BYU football: Bradford has Cougs' attention

Oklahoma boasted one of the most prolific offensive attacks in college football history in 2008.

The Sooners scored 60-plus points in five consecutive games — an NCAA record — against Nebraska (62), Texas A&M (66), Texas Tech (65), Oklahoma State (61) and Missouri (62). OU's fast-paced offense piled up a total of 702 points for the season, which is another NCAA mark. For the year, the Sooners averaged 50 points per game.

The man holding the keys to that offensive juggernaut, quarterback Sam Bradford — who won last year's Heisman Trophy — surprised many observers when he spurned the allure and money of the NFL and opted to return for his junior season in Norman.

Oklahoma fell to Florida 24-14 in the BCS championship game last January, so Bradford knows he has some unfinished business to take care of. Projected by some as the No. 1 overall pick in next April's NFL draft, Bradford is eyeing another shot at a national championship.

"When you lose in the national championship, there are a lot of different feelings," Bradford told the Sporting News. "The team accomplished a lot last year. But the biggest thing is that it is frustrating knowing how close you were to winning something that you wanted as a little kid. The only thing you want to do is get another chance at that."

For OU, the road to the national championship begins Saturday in Arlington, Texas, where it faces BYU in the season-opener.

What's more, Bradford, along with Florida's Tim Tebow (the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner), has the chance to become only the second player in college football history to win the Heisman Trophy twice. Ohio State running back Archie Griffin earned the award in 1974 and 1975.

"Just to win one is extremely challenging. The award has been given out for over 70 years, and only one guy has ever won it twice, so it's an extremely difficult task," the 6-foot-4, 218-pounder from Oklahoma City said Tuesday. "As far as me and Tim going after a second one, I think for either of us, that is the last thing on our minds right now. I don't know who they open with, but we have to play BYU Saturday, and that's all I'm concerned with right now.

"I'm extremely excited. It's something that I have been looking forward to since last year. There were days in the winter and the summer when I never thought this day would come. I think everyone on our football team is really excited about this opportunity."

The Cougars, meanwhile, are looking forward to facing Bradford, who completed 68 percent of his passes and threw for 4,720 yards and 50 touchdowns, along with only eight interceptions, last season.