http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=984787
Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford was supposed to challenge for a second consecutive Heisman. He was supposed to lead the Sooners to a Big 12 title and a return to the BCS championship game.
But there was Bradford, the defending Heisman winner, standing helplessly on the sideline with his right arm in a sling as he watched BYU stun the No. 3 Sooners 14-13 Saturday night in Arlington, Texas.
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| Sam Bradford suffered a sprained shoulder in Oklahoma's loss to BYU. |
Just like that, Oklahoma's national title dreams and Bradford's Heisman hopes took big hits - and maybe fatal blows.
Bradford suffered a sprained shoulder just before the end of the first half after a hit by BYU linebacker Coleby Clawson on an incomplete pass. Early reports are that Bradford, who was 10-of-14 for 96 yards and a touchdown before getting hurt, will be out between two to four weeks.
With Bradford injured, redshirt freshman Landry Jones took over for Oklahoma. Jones, a 6-foot-4, 211-pounder from Artesia, N.M., was mediocre, going 6-of-12 for 51 yards and leading the Sooners to only a second-half field goal.
Given Jones' inexperience, expect OU's offense to become more conservative. The attack already was a work in progress, with four new starters on the line. Star tight endJermaine Gresham missed the BYU game with a knee injury, and when he'll return is uncertain.
The line needs to jell quickly to create running room for OU's two most proven commodities: 1,000-yard running backsDeMarco Murray and Chris Brown. But that duo can count on seeing a lot of seven- and eight-man fronts until Jones settles in as a passer.
Bradford had opted to return to school for his junior season even though some analysts thought he would've been the first pick in the 2009 NFL draft. Bradford thought he could further develop his game and get the Sooners their second national title of the decade. Instead, he gets hurt and OU loses its opener for the second time in the past five seasons. In 2005, TCU - like BYU, a member of the Mountain West - beat the Sooners in Norman. In that loss, Oklahoma star running back Adrian Peterson suffered an ankle injury, though he returned after the injury and was ineffective.
Not all hope is lost for the Sooners. OU reached the national title game last season even with a loss. But there is no margin for error now.
Oklahoma plays host to FCS member Idaho State next Saturday, which should give Jones an opportunity to sharpen his arm against a vastly overmatched defense. On Sept. 19, Tulsa visits Norman in a game that just became a lot more intriguing. Tulsa looks to again have a high-powered offense, but Tulsa's defense remains questionable.
The Sooners are off Sept. 26, and by the time Oklahoma plays at Miami on Oct. 3, Bradford should be back.
But how effective will Bradford be when he returns? Plus, after they travel to Miami, the Sooners still must play Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State.
The bottom line: Texas now is the clear favorite in the Big 12, and Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and Texas quarterback Colt McCoy could lap the field as Heisman favorites.