![Oklahoma's Jalen Hurts (1) celebrates after the Big 12 Championship Game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Baylor University Bears at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019. Oklahoma won 30-23. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]](https://collegefootballnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/How-Jalen-Hurts-Can-Make-Oklahoma-History-in-the-Super-Bowl-Against-the-Chiefs-696x464.jpg "How Jalen Hurts Can Make Oklahoma History in the Super Bowl Against the Chiefs")
As quarterback Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles prepare to face the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl for the second time in three years, history can be made for the former Oklahoma Sooners passer. The school has never had an alumnus win a Super Bowl MVP — Hurts could soon be the first.
Former Oklahoma Sooner Jalen Hurts Can Make History With Super Bowl MVP Honor
Hurts, preparing to start the second Super Bowl of his career, has had an intriguing journey up to this point.
The No. 1 rated dual-threat quarterback in the class of 2016 according to 247Sports, Hurts committed to play for the Alabama Crimson Tide under legendary head coach Nick Saban.
He saw the field right away, making program history as the first true freshman to start for Alabama since 1984. Hurts helped lead the Tide all the way to the national championship, where they lost to the Clemson Tigers.
Hurts had a subpar perfomance, but the arrow was pointing up for the Alabama starter. He led them back to the national championship game the following year, throwing 17 touchdowns vs. only one interception on the season.
The Tide were set to face the Georgia Bulldogs in the title game.
Hurts struggled early, throwing for only 21 yards on three of eight passes in the first half. Saban decided to make a switch, going with backup QB Tua Tagovailoa to start the second half.
The rest is history, as the Crimson Tide, led by Tagovailoa, defeated the Bulldogs and claimed the national championship.
That led to a quarterback controversy throughout the offseason. In the end, Hurts lost the job to Tagovailoa and transferred at the conclusion of the 2018 season.
The Oklahoma Sooners had a void at the quarterback position; Hurts soon filled that void. He excelled in Lincoln Riley’s offense — so much so that he was invited to New York City for the Heisman Ceremony.
He finished second in voting due to a specular senior season in which he completed 69.7% of his passes for 3,851 yards and 32 TDs — along with 1,298 yards on the ground and 20 more scores.
Despite that, Hurts wasn’t viewed as a first-round pick after declaring for the 2020 NFL Draft. He fell to pick No. 53, where the Philadelphia Eagles selected the Sooners’ signal-caller.
Once again, success came early for Hurts. In just his third year, he led the Eagles to the Super Bowl, their first matchup in the title game against the Chiefs.
The Chiefs won, 38-35 — but Hurts had arguably the best game of his career. On the biggest stage, he completed 27 of 38 passes for 304 yards and a touchdown, including 70 yards and three touchdowns with his legs.
If the Eagles had won, he surely would’ve been named the game’s MVP, making Sooners history as the first player from the school to claim the honor.
KEEP READING: Jalen Hurts’ College Stats
Two years later, Hurts has another chance to make school history. Although he’s moved into more of a game-managing role, he still has the ability to break out — against the Washington Commanders in the NFC title game, he had a similar game as the 2023 Super Bowl, throwing for a touchdown and rushing for three more.
If he can do that once more — including leading his team to a victory — Hurts will have a great opportunity to make Sooners history, further bolstering the decorated Oklahoma program.
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