2 reasons Oklahoma football will win national championship this year

1. Spencer Rattler is the Heisman favorite as the best quarterback in college

Easily the best thing the Sooners have going for them is they might have the best quarterback in the country in redshirt sophomore Spencer Rattler. The former five-star recruit out of Phoenix, Arizona is the first prized quarterback recruit of the Riley era. Keep in mind that Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts all transferred after playing at other Power Five schools previously.

In his first season as the starter, Rattler completed 67.5 percent of his passes for 3,031 yards, 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 11 games. While Oklahoma lost a pair of conference games to Kansas State and later Iowa State, Rattler really came on in the second half. He helped the Sooners beat the Cyclones in Arlington and then chomp the Florida Gators in the Cotton Bowl.

Ultimately, Rattler is a player capable of not only winning the Heisman Trophy but becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, should he declare after his third season in school. There are other talented quarterbacks in the Power Five, but few have the starting experience on a national championship-contending team as Rattler does. He gives them an incredibly high ceiling.

Overall, Oklahoma is one of roughly eight Power Five teams that realistically have a shot at winning the national title this season. Frankly, you could put them in a group of about five teams that are the most likely to get it done. Given that the Big 12 should be strong towards the top and Rattler being among the best starting quarterbacks in the country, why can’t Oklahoma win it all?

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