Most teams across the nation would like to have Oklahoma’s problems.

The Sooners (7-0, 4-0 Big 12) have two outstanding quarterbacks – Spencer Rattler, a preseason All-American and freshman sensation Caleb Williams, the No. 1 quarterback recruit in the nation last season.

Rattler started the year and led OU to an unbeaten record but he was pulled after two turnovers against Texas. Williams was inserted and he led a startling comeback win. That earned him the start against TCU last Saturday and he engineered a 52-31 victory over the Horned Frogs in Norman.

That helped OU jump to a No. 2/3 ranking in the major polls. OU travels Saturday to lowly Kansas (1-5, 0-3 Big 12) for an 11 a.m. kickoff on Fox.

Against TCU, Williams was the first true freshman to start at quarterback for OU since current OU assistant coach Cale Gundy in 1990 (Gundy’s first start was vs. Iowa State). Only five true freshmen have started at quarterback in Oklahoma history: Darrell Royal (one game in 1946), Troy Aikman (one game in 1984), Jamelle Holieway (eight games in 1985), Gundy (five games in 1990) and Williams.

Williams didn’t play like a freshman.

“His pockets are pretty good. When the pockets are good, it’s a lot easier. Caleb did a good job. Yes, he did a good job. And you do like to see that out of a young guy,” OU coach Lincoln Riley said. “But a lot of that credit goes to that offensive line. Against a darn good front and really good players on the edge, they did a pretty good job. Got to us a few times but not much. So, good job by everybody.”

Williams connected on 18 of 23 passes for 295 yards and four touchdowns (243.4 passer rating) and rushed nine times for 66 yards and a score. He compiled 361 total yards and accounted for five TDs in the game. His 295 passing yards and four passing TDs were both the most ever by an OU true freshman quarterback.

His 261 passing yards in the first half were the most ever by an OU true freshman QB in any half (redshirt freshmen Sam Bradford had 350 passing yards vs. North Texas in 2007 and Spencer Rattler had 290 yards vs. Missouri State in 2020).

Riley didn’t reveal his starting quarterback until 15 minutes before kickoff so that TCU wouldn’t know who to prepare for.

“Caleb got the opportunity tonight and played well,” Riley said. “I’m confident had Spencer got the opportunity tonight, the way he practiced, he would’ve played well tonight too.”

Williams and Rattler shared work with the first-team offense in practice.

“(We) repped both those guys, gave Caleb a few more reps with the first group but other than that, honestly felt like a normal week,” Riley said. “I don’t think he was a whole lot different and he didn’t need to be. He just needed to go out and be ready to play and be ready to play well, so again I think both those guys handled the week extremely well considering all the circumstances.”

Riley said he wouldn’t hesitate to put Rattler in.

“I was absolutely ready to,” Riley said. “Did I expect to? I don’t know. I mean games … you just never know how games are gonna unfold but with the way he practiced this week, if the right moment, which could have been 100 different things, came up that to put him in was going to happen then I was completely confident. He had a fantastic week.”

Williams played under control, which is rare in a first start, particularly for a freshman.

“He just stayed himself, which I thought was good. You don’t want guys trying to get out of who they are in these moments. Don’t try to change, just be confident in yourself and just go be yourself and go play football. It’s really that simple. It’s not easy, but it’s that simple.

Williams’ confidence helped OU jump to an early lead.

“Him being able to get into a rhythm early was very big. Very big for his confidence. Very big for the offense’s confidence. Very big for everybody,” OU wide receiver Mike Woods said. “The coaches, everybody, the whole team. Him being able to get it going early, I just think it was great for us. We got on a roll early. It was one of the first times we started really hot. I thought that was good to just get ahead and start fast.”

OU running back Kennedy Brooks rushed for 153 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries (7.6 average). His TD came on a 2-yard run on the opening possession of the game. It was his 35th career rushing TD and seventh of the season.

Injuries in the defensive secondary have forced OU to play young, talented players with scant experience.

“(The injuries) force some young guys into action. And what you have to do is you’ve got to try to find ways to put them in situations where they can be successful. So that’s something we’ve got to look at doing a better job of obviously as a defensive staff,” said OU defensive coordinator Alex Grinch said.

“It’s a tall order for young guys. Young guys are targets a lot of times, and you’ve got to find a way to make a play when the ball is in the air. And obviously there’s not many we made tonight. We’ve got to look at finding ways to put those guys in better situations. It is concerning, getting guys healthy.”

OU kicker Gabe Brkic made a 28-yard field goal and all seven PAT attempts in the game. He is now 16 for 19 (84%) on field goal attempts and 30 for 30 on PAT tries this season.

The Sooners have the longest winning streak in the nation. OU has now winning streaks of at least seven games in a school-record seven straight seasons. Since 1980, only Boise State (11 straight seasons; 2002-12) and Alabama (10 straight seasons; 2011-20) have also posted winning streaks of at least seven games in seven consecutive years.