Jalen Hurts’ wild football journey continues with Big 12 title

Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts wrote another chapter in his unique football career with Saturday’s Big 12 title

In the history of college football, we’ve seen plenty of crazy stories, winding roads, and unique experiences from some of the game’s most successful and decorated performers.

Few can match the list of bullet points you’ll find on Jalen Hurts’ list of accomplishments.

Starting quarterback for Nick Saban at Alabama, as a freshman?

Three straight national title appearances (so far)?

How about adding back-to-back titles in two different Power 5 conferences?

That’s what Hurts did in Arlington on Saturday, leading the Sooners to a second victory over Baylor this season, a 30-23 overtime win the Big 12 championship.

A year ago, Hurts was the hero for another college football powerhouse, replacing an injured Tua Tagovailoa and leading Alabama to a comeback win over Georgia to keep them in the College Football Playoff and eventually to a fourth straight appearance in the national title game.

Hurts had a hand in three of those national title runs for the Crimson Tide, and he could top off one of the unique careers in college football history by taking the Sooners to this year’s national title game.

Oklahoma got help from Oregon on Friday night, as the Ducks knocked off No. 5 Utah to give the No. 6 Sooners the “next man up” spot for the College Football Playoff, should No. 4 Georgia prove unable to knock off No. 2 LSU in the SEC title game. Sure enough, the Bulldogs were blown out by the Bayou Bengals on Saturday night, making the Sooners the team most likely to end up with the No. 4 spot in the final playoff rankings.

Hurts led the Crimson Tide to a 26-2 record as a starter. He’s gone 12-1 as the starter for the Sooners this season. A calm, confident competitor, Hurts is an unquestioned leader with tons of big-game experience, which should make him a coveted prospect in the 2020 NFL draft.

No matter where he lands at the next level, there’s no questioning that Hurts will be writing another impressive chapter in one of the most unique football careers the sport has ever seen.

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