Oklahoma preventing QB Morris' transfer to TCU

Head coach Lincoln Riley admitted on Wednesday that Oklahoma has yet to release quarterback Chandler Morris, according to ESPN's Dave Wilson.

The coach is holding up Morris' move to TCU because both he and Oklahoma are opposed to having transfers within the conference become immediately eligible.

"This particular situation, for us, is about something that we believe in - myself, the leadership here at OU - we think it's unhealthy for college football to encourage intraconference transfers," Riley said during a Zoom conference with reporters.

"That's something that we've been adamantly opposed to for a long time. I get the landscape is changing. ... Chandler Morris did a tremendous job here. He's a terrific young man."

The Sooners coach went on to explain he’s in favor of student-athletes being able to transfer but admits that the intraconference transfer can "complicate things."

"It's a fluid situation right now," Riley said of the matter. "Our plan is just to let this play, let some of these rules solidify, and we'll be open to watching it and seeing how it unfolds."

Riley insists the decision isn't due to any issue with Morris.

"I hated to see him go. You never want players to leave your program, but I know he's going to a good program there with Coach Patterson, and I wish the kid all the best."

Morris announced he was transferring from Oklahoma to join the Horned Frogs on social media in January.

TCU coach Gary Patterson told local reporters on Monday that the former Sooners pivot was competing for the starting job with Max Duggan, but "he still hasn’t been released by Oklahoma."

Meanwhile, the Sooners have greatly benefited from the transfer portal. Jalen Hurts and Kyler Murray are notable names that transferred to the program, and Baker Mayfield joined Oklahoma after beginning his college career as a walk-on at Texas Tech.