WACO, Texas — With 14:48 remaining in No. 3 Oklahoma's 49-41 win over Baylor, true freshman running back Trey Sermon entered the game for the first time.
Seven carries and 68 yards later, Sermon was in the end-zone, bowing before the Baylor crowd.
"I just stay locked in the game, because you never know when your time is ready," Sermon said.
On the very next drive, Sermon would find the end zone again — this time on only two carries for 69 yards.
"I just like coming in and helping the team, making the biggest impact I can," Sermon said. "I love it when our team's back is against the wall."
Sermon was clutch for the Sooners (4-0, 1-0 Big 12), who had been struggling against a winless Baylor (0-4, 0-1 Big 12) team all night. He would finish the night with 148 yards and two touchdowns on only 12 carries — all in the fourth quarter, when Oklahoma looked to be falling apart.
His ability to break tackles and keep the clock rolling in the fourth quarter was remarkable to watch for his teammates.
"He's a fantastic player," senior quarterback Baker Mayfield said. "Just how physical he is. Not just how special he is, but going into the game, he came in and took over. At that point and time, he wore the defense down with the run game."
However, this isn't the first time Sermon has come up big for Oklahoma late on the road. Rushing for 64 yards and catching a touchdown, Sermon was a major component in the Sooners' win over Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio, just two weeks ago.
A performance like Saturday is something his teammates have become accustomed to, even though he's a freshman.
"That's a grown man," defensive end Ogbonnia Okoronkwo said. "You all saw him. (Defenders) bouncing off him, spinning off, (he's) getting extra yards — he's not playing like a freshman right now."
Sermon has now run for 283 yards on the season, averaging 6.6 yards per carry. After his incredible fourth quarter performance Saturday night, Sermon may have separated himself from the other running backs, who have all been competing for more touches all season.
As a unit, the backs combined for 342 yards on the ground against Baylor — a season high. Coach Lincoln Riley said it doesn't matter who's in the backfield for the Sooners — they're confident they will get the job done.
"We felt confident in the guys that we've recruited and we've developed here," Riley said. "I'm excited about their growth, and I think we're getting better there. I think they're getting more in sync with what we're doing up front."
