Former Alabama Crimson Tide star QB Jalen Hurts has announced his transfer to the Oklahoma Sooners for his senior season after spending his junior year as backup to Heisman runner-up Tua Tagovailoa.

The former SEC Offensive player of the year led the Tide to a 26-2 record in two years as starter and back-to-back National Championship Game appearances in 2017 and 2018. Alabama lost a thriller against Clemson in the first one, and after an inspiring performance and a 20-7 halftime deficit against Georgia in 2018, Hurts was benched in favor of then-backup Tua Tagovailoa, who led the Tide to a 26-23 victory in overtime. Hurts was benched in favor of Tagovailoa prior to the 2018 season, and watched from the bench as the Hawaiian lefty led Alabama to a 12-0 record and a rematch against Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. In an eerily similar game to the previous matchup, it was Hurts who came off the bench top after an ankle injury to Tagovailoa and led Alabama back from a 28-14 deficit against the Bulldogs to a 35-28 victory. Tagovailoa started in the College Football Playoff, leading the Tide to a win over OU in the semifinal before a crushing 44-16 loss to Clemson in the title game.

Hurts had entered his name in the NCAA transfer portal a few days prior, before choosing the Sooners over a flurry of potential suitors, including Miami, Auburn, Tennessee, Utah, Ohio State, Florida State, UCLA, and Maryland.

The Sooners prolific offense has led OU to back-to-back CFP berths, and Oklahoma has produced the last two Heisman winners in QBs Kyler Murray (who beat out Tagovailoa for the award) and Baker Mayfield.

Hurts looks to earn a starting gig on a title contender, and now may have a chance to compete with Tagovailoa and the Tide for a national title.