The
butcher. The Baker. The Air Raid caretaker.

Oklahoma has pegged former Texas Tech transfer Baker Mayfield as its starting
quarterback, leaving two-year starter Trevor Knight and sophomore Cody Thomas
to contemplate their futures with the program. The Sooners have made wholesale offseason changes
on offense, with coordinator Lincoln Riley arriving from East Carolina to
install an Air Raid attack that was in place when Oklahoma won the national
championship in 2000. Mayfield operated a similar system at Texas Tech as a
walk-on true freshman, throwing for 12 scores and 2,315 yards. And he stood out
during his first offseason in Norman on the scout team.

Incumbent Trevor Knight left the door open with his inconsistent play and lack
of durability, never approaching the player who was expected to explode into a
star after shredding Alabama in the 2014 Sugar Bowl. Mayfield seized the
opportunity, blooming into the new face of an offense that’ll dictate whether
or not the Sooners can rebound from last year’s disappointing campaign. All
eyes now move to the battle for the backup job, which hinges on Knight’s
decision about his future.

With Mayfield getting the ball from Bob Stoops, the Oct. 24 visit from the Red
Raiders becomes an instant must-see event. The quarterback contends that Kliff
Kingsbury failed to make good on a promised scholarship, while the coach
initially blocked the transfer’s quest to remain in the Big 12. Both will have
a ton to prove two months from now.