Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Kyler Murray and the Minnesota Vikings will play Sunday against Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in a contest that is pivotal for both teams, for much different reasons.
The Vikings have an opportunity to move to 3-0 and put themselves in the early NFC driver’s seat. On the other side of the spectrum, the winless Bucs need a win just to keep their season from falling apart after just three games played.
Wait… Baker Mayfield said what about Vikings QB Kyler Murray?
On Thursday, the two aforementioned starting quarterbacks for Sunday’s matchup met with reporters in their respective cities. Baker happened to take the podium down in Florida first.
When asked about his thoughts on Kyler Murray, things got a little weird when Baker said, “I understand when people don’t like him…”
“I understand why people don’t like him, don’t get me wrong. I’d say the same thing about myself. But once you get to know him, really appreciate the worker that he is.”#Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield on #Vikings QB Kyler Murray
(Via @gregauman) pic.twitter.com/i6JeAMh1go
— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) September 24, 2026
Related: No JJ McCarthy Trade Talks for Vikings and Giants
Buried within the mountain of storylines out in Tampa this weekend is the fact that Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield were once college teammates at Oklahoma. And it wasn’t just a flyby moment in time, either.
Both QBs took a near deja vu path to Norman too. Mayfield started his collegiate career at Texas Tech in 2013, where he played in 8 games before transferring to Oklahoma at the end of the season.
Before the NFL: Murray and Mayfield at Oklahoma
He then sat out his sophomore year due to transfer rules at the time, before playing three seasons (40 games, 39 starts) for the Sooners, from 2015-2017, completing 70% of his passes for a total of 12,292 yards, 119 touchdowns and just 21 interceptions. Mayfield won the Heisman Trophy as a senior.
#5 Oklahoma vs #2 Ohio State – 2017
Baker Mayfield begins his Heisman campaign by DOMINATING the Buckeyes in The Shoe.
He would cap off the Sooners win with the most ICONIC flag plant in modern college football history. pic.twitter.com/5a31q2KJX7
— SEC Numbers Guy (@secnumbersguy) April 14, 2026
In Baker’s second year as a starter (2016), Kyler Murray arrived on campus. Coincidentally, he too transferred from a Texas school (Texas A&M), where he played in 8 games as a freshman, before packing his bags and heading to Norman.
At Oklahoma, Murray sat behind Mayfield for two seasons (2016, 2017), the first of which he was not eligible for, following his transfer. In 2018, after winning the Heisman, Baker Mayfield was drafted No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Browns.
Kyler Murray, meanwhile, took over as the Sooners’ starter… and didn’t skip a beat. Their new QB threw for 4,361 yards, 42 touchdowns and just 7 interceptions. He too won the Heisman, before being taken No. 1 overall by the Arizona Cardinals in 2019.
The Heisman Campaign that’s not talked about enough
Kyler Murray in 2018
• 69%
• 4,361 Passing Yards
• 42 Passing TDs
• 7 INTs
• 1,001 Rushing Yards
• 7.2 YPC
• 12 Rushing TDs pic.twitter.com/xUml3ooCSY
— College Football Report (@CFBReport) November 6, 2023
Related: Minnesota Vikings Sign Fresh Practice Squad Talent
I give you that way-too-detailed backstory to walk you up to Kyler Murray’s response to Baker Mayfield’s comments earlier in the day about people not liking him.
MN Vikings vs Bucs – Battle of QB college buddies
Unsurprisingly, Kyler’s response was light-hearted. He said he would tell people the same thing about Baker, noting (as Mayfield did) that people don’t really like him either…
Clearly, there’s a lot of respect that flows between these two former Oklahoma teammates.
“I respect the hell out of Baker and what he’s been through.”
Kyler Murray discusses his thoughts on Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and his comments about Murray. pic.twitter.com/JXd8zbKo5A
— Bring Me The Sports (@BMTNSports) September 24, 2026
Kickoff Sunday at Raymond James Stadium is set for 3:05 p.m. CT, with Murray back under center after clearing concussion protocol.
Mentioned in this article:Baker Mayfield Kyler Murray Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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