Top 5 Seniors Entering 2017

2. QB Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma

Baker Mayfield has finished in third and fourth in Heisman voting in 2016 and 2015, respectively. But that hasn’t kept Mayfield from returning for his senior season. Playing for a College Football Playoff title has.

Mayfield’s return in 2017 shows there’s still work left to do for him at Oklahoma in the Big 12. Two early losses in 2016 spoiled their College Football Playoff hopes, but in 2017, there’s a chance for redemption. The rising senior faces the Ohio State Buckeyes on September 2 on the road next season. The Sooners fell to the Buckeyes 45-24 in Norman this past season.

The Sooners and Mayfield didn’t lose another game after falling to Ohio State, but the damage was done. Oklahoma finished 11-2 on the season, 9-0 in the Big 12, but fell short of the College Football Playoff. They made the College Football Playoff in 2015 but an underwhelming 37-17 loss still left Mayfield wanting more from himself.

If Mayfield can find another weapon to replace receiver Dede Westbrook, look for the Sooners to make a championship run in his last season as their starter.

Baker Mayfield looks towards 2017 as a last shot at a National Title. The Sooners return a lot on both sides of the ball, but the defense will need to improve overall. The Oklahoma defense allowed 28.8 points per game last season, 69th in the FBS. There’s experience on both sides after 2016’s early losses, 2017 will show what they learned.