IRVING, Texas — Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield, who finished fourth in the 2015 Heisman Trophy race, will have two more years to compete for the Sooners instead of one.
On Wednesday faculty athletic reps in the Big 12 Conference, in a 5-5 vote, opted not to change a rule that forced Mayfield to use a year of eligibility after transferring from Texas Tech in 2014 despite the fact he was not on scholarship with the Red Raiders. Mayfield competed for Texas Tech as a walk-on in 2013.
On Thursday, after more consideration and reviewing a new proposal, they voted 7-3 that intraconference transfers without a written scholarship offer from their original school may move to another without losing a year of athletic eligibility.
Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said the conference revisited the proposal because it was so split and consensus was unclear.
“I don’t think it was revisited because of Baker Mayfield,” Bowlsby said, but because the requirement of a written offer narrows the breadth of the issue.
“I obviously am pleased by their decision,” Oklahoma president David Boren of the faculty athletic representatives. “I think it’s not only fair in this case but it’s fair to all student athletes and sets a very sound policy for the future. It does show the Big 12 Conference puts the welfare of our student athletes at a top level of concern.”
Mayfield, who had posted two extended Twitter messages to Sooners fans on Wednesday, reacted to the news Thursday by tweeting, “And y'all thought you were getting rid of me....”
Mayfield will now compete as a junior this season and as a senior in 2017.
Mayfield's coach, Bob Stoops said in a statement, "I appreciate the Big 12 faculty athletics representatives spending more time studying the important issue of walk-on transfers and am pleased by the result of today's Big 12 vote — not just because it potentially impacts Baker Mayfield, but because it was the right thing to do."
