Jason White won the Heisman Trophy despite two major knee surgeries and barely playing before this season.
His strong showing at quarterback brought him college football's most prestigious award and Oklahoma to the brink of a second national championship in four years.
And the injuries, in a strange way, may have helped.
Once a scrambler, White learned to be a pocket passer and went on to lead the nation in passing efficiency while directing the nation's most potent offense, one that topped 50 points in seven games. He threw at least two touchdowns in 12 of 13 games.
"His emergence as a great, great football player is the story of college football," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said.
"The biggest difference in our team is Jason White is the quarterback. It ought to be pretty obvious."
White completed 64 percent (265-of-414) and threw for 3,744 yards and 40 touchdowns. But Kansas State, in a 35-7 victory over Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game, found a way to rattle the OU offense, blitzing often and disrupting passing routes. White threw two interceptions and zero touchdowns in that game.
How much LSU takes from that game, and how much White is able to adjust, could be big factors in the Sugar Bowl.
"He is a pocket passer, but he's a good athlete," LSU defensive coordinator Will Muschamp said. "He is very accurate with the football. It's kind of two-fold: You want to pressure a guy like that, but he's very accurate, so you've got to live and die with the sword. He makes the plays and he makes the throws. And he's so gutty, such a tough competitor."
