Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield could regain lost year of eligibility

Baker Mayfield is entering the upcoming season as a senior in the Big 12, but he wont remain that way if he gets his wish.

Chuck Carlton of Dallas-Fort Worth Sports News reports that the star quarterback from Oklahoma may be able to recover the year of eligibility he lost following his transfer from Texas Tech. Big 12 rules state that in-conference transfers are penalized one year of eligibility. Mayfield believes he should be exempt because he was a walk-on who had not yet received scholarship money.

Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby confirmed a meeting scheduled for next week with the Big 12's faculty representatives to address a change in policy. Failing any adjustment, an alternative scenario for Mayfield would be to transfer from Oklahoma to a school outside of the Big 12 and receive a waiver for his final NCAA season.

"I think we all ought to be a little bit thoughtful about it," Bowlsby said in regards to Mayfield's appeal. "Absent Baker Mayfield getting relief, he'll have a year of eligibility left and won't be able to use it in our conference but instead would go someplace else and use it. That might not be in anybody's best interest."

The entire Mayfield family has been very critical of the Big 12 since the quarterback's initial appeal was denied in May of 2015.

Susan Stagg-Williams, a professor of chemical and petroleum engineering at Kansas, will chair the panel that will oversee Mayfield's appeal.