Jalen Hurts is on the move. The former Alabama quarterback announced Wednesday he will be transferring to Oklahoma for the 2019 season. With the addition of Hurts, the Sooners’ National Championship odds are also on the move. Oklahoma moved from +2000 to +1400 at FanDuel Sportsbook following the announcement.
Because Hurts is a graduate transfer, he won’t have to sit out a year. He’ll be available immediately and it’s perfect timing for a Sooners’ offense that lost Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray.
Hurts gives Oklahoma an experienced starter to take over Lincoln Riley’s high-scoring offense. The last two years in Norman, Murray threw for 4,261 yards and 42 touchdowns, while his predecessor, Baker Mayfield, put up 4,627 yards and 43 touchdowns.
Hurts went 26-2 as a starter at Alabama before he was benched in favor of Tua Tagovailoa this season. During his two seasons as the starter, Hurts won an SEC Offensive Player of the Year award and threw for a combined 4,861 yards, 40 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, to go along with 1,809 yards and 21 touchdowns rushing. He led Alabama to two straight National Championship Games.
While landing Hurts improves Oklahoma’s chances to win the National Championship, the Sooners are the fifth favorite at +1400. Alabama (+200), Clemson (+250), Georgia (+750) and Ohio State (+1000) have better odds to win next year’s College Football Playoff at FanDuel. Oklahoma had been tied with Michigan at +2000 before the Hurts’ news broke and its odds were shortened.
Even without Hurts, Oklahoma had the best odds of any Big 12 team to win the title. Texas is a distant second at +3500, followed by West Virginia at +5000. Despite Texas improving under head coach Tom Herman and returning key starters next season, FanDuel views Oklahoma as the clear favorite to win the Big 12 with Hurts at quarterback.
Odds to win the 2020 College Football Championship at FanDuel Sportsbook
Alabama +200
Clemson +250
Georgia +750
Ohio State +1000
Oklahoma +1400
Michigan +2000
Florida +3500
Texas +3500
LSU +5000
Notre Dame +5000