After experiencing a week of ups and downs and a near upset in Norman at the hands of Tulane, Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler answered the bell in an easy victory over Western Carolina. Finishing the game 20-of-26 for 243 yards and five touchdowns, Rattler predictably got back on track against an FCS opponent.

Ironically, last season, Rattler struggled during the earlier portions of the season that included him being benched during the second quarter of the Red River Rivalry against Texas. Once reinserted into the game during the third quarter, he seemed to be a much better decision-maker.

Finishing the 2020 season red-hot, including a 55-20 victory over Florida in the Cotton Bowl, that type of momentum is the kind he needed heading into a crucial redshirt sophomore season. Jostling back and forth between the QB1 spot with others, Rattler had all eyes on him during his debut and it was more of the same that we saw during the earlier portions of his redshirt freshman season.

His biggest issues are drifting backward on throws, decision-making, not identifying coverages, and refusing to take what the defense gives him. All factors that he can improve upon, but against quality opponents, he hasn’t been able to do it consistently over a streak of games. Even though Nebraska isn’t considered to be a high-quality opponent, Rattler must continue to show growth and progress in the flaws mentioned.

Matched up against one of the worst defenses in the country and a team that’s spiraling downward, Rattler must dominate in order to keep the luster of him being one of the higher-ranked signal-callers in this class alive.