Oklahoma

Baker Mayfield vs. Jalen Hurts: Oklahoma football QBs meet in 2024 NFL playoffs

Published

1 year ago

January 15, 2024

Baker Mayfield vs. Jalen Hurts: Oklahoma football QBs meet in 2024 NFL playoffs

Former Oklahoma football stars Baker Mayfield and Jalen Hurts will be rivals Monday when Tampa Bay visits Philadelphia in the NFC wild-card round of the NFL playoffs.

The two did not play at Oklahoma at the same time, but both were part of the Sooners’ three-year run of Heisman Trophy finalists: Mayfield won in 2017; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray won in 2018; and Hurts finished runner-up in 2019.

REQUIRED READING: Lincoln Riley like ‘proud father’ ahead of Jalen Hurts vs. Baker Mayfield NFL playoff clash

Mayfield, who was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2018, spent four seasons there. This is his first season with Tampa Bay (9-8), passing for a career-high 4,044 yards, with 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He had a disappointing 2022, when he went 1-5 for the Carolina Panthers, was waived, then claimed by the Los Angeles Rams, where he went 1-3.

Hurts, who played one season at Oklahoma after transferring from Alabama, was drafted by the Eagles in 2020. He was the NFL MVP last season and led the Eagles to the Super Bowl. This season, he has thrown for 3,853 yards with 23 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, and rushing for 605 yards and 15 TDs.

This will be the third time Mayfield and Hurts have encountered each other in the NFL, with Hurts beating Mayfield 25-11 in Week 3 this season. Mayfield was with the Browns in 2020 when they defeated the Eagles 22-17, but Hurts was not the quarterback in that game, and in fact had just one rush for 6 yards.

Here’s a look at Oklahoma’s Heisman stretch from 2017 to 2019 that featured Mayfield and Hurts:

More: Which OU football players have won the Heisman Trophy award?

Oklahoma success with Baker Mayfield, Jalen Hurts

With former coach Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma had a three-year stretch with some of the best offenses in the history of college football.

Mayfield won the Heisman over Stanford’s Bryce Love and Louisville’s Lamar Jackson, with 732 first-place votes, sixth most all-time.

Hurts transferred to Oklahoma for the 2019 season after Tua Tagovailoa asserted himself as the Crimson Tide starter. Under Riley, Hurts was second in Heisman voting to LSU’s Joe Burrow, who had the second-most first-place votes all-time (841). Hurts received 12 first-place votes and finished with 762 points, ahead of Ohio State’s Justin Fields (747).

More: OU football co-defensive coordinator Zac Alley ‘a winner’ who brings ‘aggressive defense’

Baker Mayfield college stats

Career stats: 1,026 of 1,497 (68.5%) for 14,607 yards with 131 touchdowns to 30 interceptions; 404 rushes for 1,083 yards with 22 touchdowns
2013 (Texas Tech): 218 of 340 (64.1%) for 2,315 yards with 12 touchdowns to nine interceptions; 88 rushes for 190 yards with three touchdowns
2015 (Oklahoma): 269 of 395 (68.1%) for 3,700 yards with 36 touchdowns to seven interceptions; 141 rushes for 405 yards with seven touchdowns
2016: 254 of 358 (70.9%) for 3,965 yards with 40 touchdowns to eight interceptions; 78 rushes for 177 yards with six touchdowns
2017: 285 of 404 (70.5%) for 4,627 yards with 43 touchdowns to six interceptions; 97 rushes for 311 yards with five touchdowns

Baker Mayfield NFL stats

Career stats: 1,750 for 2,825 (61.9%) for 20,332 yards with 130 touchdowns to 74 interceptions; 251 rushes for 823 yards with seven touchdowns
2018 (Cleveland): 310 for 486 (63.8%) for 3,725 yards with 27 touchdowns to 14 interceptions; 39 rushes for 131 yards
2019: 317 of 534 (59.4%) for 3,827 yards with 22 touchdowns to 21 interceptions; 28 rushes for 141 yards with three interceptions
2020: 305 of 486 (62.8%) for 3,563 yards with 26 touchdowns to eight interceptions; 54 rushes for 165 yards with one touchdown
2021: 253 of 418 (60.5%) for 3,010 yards with 17 touchdowns to 13 interceptions; 37 rushes for 134 yards with one touchdown
2022 (Carolina and Los Angeles Rams): 201 of 335 (60%) for 2,163 yards with 10 touchdowns to eight interceptions; 31 rushes for 89 yards with one touchdown
2023 (Tampa Bay): 364 of 566 (64.3%) for 4,044 yards with 28 touchdowns to 10 interceptions; 62 rushes for 163 yards and a touchdown

More: OU football: Sooners’ offensive line overhaul continues with SEC on horizon

Jalen Hurts college stats

2016 (Alabama): 240 of 382 (62.8%) for 2,780 yards with 23 touchdowns to nine interceptions; 191 rushes for 954 yards with 13 touchdowns
2017: 154 of 254 (60.6%) for 2,081 yards with 17 touchdowns to one interception; 154 rushes for 855 yards with eight touchdowns
2018: 51 of 70 (72.9%) for 765 yards with eight touchdowns to two interceptions; 36 rushes for 167 yards with two touchdowns
2019 (Oklahoma): 237 of 340 (69.7%) for 3,851 yards with 32 touchdowns to eight interceptions; 233 rushes for 1,298 yards with 20 touchdowns

Jalen Hurts NFL stats

2020 (Philadelphia): 77 of 148 (52%) for 1,061 yards with six touchdowns to four interceptions; 63 rushes for 354 yards with three touchdowns
2021: 265 of 432 (61.3%) for 3,144 yards with 16 touchdowns to nine interceptions; 139 rushes for 789 yards with 10 touchdowns
2022: 306 of 460 for 3,701 yards with 22 touchdowns to six interceptions; 165 rushes for 760 yards with 13 touchdowns
2023: 352 of 538 (65.8%) for 3,858 yards with 23 touchdowns to 15 interceptions; 157 rushes for 605 yards with 15 touchdowns

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Oklahoma

Monarch butterfly migration map 2025: See when, where monarchs can be spotted in Oklahoma

Published

5 hours ago

March 29, 2025

Press Room

Monarch butterfly migration map 2025: See when, where monarchs can be spotted in Oklahoma

Every spring and fall, Oklahomans watch as the brightly patterned orange and black butterflies make a pitstop in the state during their miles-long, twice-yearly migrations.

The migratory monarch butterfly has a lifespan of two to six weeks, though the butterflies born at the end of the summer live eight to nine months in order to make the journey south and spend the winter clustered in trees in Mexico and California. In the spring, they head to their spring and summer breeding grounds and migrate as far north as southern parts of Canada.

The species was listed as endangered in 2022 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, but is yet to be classified as such under the Endangered Species Act in the United States. Their numbers are ever-dwindling due to habitat loss and climate change.

Some monarchs have already been spotted in Oklahoma this spring, but as the peak migration approaches, here’s what you need to know.

When will monarchs be in Oklahoma?

The orange and black butterflies have already been spotted in the state, including in southern and central Oklahoma.

During the trip north, monarchs will be looking for milkweed and nectaring plants to sustain them on their journey.

See monarch migration map

Keep up with the monarch migration, and upload your own spottings, at maps.journeynorth.org.

Best places to see monarchs in Oklahoma City

Monarchs are often drawn to parks and gardens where milkweed and native nectaring plants can be found.

In Oklahoma, the traveling butterflies are more likely to be found near Interstate 35.

Oklahoma City destinations monarchs seem to enjoy year after year include:

Myriad Botanical Gardens
Will Rogers Gardens
Lake Hefner
Oklahoma City Zoo

Where to find milkweed, nectaring plants for monarchs

While the spring migration is already underway, it’s not too late to help out the monarchs with your plant choices. Monarchs benefit from planting done in the spring, summer or fall, according to Okies for Monarchs.

This can be any native nectaring plant, and especially milkweed so the butterflies can have a place to lay their eggs and start the next generation.

Okies for Monarchs has tips on building a garden suited for monarchs and other pollinators, like where and how to plant, size of garden and other butterfly-friendly features you can add.

Some local nurseries that sell both native plants and milkweed include:

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Oklahoma

Former Oklahoma high school principal under investigation for alleged inappropriate relationship with student

Published

16 hours ago

March 28, 2025

Press Room

Former Oklahoma high school principal under investigation for alleged inappropriate relationship with student

MADILL, Okla. (KXII) – A citizen’s complaint to the Oklahoma Department of Education led to the filing of a notice of investigation last week into former Madill High School principal Jason Ward, who is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student while teaching at Dickson Public Schools from 2014 to 2017.

The victim’s statement from the notice alleges Ward had a “prolonged sexual dating relationship” with a Dickson student, as well as “Inappropriate and potential criminal digital communications” with the student.

The notice states that Ward’s alleged actions are a potential violation of conduct for teachers and several state laws, and could be charged criminally.

The case has since been turned over to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. As of Friday, no criminal charges had been filed.

Madill Superintendent Victor Salcedo confirmed on Wednesday that Ward was no longer with the district and that middle school assistant principal Ron Norman will serve as the interim principal for the high school.

Notice of Investigation by the Oklahoma Department of Education(Notice of Investigation by the Oklahoma Department of Education)

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Oklahoma

Bob Stoops says Oklahoma football, OSU football should have practice together

Published

1 day ago

March 28, 2025

Press Room

Bob Stoops says Oklahoma football, OSU football should have practice together

The rivalry between Oklahoma and Texas one of the biggest in college football, admired and envied across the country for its scale. But something was lost for the Sooners when they left the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference alongside the Longhorns.

Namely, OU’s second biggest rival.

Oklahoma and Oklahoma State have met 118 times on the football. They didn’t last season, though, marking the first year year since 1909 they hadn’t played each other. For those that may have forgotten, Oklahoma was not even given statehood until 1907.

But with nothing on the books between between the two for the foreseeable future, some different ideas to keep the fires stoking have been bandied. One of them former Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops really prefers.

When asked whether the Sooners and Cowboys should meet in the future for a friendly practice, Stoops loved the notion.

“I like it. It’s just good to see somebody else. I think it’s a good idea,” Stoops said. “I mean, they’re not going to play each other this year, so who cares.”

The national-championship winning coach cautioned that the teams should make it that, though: a practice. Anything more than that could create too much negativity.

“That gets a little bit out of control and gets too heated,” Stoops said. “But just a practice against each other would be good. I like that idea. Then, maybe in the future, there will be some legs to that.”

Oklahoma plays Illinois State, Michigan, Temple and Kent State during its nonconference season in the fall.

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