Hurts, Murray Earn National Weekly Honors

NORMAN — Oklahoma senior quarterback Jalen Hurts and junior linebacker Kenneth Murray were each recognized nationally Tuesday for their efforts in leading the Sooners to the largest comeback victory in program history at No. 12 Baylor on Saturday. Hurts was named the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award National Player of the Week and Murray was named the Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week.

Hurts and Murray were both integral to the Sooners' comeback efforts against the previously unbeaten Bears. OU trailed Baylor 28-3 midway through the second quarter before outscoring the Bears 31-3. In the second half, OU ran 58 plays to Baylor's 16, outgained the Bears by 310 yards (368-58), had 18 more first downs (22-4) and held a 24:20-5:40 advantage in time of possession. According to ESPN Stats & Info, OU's 21-point halftime deficit (31-10) is the largest overcome to defeat an FBS team that entered the game 9-0 or better since NCAA classification began in 1937. OU also became the first team to ever beat a CFP-ranked team when trailing by 25 or more points.

Hurts accounted for 411 yards of offense, including a school-record 305 in the second half. The Houston, Texas, product was 30 for 42 through the air (both season highs) for 297 yards and a career-high-tying four touchdowns. He also ran 27 times for a game-high 114 yards. In the second half alone, Hurts, who was named Walter Camp Offensive Player of the Week and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week, completed 22 of 28 pass attempts for 217 yards and three touchdowns, and rushed for 88 yards on 15 carries. It was the fifth game this season in which he has totaled at least 400 yards.

Murray, a semifinalist for the Butkus and Bednarik Awards and a first-team midseason All-American by ESPN, led the Sooners with eight tackles, including seven solo stops. The Missouri City, Texas, product tallied 2.0 tackles for loss, the third time he has recorded at least 2.0 this season. Murray leads the Sooners with 70 total tackles this season (44 solo, 26 assists) and has 9.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, three pass breakups and three QB hurries.

This is the second time this season Hurts has earned the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award National Player of the Week honor (also Sept. 4) and the second time Murray has been named the Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week (also Sept. 5).

No. 8/7 Oklahoma (9-1, 6-1 Big 12) faces TCU (5-5, 3-4 Big 12) on Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Sooners' final home game of the season. An OU victory would mark the program's 400th at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.