Chuba Hubbard is a former three-star recruit from outside of Edmonton, roughly 700 miles from the nearest FBS team, who's coming off one of the best offensive seasons in Big 12 history. He's one of college football's poster boys for defying expectations, and this week, made a bold proclamation for Oklahoma State's 2020 season that would shatter expectations.
Hubbard redshirted in 2017 and played sparingly in 2018 until Cowboys' starting running back Justice Hill went down with a season-ending knee injury. He rushed for at least 100 yards over their final four games, including 145 yards on only 18 carries in the bowl win over Missouri. And he exploded onto the national scene in 2019, leading the nation in rushing in earning All-America and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors. And then Hubbard passed on the 2020 NFL Draft for (at least) one more season in Stillwater.
“To be honest, this is my family, my second home, I want to get my degree,” Hubbard said on Tuesday during a pep rally press conference. “There a lot that factors into it, but I want a national championship, I want a lot of things, so that’s what we’re going to do."
When asked to explain why students should buy their tickets for next season, Hubbard said, "We're bringing a national championship to Stillwater."
Oklahoma has twice been recognized as a national champion — in 2011 by the Colley Matrix and in 1945 by the AFCA — but has never won an AP, BCS or CFP national championship and has only one conference championship since the 1970s. They aren't a consensus pick in early 2020 top 25 rankings and would be one of the most shocking national championships in a long time.
