Tennessee Volunteers

Mayfield the hero, but only because Mike Stoops made it so

Published Sep. 13, 2015 12:04 a.m. ET

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Baker Mayfield scrambled and moved in a way we haven't seen an Oklahoma quarterback scramble and move since, well, it's been awhile.

Most folks reference the Sugar Bowl victory over Alabama two seasons ago as the last significant victory, moment, or event of recent Sooner football memory.

But Saturday in Knoxville we saw something different. No one will forget the night the Sooners beat Alabama in New Orleans and everyone will remember where they were when Baker Mayfield wouldn't get tackled, avoided everything orange and the Sooners escaped Tennessee in the most surprising thing to happen vs. the Vols since Forest Gump's kickoff return.

But Mayfield is the newest Sooner football hero only because Mike Stoops made it so.

Somewhere far above the 102,000-plus who packed into Neyland Stadium, Stoops sat in the press box and maestro-ed his way to a remarkable game, perhaps his best since returning as defensive coordinator in 2012 and OU won 31-24 in double overtime.

Yes, Mayfield was exceptional, but the Stoops' defense was even betterThe production Oklahoma's offense put up for three quarters was an insult to the word terrible. The Sooners managed just three points in their first 12 possessions of the game. 

Any other time, perhaps any other team outside of Akron and Oklahoma would have been buried alive and sent spiraling deep toward another lost season. The idea of another 8-5 season seemed real and close enough to taste. Down 17-3 at halftime, OU was left for dead. Air Raid offense looking Err Raid - lost and directionless.

But the Oklahoma defense didn't just show up in the second half, they shut out Tennessee until an overtime touchdown.

How good? Well, Tennessee had 100 yards rushing at halftime as well as 17 points. After the break, Tennessee managed 29 yards rushing and just 93 yards total. 

The Vols started the second half going 45 yards and then missing a field goal. Their next four possessions totaled 31 yards. 

Meanwhile, on the other side of the ball, Mayfield wouldn't get tackled. He led the Sooners to four touchdowns on their final four possessions, including overtime. He led them from the edge of panic – not just in Knoxville, but for all of 2015 – to another opportunity to dance like everyone's watching. Throws to Sterling Shepard were remarkable. Avoiding trouble was standard. "Remember When" moments. All of them.

Mayfield was 8-of-25 through three quarters for 84 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. He got a stay of execution, thanks to the Sooner defense, and rallied by going 11 for his next 14 for three touchdowns, 103 yards passing and a rushing score.

The result means no quarterback controversy. Fewer questions about this new, Lincoln Riley-built, Air Raid, offense and more optimism than Donald Trump heading to Iowa.

"In my 16 years, I've never had a game like this," coach Bob Stoops said to reporters after the game. "That includes national championships."

That's because Mayfield saved the season and it's only mid-September. Good thing Mike Stoops and the Sooner defense were around to make it happen.

Follow Andrew Gilman on Twitter: @andrewgilmanOK

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