Lincoln Riley Embracing Spring Football Because Oklahoma Would Benefit
By Michael Luciano
Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley, who will take every opportunity to tell Sooner players and fans to stay at home and prevent the spread of the coronavirus, is now advocating for the season to be put on ice for a few months to minimize the number of infections.
Riley has been a vocal supporter of a college football season in the spring months, and it's easy to see why, given how his roster is constructed.
Lincoln Riley: Moving college football season to spring is "very doable" https://t.co/fpMfnUBeJq
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) July 4, 2020
The Sooners are currently hosting an open quarterback competition between prized recruit Spencer Rattler and Tanner Mordecai, though Rattler is considered the more talented option and the favorite to win the job. Even if Mordecai is the starter, both will be available for the spring. Other stars on contending teams, like Clemson's Trevor Lawrence or Ohio State's Justin Fields, might eschew spring football in favor of declaring for the NFL Draft.
Riley, however, could lean on either Rattler or Mordecai to lead his offense. There is some caution and genuine care in Riley's words, but the competitive advantage he will have in the spring has to have floated around in his head.
Riley: "We've always had competition no matter where they've come from. No different for Spencer Rattler or Tanner Mordecai right now. We’ll let those guys go at it. They're very talented." https://t.co/M1D6YK2yvG
— Sooner_Reb (@RebSooner) July 1, 2020
If the unthinkable happens and the season gets delayed until the spring, expect Riley's Sooners to be one of the favorites to take home the college football national title.