Oklahoma football: Can OU dispel enough concerns to legitimize a 2020 title run?

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 28: Creed Humphrey #56 of the Oklahoma Sooners prepares to snap the ball at the line of scrimmage against the LSU Tigers during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 28: Creed Humphrey #56 of the Oklahoma Sooners prepares to snap the ball at the line of scrimmage against the LSU Tigers during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
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NORMAN, OK – SEPTEMBER 28: Quarterback Spencer Rattler #7 of the Oklahoma Sooners warms up before the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK – SEPTEMBER 28: Quarterback Spencer Rattler #7 of the Oklahoma Sooners warms up before the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)

Quarterback uncertainty: Same old song, just a different verse

For a third straight year, a new quarterback will start the season for the Sooners. Two years ago, it was Kyler Murray. Last season it was Alabama transfer Jalen Hurts. And this season, it appears the quarterback reins will be handed to redshirt freshman Spencer Rattler.

It isn’t as if Rattler is an unknown. The former No. 1 quarterback recruit in the 2019 class has already spent a year in Riley’s offensive system, and although he has only thrown 11 passes in his college career and run with the ball just three times for 23 yards, his exceptional quarterback skills and high potential merit his consideration as an early 2020 Heisman candidate.

And why not? After all, an Oklahoma quarterback has been invited to New York as a Heisman finalist in each of the last three years, and two of the three won college football’s most prestigious individual award.

There should be little drop off in OU’s high-octane offense with Rattler at the controls and with the plethora of weapons around him. He appears to be an ideal QB for Riley’s offense.