley to name Hurts the starter.

A redshirt freshman and a true freshman actually gave Hurts a run for his money. Tanner Mordecai and Spencer Rattler show the Sooners have a really good future under center, but they legitimately pushed Hurts to the limit over the summer.

Still, this is the only quarterback in the Big 12 that won a National Title. Hurts brings a plethora of experience with him on the biggest stage possible. Plus, Hurts is a huge running threat. That’s something that’s a big part of the Sooners offense. Hurts has everything to gain, but a ton to lose.

Hurts is going into his senior year, and if he falters this season then his NFL prospects may turn into XFL prospects. Okay, it won’t get that bad, but still Hurts has a chance to make it to the league.

Hurts will be motivated by a very competitive spring and summer to bring that feeling into the autumn and winter. He was responsible for 71 total touchdowns over his Alabama career. That’s good for second best in Tide history. The entirety of the Alabama program and Hurts is the second best.

Hurts is so underrated it’s crazy right now. Good. That’s exactly where Sooners fans should want him to be. Don’t let him get inundated with hype. Let him show the world just how good he really is.