The LSU Tigers are caught up in a squabble with one of their all-time greats, and thankfully, it’s an issue the Oklahoma Sooners will never have to deal with.
ESPN broke the news late Wednesday night that an attorney representing former quarterback Jayden Daniels, now with the NFL’s Washington Commanders, sent his alma mater a cease-and-desist letter stating LSU can no longer use Daniels’ name, image and likeness. According to ESPN, this fit Daniels is throwing all stems from the Tigers giving a current player Daniels’ No. 5, which he wore during his two seasons at LSU and while winning the Heisman Trophy in 2023.
An attorney representing Commanders QB Jayden Daniels informed LSU it can no longer use his name, image and likeness and said he felt "profoundly disrespected" after LSU allowed cornerback DJ Pickett to wear his former No. 5 jersey. https://t.co/GieZ0vWEaM
— ESPN (@espn) August 13, 2026
Meanwhile, at Oklahoma, there are seven former Heisman Trophy winners with statues outside Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, but their numbers are still being worn today and always have been. And no one has ever thrown a tantrum over a current player using their old number. This all comes back to the culture and pride of being a Sooner and wanting the program to succeed long after a player is gone, and also a common-sense rule that LSU and the rest of college football need to adopt.
Oklahoma does not retire the numbers of former players and never has. Not Billy Sims’ No. 20. Not Brian Bosworth’s No. 44. Not Baker Mayfield’s No. 6. If you win a Heisman Trophy, you’ll get a statue outside the stadium, but a player inside will still be wearing your number. Your legacy should be bigger than a number, and most guys probably prefer a statue anyway.
That would be a lot of numbers to exclude over time, especially for a blue-blood program like OU, and that’s exactly why the Sooners have this rule. Between seven Heisman Trophy winners and numerous defensive legends, the Sooners would probably have at least 10 retired already, and even more to come.
It's understood early no Sooner is bigger than the program
Daniels’ No. 5 wasn’t actually ever retired at LSU, though. The Tigers hadn’t used Joe Burrow’s No. 9 since he left as a Heisman winner and national champion, and there was an understanding the same would go for Daniels. Then, one day down the road, their jerseys would likely be retired.
However, even if LSU does retire those jerseys, the university has a rule that even retired numbers can still be worn by current athletes, other than the No. 20 that was worn by the program’s first Heisman Trophy winner, Billy Cannon. Daniels could get the highest honor possible from his alma mater and still not get what he wants.
This is a player who believes he’s bigger than the program. As a Sooner, it’s understood from signing day that you’ll never be more than OU.
Current OU players wearing numbers of former Heisman Trophy winners:
Kyler Murray's No. 1- Isaiah Sategna III (WR)
Baker Mayfield's No. 6- Tory Blaylock (RB), Nigel Smith II (DL)
Sam Bradford's No. 14- Trystan Haynes (DB), Elijah Thomas (WR)
Jason White's No. 18- Cole Sullivan (LB), Tyler Ruxer (TE)
Billy Sim's No. 20- Casen Calmus (DB), Jonathan Hatton Jr. (RB)
Steve Owens' No. 36- None
Billy Vessels' No. 35- Liam Evans (K)
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