Baker Mayfield Looks To Build On Big-Game Reputation

Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield seems to step up as the stakes get higher.

The senior quarterback has a 9-1 record after the start of November in his career at Oklahoma, with the only loss coming in a national semifinal against Clemson in 2015. Included in the wins are two victories over Oklahoma State that clinched Big 12 titles and a Sugar Bowl win over Auburn.

Mayfield’s late-season play helped him finish fourth in the Heisman balloting in 2015 and third last year. The way he handles pressure is one of the main reasons coach Lincoln Riley looks forward to “Championship November.”

Mayfield will have another opportunity to add to his reputation Saturday when the eighth-ranked Sooners visit No. 11 Oklahoma State. The winner will remain at the top of the Big 12 standings and greatly increase its chances of reaching the Big 12 championship game.

“I love it,” Mayfield said. “I love the big stage. I love a good atmosphere. I think it’s a good opportunity to show the country what we’re made of.”

Of Mayfield’s 10 games after the start of November at Oklahoma, eight have been against ranked teams. In those eight games, he has completed 66 percent of his passes with 17 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also has five rushing scores in those contests.

“He’s not afraid of the challenge or the moment, but also understands that you’ve just got to go play good, quality ball,” Riley said. “He’s been able to improve, despite whatever success that he or the team has had up to that point. He’s been able to continue to improve throughout the season along with the rest of our guys. I think that’s why you’ve seen it.”

Even when Clemson beat the Sooners in 2015, Mayfield passed for 311 yards and completed 63 percent of his throws. In his one statistically poor game of the bunch, he left the game against TCU in 2015 at halftime with a concussion. He had put the Sooners in good position before leaving, and Oklahoma still won.

Mayfield said there’s no significant change in his approach, or his team’s approach, to late-season games. He does acknowledge that the team takes pride in its reputation for finishing strong.

“I think right now, it’s just about us paying attention to little details, taking care of doing our job right,” he said. “That’s all that that matters. It doesn’t matter what they do. We’ve got to go out, you’ve got to run the right routes, you’ve got to have your eyes on the right keys, you’ve got to tackle well late in games. You’ve got to do your job right and highly execute it, and the rest will take care of itself.”

Mayfield has been especially effective against Oklahoma State. Two years ago, he passed for 180 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 77 yards and another score in Oklahoma’s 58-23 win the game after his concussion . Last year, he passed for 288 yards and threw two of his three touchdown passes after eventual Biletnikoff winner Dede Westbrook was knocked out of the game in the second quarter of a 38-20 victory .

Mayfield has acknowledged over the years that a strong running game has contributed greatly to his late-season success. The past two years, Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon combined to take pressure off him. This season, Rodney Anderson, Trey Sermon and Abdul Adams all have more than 400 yards rushing and appear capable of providing a similar lift.

“You lean on them at the end of the year,” Mayfield said. “You don’t try to do too much. You make sure those ballcarriers and playmakers have got a chance to change the game.”