10 things college football fans can be thankful for

STARKVILLE, MS - OCTOBER 19: Joe Burrow #9 and Ja"u2019Marr Chase #1 of the LSU Tigers high five each other during a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium on October 19, 2019 in Starkville, Mississippi. The Tigers defeated the Bulldogs 36-13. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

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NORMAN, OK – NOVEMBER 23: Quarterback Jalen Hurts #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners throws against the TCU Horned Frogs in the first quarter on November 23, 2019 at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

4. Jalen Hurts getting his shot in Norman

You could make a legitimate argument that the worst thing that Jalen Hurts did while with the Alabama Crimson Tide was not be Tua Tagovailoa. The quarterback was never truly spectacular but he more often than not did enough to get Nick Saban’s team in a position to win while flashing some of his elite athletic ability and leadership from time to time. But when Tua arrived, his time was up.

Though you can never fault a coach for going with the overall better player as the starter, especially when it comes to his quarterback, it always felts a bit unfortunate for Hurts that he wasn’t getting on the field. After all, the young man posted an incredible record as that starter for the Crimson Tide, so it seemed as if he deserved more than just sitting on the pine — particularly after saving Bama in the 2018 SEC Championship Game.

Subsequently, we should be thankful for the graduate transfer rules in college football that allowed Hurts to move to Norman, take over Lincoln Riley’s Oklahoma Sooners offense and showcase his talents the way that he has this season. Hurts has been incredible to watch this year, totaling over 4,300 yards of total offense while surpassing 3,000 yards passing and 1,100 yards rushing.

On top of that, Hurts has put the ball in the end zone an unbelievable 47 times on the year with one regular-season game and any postseason action still left to be played. Him getting his opportunity to lead a high-profile team once again and succeeding at the level in which he has is a treat for college football fans that we should undoubtedly appreciate.

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