Baker Mayfield to return for senior season

Oklahoma's offense will be in good hands next season as star quarterback Baker Mayfield announced Saturday he will return in 2017 for his senior campaign.

"I'll be here another year for a three-peat," the standout pivot said following the Sooners' second-straight Big 12 championship on Saturday. "The ultimate goal is to play for a national championship."

Mayfield was once again one of the top quarterbacks in the country during his second season as starter for the Sooners. He finished the 2016 regular season on Saturday with a 288-yard, three touchdown performance in a 38-10 win over Oklahoma State.

For the season, the 6-foot-1, 210-pounder completed over 70 percent of his passes for 3,669 yards and 38 touchdowns while adding six rushing touchdowns.

Mayfield and offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley once again combined to lead the country's most potent offense, as the Sooners averaged 45.3 points per game. In the Texas native's first year as a starter, the team ranked fourth in the country scoring 43.5 points per contest.

The fact that Mayfield is eligible to return for another season was something unexpected just a year ago, as the Big 12 had to approve a rule proposal granting him eligibility in his senior season.

Mayfield began his career with Texas Tech before transferring to Oklahoma after his freshman season. He was a walk-on for the Red Raiders, and the rule change allows walk-on players to transfer within the conference without losing a year of eligibility.