Former CFB Superstar And National Champion Grew Up As Sooners Fan

One of college football’s most electric quarterbacks of all time grew up rooting for Oklahoma. Jameis Winston — who won a National Championship with Florida State in 2013 — rooted for Oklahoma growing up. Given his decision to play at Florida State, it’s interesting to hear the college football legend break down his fandom for the Sooners.

Winston grew up a Sooners fan

“I was an Oklahoma fan,” Winston claimed on the podcast. “Because Oklahoma beat Florida State in 2000. I was a bandwagon, I just jumped on. I was like ‘Boomer Sooner’ ever since then.”

Winston explained that his father was a fan of Florida State, so he had to go against the grain and root for Oklahoma. While the quarterback opted to play his college football career with the Seminoles in Tallahassee, it’s unique to hear he grew up a fan of the Sooners.

Winston compliments Baker Mayfield

“So that’s why I like Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray,” Winston continued. “[Mayfield] is a beast, man. He’s doing his thing. It’s so many stories like that. It’s so many stories of people continuing to push through, like, you’re going to come out on the other side.”

The two have had NFL trajectories in the same realm. They both won a Heisman in college football before becoming the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft. Both — at one point in their NFL careers — have failed to live up to the expectations placed on them entering the league.

Mayfield reshaping his image in NFL

Since the final year of his tenure with the Cleveland Browns, it’s seemed like the league has been trying to either shuffle Mayfield out or strip him of a starting quarterback role. A short stint with the Los Angeles Rams was a glimmer of hope for the Oklahoma football legend, but his recent season with Tampa Bay Buccaneers helped Mayfield completely turn things around.

This past season, Mayfield posted 4,044 passing yards, 28 passing touchdowns and only ten interceptions as he had the best season of his NFL career. Winston is just among one player or media member to give Mayfield his respect for turning things around.

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