In one of the more non-surprising moves of the offseason, the incumbent under center at Oklahoma has been unofficially unseated.
With an official announcement expected in short order, multiple media outlets are reporting that Baker Mayfield has been tapped by Bob Stoops and his Sooners offensive coaching staff to be OU’s starting quarterback. Mayfield, labeled as a key transfer in one of our preview posts, had been in a competition with Trevor Knight, OU’s starter a season ago, but has been considered the favorite due to his familiarity with the Sooners’ new offense.
Mayfield’s first start, should the reports come to fruition, would come against Akron Sept. 5 in Norman.
Breaking: A source tells the Tulsa World that Oklahoma will name Baker Mayfield as its starting quarterback. #Sooners
— Eric Bailey (@EricBaileyTW) August 24, 2015
https://twitter.com/HenryXXIII
Mayfield transferred from Texas Tech to OU in December of 2013. An appeal filed that would’ve granted him immediate eligibility was ultimately denied, leaving Mayfield sidelined for the 2014 season.
The Sooners, incidentally, will play host to the Red Raiders Oct. 24.
Knight, in his first season as a starter, barely tossed more touchdown passes (14) than picks (12), missing the last three games of the regular season due to injury. He returned for the Russell Athletic Bowl matchup with Clemson, and laid the foundation for his demotion with an absolutely abysmal performance -- 17-of-37 passing for 103 yards, zero touchdowns and three interceptions in the 40-6 blowout loss to the Tigers.
UPDATED 3:53 p.m. ET: The football program subsequently confirmed that Mayfield has indeed been named the Sooners’ starting quarterback.