Jalen Hurts on track to become the third straight University of Oklahoma quarterback to win the prestigious Heisman Trophy, but his undefeated Sooners still seeking better recognition in the polls

By Arnie Leshin 

When it comes to the Oklahoma University football team, don’t be confused by the number three. No. 1, the Sooners are undefeated in three starts, and No. 2 their starting quarterback Jalen Hurts can become the third-straight Oklahoma quarterback to hoist the prestigious Heisman Trophy.

 

Under Baker Mayfield and Tyler Murray, Oklahoma has been to the last two college playoffs, losing both times in the semifinals. Now there’s Hurts, the graduate transfer from Alabama on the same road. He has put up ridiculous numbers and is presently co-leader with Joe Barrow of LSU for the Heisman.

 

But the same recognition has not be granted to the Sooners when the weekly Associated Press polls are released. Ranked fourth in the pre-season, they began there before opening with a rout of visiting Houston, then were passed by, first, LSU, and, then, by Ohio State.

 

But the weekly College Coaches poll thought differently, keeping Oklahoma fourth through the first three weeks. Last weekend, the Sooners got a bye after a 70-14 domination at home over South Dakota, and an impressive 48-14 romp over UCLA at the Rose Bowl.

 

Now the Bruins went into that game winless in four outings, but are still a Power 5 team and last week stunned visiting Washington after trailing by 18 points at halftime.

 

So the College Coaches have stuck with Oklahoma as it welcomes Big 12 foe Texas Tech to Boomer Sooner land Saturday. Tech is 1-2, winning its first two at home before losing at Arizona.

 

So the two major polls list defending national champion Clemson first, followed by Alabama andGeorgia. But the AP has LSU fourth, Ohio State fifth, and Oklahoma sixth. The College Coaches go with the Sooners fourth, LSU fifth and Ohio State sixth.

 

But none of this affects Hurts. He came out firing in the opener against the Cougars, throwing for five touchdowns and running for three. His passes were right on target, his runs into the end zone confused Houston, and he avoided the pressure defense by twisting and turning and calling on plays that proved to be creative.

 

Time and again, the Oklahoma fans would applaud the versatility, the smarts, and the way the former Alabama starter engineered the offense. They might not have expected the show Hurts would put on, but they loved it, enjoyed the thoughts of maybe another Heisman winner.

 

Behind Hurts and Barrow, a former Ohio State quarterback, came Tua Tagovaill of Alabama, Jonathan Taylor of Michigan, Joshua Fields, Jake Fromm of Georgia, Trevor Lawrence of Clemson, Sam Ehlinger of Texas, and a host of others who rounded out the top 20.

 

The big tests for Barrow lie ahead when the Bayou Tigers play Florida, Auburn and Alabama.

 

For No. 18 Virginia, it has a tough test coming up when it plays at Notre Dame. So far it has won at home over Old Dominion, at William & Mary, and at Florida State, its best triumph so far,

 

Texas A & M has lost two of four, but the setbacks came against Clemson and Auburn, and are one of the better teams in the ACC. Wake Forest and Southern Cal have made the polls after quality wins, and getting a big boost were Wisconsin, Boise State and California after big games against quality opponents, with USC next lining up against Washington.

 

No, 14 Florida didn’t budge with Tennessee and Michigan, teams it defeated, remaining disappointing. Penn State remained at No. 12 and awaits a tough test at Maryland Friday night. The Terps, though, have had their up and down the field offense be contained in their last two starts.

 

Currently, the three most overrated teams are Texas A & M, Central Florida and Utah, but it’s still early and the ball does take funny bounces.

 

Taking into account the opposition faced, Clemson has turned in 169 points and has allowed 40. The Crimson Tide has scored 220 and have given up 43, Georgia has run up 171 and yielded 40, LSU has registered 231 points and has bit torched for 93, with 38 each scored by Texas on the road, and by Vanderbilt on the road. The tough win in Austin was 45-38.

 

Ohio State has a total of 214 points scored and 36 given up. All but the Sooners have played four times, and so Oklahoma, whether fourth or sixth, has scored 167 points in its three starts, and has been reached for 59.