Can Rattler reclaim his Heisman status?
NORMAN — Much of the focus on Saturday’s renewal of the OU-Nebraska rivalry is centered around the game 50 years ago.
“The Game of the Century” remains one of the best college football games ever played, a 35-31 Nebraska win on Owen Field that was everything it was billed and more.
Turning around the result of that game wouldn’t exactly be earth-shattering, as Nebraska hasn’t beaten a ranked team since 2016 and hasn’t beaten one ranked in the top five since defeating the No. 2 Sooners way back in 2001.
But maybe the script OU is working to flip should be that one from 20 years ago rather than the one from half-ahundred.
In that game, Nebraska quarterback Eric Crouch cemented his Heisman Trophy candidacy, and ultimately victory, with a 63-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter to seal the Cornhuskers’ win.
Sooners’ quarterback Spencer Rattler doesn’t necessarily need to catch a touchdown pass, but the game gives him a stage unlike many he’ll see this season to solidify his spot as a Heisman contender.
Though Nebraska isn’t ranked, the game on Fox, which kicks off at 11 a.m., will give Rattler an early season stage to make his case to remain amongst the favorites.
After a shaky performance — though solid numbers — against Tulane, Rattler looked strong last week against Western Carolina.
But performances against Football Championship Subdivision opponents don’t typically fuel Heisman campaigns. Performances in big rivalry games, though, can.
A year ago, Rattler wobbled through his second and third games as a starter, putting up big yards each time — an average of more than 343 yards per game — but throwing late interceptions that ultimately cost the Sooners and caused Rattler to drop out of any Heisman discussion.
This season, the hype returned, as Rattler entered as the odds-on Heisman favorite. That status has slipped a bit, with not only his Tulane struggles but also the way Alabama quarterback Bryce Young has performed early, but Rattler remains near the top of the list.
Sooners coach Lincoln Riley said the Rattler that’s preparing for the Cornhuskers on Saturday is much different
than the one who made those mistakes a year ago.
“His prep has really matured,” Riley said. “I think he has a good feel now for what we're doing, the things that he needs to do, both when he's with us on the practice field and in the meeting room and things he's got to do outside of here to get himself ready.
“He knows the routine. You can tell. It's still a grind and a strain on everybody to get ready to play this game but … he knows what to expect coming in.”
Last year, it might not have been until late in a game week where Riley felt like Rattler grasped the game plan.
Now, early in the week, Rattler has things down.
And that's helped Riley tailor the offense even more toward Rattler's strengths.
“I think as we've learned about his strengths, weaknesses, what he likes, what he's comfortable with, we absolutely have evolved and there's some things that I know right now that I didn't know last year at this time and there's some situations and things I would've called and all that knowing what I know now, I wouldn't have done,” Riley said.
“That time, that being battle-tested, going through those things together — you learn about each other. You get a better feel for what's going to put him in a position to play as well as you can.”
And the players around him have a better sense of who Rattler is.
“He's less hesitant in his leadership, less hesitant in the play calls he makes,” tight end/H-back Jeremiah Hall said. “He's more confident in the huddle. He takes control when needed. He does little things like make sure everyone is quiet and attentive. He makes sure the receivers are locked into the little things I might not even notice that a quarterback can see from his perspective.”
That, Hall said, is a big factor in the Sooners' success.
It certainly will play a factor in Rattler's success.
And chances are, if Rattler goes on to have a special season that leads to him becoming the third Sooners' quarterback in five years to win the Heisman, that Saturday's performance against Nebraska is going to play a big part.
OU-NEBRASKA AND THE HEISMAN
Several times, the OU-Nebraska rivalry has helped promote or seal a player's Heisman Trophy campaign. Here's a look at how Heisman winners from both sides have fared in the game during their winning seasons:
2008: Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
In the Sooners' 62-28 shellacking of Nebraska, Bradford was fantastic, throwing for five touchdowns and 311 yards on 19-of-27 passing. He had three touchdown passes in the first quarter alone.
2001: Eric Crouch, Nebraska
In the Huskers' 20-10 win, Crouch was 10 of 18 passing with one interception and no touchdowns and just had 21 yards on 13 carries but his 63-yard fourth-quarter touchdown reception was his Heisman moment.
1983: Mike Rozier, Nebraska
Rozier had a magical run late in the season, with 200-plus yards in four consecutive games including 205 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries in the Huskers' 28-21 win.
1978: Billy Sims, Oklahoma
Sims' fumble late — one of 10 in the game for the Sooners, six lost — cost OU in a 17-14 setback, but Sims still had a big day, with 153 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries.
1972: Johnny Rodgers, Oklahoma
The year before his Heisman win, Rodgers' punt return highlighted the “Game of the Century.” The next year, though, the Sooners held Rodgers to just one punt return for seven yards, three catches for 41 yards and four carries for five yards in OU's 17-14 win.
1969: Steve Owens, Oklahoma
Owens was held under 100 yards for the first time in 19 games and didn't score for the first time in 16 games in the Sooners' 44-14 loss. Owens finished with 21 carries for 71 yards and one 9yard catch.
1952: Billy Vessels, Oklahoma
Vessels took charge early, with a pair of touchdowns in the first quarter, and finished with 96 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries in the Sooners' 3413 win.