Two seasons ago, locked up with Kansas State in a close game in Manhattan, Kan., Oklahoma coaches decided to try something new.
Unable to have much success in short-yardage situations for most of the season, starting quarterback Landry Jones came out of the game. Blake Bell came in and The Belldozer was born. A quarterback-run package designed for close quarters and tight situations. It worked. Just five carries that day and a touchdown, but the Sooners figured something out. They went on to a 35-0 second half and an easy win.
Bell went on to score 24 touchdowns in the next season and a half – nearly all of them in short-yardage spots.
So, spin it forward to Saturday in Manhattan. It was the first trip the Sooners have made since that 58-17 win, but it became the second time OU coaches made a future-altering decision at quarterback.
Trevor Knight established himself as the starting quarterback for the rest (two games) of this season and a most-convincing case to be starter in 2014 as well.
Knight ran for 82 yards and a touchdown, managed the game by throwing it for 171 yards (14-of-20) and a touchdown, got some help from running back Brennan Clay (career high 200 yards on 31 carries) and making the right decision for most of the game.
"He makes plays when they're there and can make things happen when they're not there," said coach Bob Stoops.
Oklahoma won 41-31 at Kansas State. It's best victory since winning at Notre Dame in October. But the win against the Wildcats has to be the most satisfying because for the first time this season the Sooners established an identity on offense.
A week ago, Knight replaced the injured Bell and ran for 123 yards. An admirable and effective performance. But that was against Iowa State at home, probably not the best barometer to determine much of anything
In his third-career start and his first since the second game of the season, Knight's performance wasn't as unexpected as Bell's two seasons ago on this same field, but it was just as refreshing.
For the first time in these three starts, Knight didn't look overmatched, didn't look nervous and instead looked like he was playing with a purpose.
He threw his fifth touchdown pass of the season and scored his second rushing touchdown of the season. Knight ran it when he had to and threw it when he needed to. It was a showing we haven't seen out of any Oklahoma quarterback since Bell's two-game run against Tulsa and Notre Dame.
Knight also showed why he earned the starting job back in August, but unlike those September starts where he went a combined 21-of-48, Knight also showed how much he's improved. In the past two games Knight is 22-of-34 for 232 yards.
His ability to make people miss is something Bell doesn't have. His ability to throw consistently – at least Saturday – was something Bell hasn't done.
Now, Knight got the start because Bell was hurt from an apparent concussion a week ago against Iowa State. He'l get the start in two weeks at Oklahoam State because he's earned it.
And he'll be the starter come August because of what he did against Kansas State.
Follow Andrew Gilman on Twitter: @andrewgilmanOK
