Former Sooners QB roots for Texas son

Former Oklahoma quarterback Charles Thompson never imagined he’d even consider putting up the “Hook ’em Horns” gesture.

He has done it now, and for good reason. His son, Casey, will start at quarterback for No. 21 Texas (4-1, 2-0 Big 12) against No. 6 Oklahoma (5-0, 2-0) in the rivalry game.

It’s a strange situation for the elder Thompson, who lives in Moore, Okla. — a short drive from Oklahoma’s campus. Charles ran the wishbone offense for coach Barry Switzer, playing a significant role in Sooner victories over Texas in 1987 and 1988.

“I’ve been an OU fan since I was 6,” said Charles, a native of Lawton, Okla. “Every year, this time of year, I’ve always rooted against Texas. Even the last few years with Casey on the team, I still kind of quietly wanted Oklahoma to win — kind of a win/win situation for me. This will be the first year that honestly, I’m really rooting for Texas.”

Alabama

Linebacker Drew Sanders is likely to miss the Texas A&M game with a hand injury. Coach Nick Saban said Sanders is “probably going to be out for this game” Saturday for the top-ranked Crimson Tide. Saban said the linebacker needed surgery on the hand. “It was maybe a little worse than we thought, so he’s going to be game to game for a few weeks,” the Tide coach said.

LSU

Cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., the Tigers’ top defensive back, had a procedure performed on his injured left foot and his timetable to return is uncertain, coach Ed Orgeron said. The injury sidelined the All-American for LSU’s previous two games.

Notre Dame

Coach Brian Kelly knows who No. 14 Notre Dame’s starting quarterback is and he doesn’t plan to reveal it before Saturday’s game at Virginia Tech.

“We know exactly who it is,” Kelly said. “We’re going to have one guy, and we’re going to let him know that the reps are for him to be the starter.”

The Fighting Irish (4-1) used three quarterbacks — graduate transfer Jack Coan, freshman Tyler Buchner and sophomore Drew Pyne — in last week’s 24-13 loss to Cincinnati.