Oklahoma football: What’s Sooner Nation’s opinion on Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield?

Every college football team’s fanbase ranks its respective school’s greatest players. Some schools have an easier time doing this than others. The Oklahoma football program is not one of those schools.

Anytime Sooner Nation begins to discuss its all-time greats, dozens of names are tossed around, typically starting with one of the program’s seven Heisman Trophy winners. However, a select few players hold a special place in Sooner Nation’s heart.

Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray are two of those players. I’ve often heard, around Sooner Nation, that Baker is a more beloved Sooner than Kyler and that he is one of, if not the most popular Sooner of all time. Some feel Kyler’s brief stint in Norman cemented his place in Sooner lore because of his unbelievable playmaking ability and immediate success.

This isn’t an article meant to pair these two Sooner legends up against each other. It isn’t meant as a statistical analysis of each other’s production either. I wanted to take the time this Saturday morning to play devil’s advocate for each side of this coin.

So, in honor of celebrating the return of the Spring Game and the immortalization of Kyler Murray in Heisman Park, here is the Stormin’ in Norman argument for who is the more beloved Oklahoma Sooner: Baker Mayfield or Kyler Murray.

Baker

Baker invaded and conquered Columbus, Ohio. The man planted the flag dead center on Ohio Stadium’s fifty-yard line. Baker was known for his charisma and impassioned loyalty to the Sooner football program. He was/is a ‘program guy.’

Baker came to Norman through Lubbock, Texas, as a walk-on from the Texas Tech football program. The impact he brought with him was felt by Sooner Nation immediately. Baker spent three years in Norman, making his way up the depth chart all the way to New York City, where he won the 2017 Heisman Trophy.

The tough-nosed, smack-talking, fierce competitor worked for everything he received, and he did it all with a swagger that took the college football world by storm. Baker wasn’t shy, on or off the football field. Sooner Nation fell in love with Baker’s passion, work ethic, and burning competitive desire. If there was going to be a fight, Baker wanted to swing first and swing often.

"” I was the undersized underdog who people never gave a chance. From that, the motivation to prove people wrong just grew and grew… Looking back now, I’m glad I didn’t hit puberty until later” – Baker."

Sooner fans saw themselves, or at least their best version, in Baker. His passion for the game was incredible. His loyalty to the program was, and is, unmatched. And his time on the football field was earned after climbing a mountain of doubt and obstacles.

There will never be another Baker. But there was a Kyler…

Kyler

At 5 feet, 10 inches, Kyler was the biggest man on the field.

Kyler arrived in Norman by way of College Station, Texas, after transferring to Oklahoma from Texas A&M. Kyler sat behind fellow Heisman winner Baker Mayfield for one season before taking over the Sooner offense and winning a Heisman of his own. He almost made it look easy…

Kyler was on the opposite end of the personality scale from Baker. Kyler was quiet, humble, and calculating. It may be the only time in Sooner history when the fanbase literally expected to score every time Kyler took the field.

Kyler played with a calm terror. Controlled chaos. He would calmly drop back in the pocket, survey the field, and then explode. He could throw the ball deep to a stable of all conference pass catchers or take off and run the ball as far as he wanted… with the quickest steps you’ve ever seen.

"“Yeah, my first season playing (high school) varsity, that was probably the last season I got nervous. I was kind of nervous for that one.” – Kyler."

Off the field, Kyler was reserved. He speaks with a quiet demeanor and humble attitude, making Sooner Nation instantly fall in love. There was something about Kyler that made him feel like ‘our guy.’

There was a comfort with Kyler, a ‘no matter what’ feeling.

I remember Sooner Nation collectively feeling the same emotion: “It’s okay… we’ll be fine… we have Kyler”.

No Comparison

There really is no way to compare Baker and Kyler.

Baker is thunder, and Kyler is lightning.

Baker is fire, and Kyler is ice.

But they are both Sooner Legends, Sooner Heisman winners, and two of Sooner Nation’s proudest moments.

Neither Baker nor Kyler ranks above each other. Both stand at the top of Sooner Nation, for now. And now both will stand immortalized forever, side-by-side, on Jenkins Ave.