With New QB, Oklahoma Looks To Extend Win Streak Against Baylor

Oct 16, 2001

The No. 2 Sooners (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) extended their streak with Saturday's 38-10 win over Kansas, which followed consecutive big victories over conference foes Kansas State and Texas.

However, as the Sooners prepare for Saturday's matchup with the Bears - while also looking ahead to next week's game against No. 3 Nebraska - they do it with a new starting quarterback.

Sophomore Jason White takes over for Nate Hybl after coming off the bench to finish the last two games. In Saturday's win over Kansas, White went 18-of-29 for 151 yards and four touchdowns, all coming on short passes to tight end Trent Smith. He was also intercepted twice and lost a fumble.

A better runner than Hybl, White enables the Sooners to exploit their trademark option play. He gained 117 yards on 12 carries Saturday.

"Jason has earned the opportunity to be the starter," coach Bob Stoops said after Monday's practice. "He'll be the starter in this game and then we'll take it from there. We have proven we can win with both of these quarterbacks and we feel we can be a good team with either of them playing."

Hybl earned the starting nod over the summer and started all six games for the Sooners. However, the junior was knocked out of the 14-3 win over the Longhorns on Oct. 6 with an injury to his left shoulder, then was removed against the Jayhawks after completing just 5 of 11 passes for 15 yards.

"Nate wasn't as sharp as he had been," Stoops said. "He had a sore shoulder. I think everybody saw that. It's difficult to gauge pain. I just admire the way he fought through that and tried to play."

With White behind center, the Bears will have to key on the 6-foot-5 Smith, who took advantage of size mismatches in setting school records with the four touchdowns and 11 receptions.

The Bears (2-3, 0-3) have the unenviable task of taking on the defending national champions a week after Saturday's 48-7 beating at the hands of the Cornhuskers. That followed a 16-10 loss to then-No. 22 Texas A&M.

"That's one good thing about being in the Big 12 - you get to measure the success of your program and the growth of your program against the best," coach Kevin Steele said. "In seven of the last eight quarters, playing 5-1 A&M and 7-0 Nebraska, we played pretty well.

"It's making us a better football team."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

With New QB, Oklahoma Looks To Extend Win Streak Against Baylor

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