Could Rattler get reps against Kansas?
NORMAN — Playing multiple quarterbacks has become the norm for OU when Kansas is the opponent.
The last six times the Sooners and Jayhawks have played, OU has been up comfortably enough to insert a backup quarterback five times.
That would likely be six out of seven if Trevor Knight’s injury in 2014 wouldn’t have thinned out the Sooners’ quarterback for the 44-7 win over Kansas in the game where Samaje Perine rushed for an NCAA-record 427 yards.
Saturday when OU plays at Kansas (11 a.m., ESPN), that dynamic could be a bit different with the recent upheaval in the Sooners’ quarterbacks room.
First, there’s Caleb Williams.
The newest OU quarterback sensation has played significant snaps in just three games — one of those being the Sept. 11 game against Western Carolina when he entered in a blowout situation.
So Sooners coach Lincoln Riley might stick with Williams longer than he normally would just to get Williams more comfortable in his role as the starter.
Then there’s Spencer Rattler, who has been reduced to a backup role after being replaced by Williams in the second quarter against Texas and Williams’ leading the wild comeback against the Longhorns before another excellent performance in his starting debut last weekend against TCU.
“There’s a lot of different variables there,” Riley said Tuesday. “Obviously the game, being in control, is the first thing, and then after that I think it’s who’s the starter? What does he need? Who’s the backup? What does he need? There’s probably a lot that goes into it.
“Would it be different potentially now? Possibly, depending on the situation with the guy that’s the starter right now that’s a little more inexperienced and the guy that is currently our number two that is very experienced. There’s always so much to it.”
Rattler’s only appearance since Williams took over for good was on a late two-point conversion attempt against Texas, one that Rattler made good on, hitting Drake Stoops to tie the game.
The preseason Heisman Trophy favorite didn’t even wear his helmet much against the Horned Frogs, mostly watching from the sidelines in a baseball cap as Williams went 18 of 23 for 295 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 66 yards and a score.
But Riley said Rattler was ready to play in any situation — whether it’s in a blowout win, which the Sooners have only had one of this season so far — or should something happen to Williams that necessitated a move.
“He wants to play,” Riley said of Rattler. “He’s preparing like he wants to play. And so if he gets an opportunity to play, I’m going to play him — no matter what the game situation is, no matter what the scenario it is for him going in. His mindset is I’m just getting ready for the next opportunity. And that’s what it needs to be.”
That doesn’t mean there wouldn’t be difficulties inserting Rattler into what is already a blowout, even if Rattler is raring to go.
As Riley mentioned, Rattler has plenty of experience so getting him ready for action shouldn’t be an issue.
Then there’s the Sooners’ overall quarterback depth.
Rattler, even with his struggles with consistency so far this season, is college football’s top No. 2 option. But depth behind him is a concern.
The only other scholarship quarterback on the roster, Micah Bowens, isn’t even listed on the depth chart. Instead, freshman walk-on Ralph Rucker is listed as the third option.
Two years ago in Lawrence, Rattler didn’t get a chance to play. Instead, it was Tanner Mordecai who came in to relieve Jalen Hurts with just less than 10 minutes remaining and the Sooners up 42-7.
But this time, Rattler could see the field, which would be his first action as a non-starter since finishing off the blowout loss to LSU in the 2019 Peach Bowl.
“In this game, you can’t always define when that opportunity is going to be,” Riley said. “You can’t predict it. But if you’re just constantly getting ready for the next one, then when it does show up, you’ll be ready.
“I wouldn’t hold myself to anything but if I get a chance to play him and he’s preparing like he’s going to play and he keeps preparing like that, then if I get a chance to play him, I’m going to play him.”