Well, Thompson is needed again.
And this time Oklahoma needs more.
As in main man more.
Adrian Peterson is out, due to miss a month or more with a fractured collarbone. So the offensive focus shifts to Thompson, effectively dumping the season's ultimate measurement of success — wins, losses and bowl bids — on his right shoulder.
The Sooners, who host Colorado on Saturday, vow to maintain balance in their attack.
"We will not get away from the running game," offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said.
The passing game formerly thrived in part because of the threat of Peterson's rugged running.
"Everything goes through No. 28," Texas defensive end Tim Crowder said before the Red River Shootout.
Further success of the ground game might now rely on the ability of Thompson to make opponents respect his connection with the OU receivers. Pure stats show how well Thompson has managed the passing game.
He's completing 60.5 percent of his throws, with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. Only two OU quarterbacks over the past 45 years — Heisman winner Jason White and Heisman runner-up Josh Heupel — have topped a 60 percent completion mark for a season.
Thompson ranks fourth in the Big 12 and 24th nationally in passing efficiency, an indication of a quarterback's effectiveness in relation to his number of throws.
And Thompson has at least one touchdown pass in five of the six games; multiple TD tosses in four games.
"I keep saying, I think he's playing well,"
