Baker Mayfield Injury: Oklahoma QB’s health vital to Sooners’ Big 12 title shot

The Oklahoma Sooners will need quarterback Baker Mayfield healthy if they’re going to beat the Oklahoma State Cowboys in their rivalry game.

Oklahoma may have beaten TCU by a 30-29 score on Saturday evening, but not all was well for the Sooners.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield is questionable for Saturday’s Oklahoma State game after he was shaken up by a helmet-to-helmet hit in the second quarter of the contest by linebacker Ty Summers. He did not return to action and neither did Sumers, who was ejected because of the hit.

The Sooners who are currently ranked No. 5 in the country with a 10-1 record (7-1 in Big 12) can clinch the conference title with a win against an Oklahoma State team that is also playing well, sitting at 10-1 (7-1 record in Big 12 play.) Oklahoma head man Bob Stoops said after the game that Mayfield will be fully evaluated by the medical staff before a concrete decision is made.

“That’ll all be up to our doctors and trainers,” Stoops said after the game, via USA Today. “It’s a short time after the game. I sure don’t know anything right now. They’ll be thorough, though, in checking him, and do what they need to do.”

The true competitor that he is, Mayfield played the rest of the first half despite being visibly shaken up.

“Our trainers and doctors were constantly, with each series, every time Baker was off, checking him, asking him questions, making sure he was OK, and everything was checking out fine,” Stoops said. “And then at halftime, they approached him again to go over some things and Baker admitted to having a headache, and that’s when our doctors said we’re not going to have him play.”

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Trevor Knight will be the starter if Mayfield isn’t cleared to play. He does have experience under center, leading the program to a Sugar Bowl win in the 2013 season before being named the starter last year.

Knight lost his job to Mayfield in the summer and his insertion into Lincoln Riley’s offense is one reason why Bob Stoops’ team is in line for a Big 12 title and a potential College Football berth.

Without Mayfield, Oklahoma struggled in the second half against TCU and needed a defensive stand on a two-point conversion that would have won the game for the Horned Frogs.

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If Mayfield can’t play in the Bedlam Series against the Pokes, their chances of winning the Big 12 and getting in the playoff are over.