![\"Baker](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Cleveland-Browns-quarterback-Baker-Mayfield-left-and-Arizona-Cardinals-quarterback-Kyler-Murray-exch.jpeg\")
Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCredit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Kyler Murray and the Minnesota Vikings will play Sunday<\/a> against Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in a contest that is pivotal for both teams, for much different reasons.<\/p>\n The Vikings have an opportunity to move to 3-0<\/a> and put themselves in the early NFC driver\u2019s seat<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n Wait\u2026 Baker Mayfield said what about Vikings QB Kyler Murray?<\/p>\n On Thursday, the two aforementioned starting quarterbacks for Sunday\u2019s matchup met with reporters<\/a> in their respective cities. Baker happened to take the podium down in Florida<\/a> first.<\/p>\n When asked about his thoughts on Kyler Murray, things got a little weird when Baker said, \u201cI understand when people don\u2019t like him\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI understand why people don\u2019t like him, don\u2019t get me wrong. I\u2019d say the same thing about myself. But once you get to know him, really appreciate the worker that he is.\u201d#Buccaneers<\/a> QB Baker Mayfield on #Vikings<\/a> QB Kyler Murray<\/p>\n (Via @gregauman<\/a>) pic.twitter.com\/i6JeAMh1go<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) September 24, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n Related: No JJ McCarthy Trade Talks for Vikings and Giants<\/a><\/p>\n 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<\/a>. And it wasn\u2019t just a flyby moment in time, either.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Before the NFL: Murray and Mayfield at Oklahoma<\/p>\n 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<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n #5 Oklahoma vs #2 Ohio State \u2013 2017<\/p>\n Baker Mayfield begins his Heisman campaign by DOMINATING the Buckeyes in The Shoe.<\/p>\n He would cap off the Sooners win with the most ICONIC flag plant in modern college football history. pic.twitter.com\/5a31q2KJX7<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 SEC Numbers Guy (@secnumbersguy) April 14, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n In Baker\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Kyler Murray, meanwhile, took over as the Sooners\u2019 starter\u2026 and didn\u2019t skip a beat. Their new QB threw for<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n The Heisman Campaign that\u2019s not talked about enough<\/p>\n Kyler Murray in 2018<\/p>\n \u2022 69% \u2014 College Football Report (@CFBReport) November 6, 2023<\/a> <\/p>\n Related: Minnesota Vikings Sign Fresh Practice Squad Talent<\/a><\/p>\n I give you that way-too-detailed backstory to walk you up to Kyler Murray\u2019s response to Baker Mayfield\u2019s comments earlier in the day about people not liking him.<\/p>\n MN Vikings vs Bucs \u2013 Battle of QB college buddies<\/p>\n Unsurprisingly, Kyler\u2019s response was light-hearted. He said he would tell people the same thing about Baker, noting (as Mayfield did) that people don\u2019t really like him either\u2026<\/p>\n Clearly, there\u2019s a lot of respect that flows between these two former Oklahoma teammates.<\/p>\n “I respect the hell out of Baker and what he’s been through.”<\/p>\n Kyler Murray discusses his thoughts on Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and his comments about Murray. pic.twitter.com\/JXd8zbKo5A<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Bring Me The Sports (@BMTNSports) September 24, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n Kickoff Sunday at Raymond James Stadium is set for 3:05 p.m. CT, with Murray back under center after clearing concussion protocol.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMentioned in this article:Baker Mayfield<\/a> Kyler Murray<\/a> Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/a><\/p>\n More About:Minnesota Vikings<\/a><\/p>\n Add MinnesotaSportsFan as a preferred source on Google. \t\t\t
\u2022 4,361 Passing Yards
\u2022 42 Passing TDs
\u2022 7 INTs
\u2022 1,001 Rushing Yards
\u2022 7.2 YPC
\u2022 12 Rushing TDs pic.twitter.com\/xUml3ooCSY<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Google](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/google_preferred_source_badge.png\"){kind=icon}
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