Every year since 1996-97, the inaugural year of the Big 12 Conference, the conference has honored a male and a female athlete as Athletes of the Year. Each school nominates a male and female candidate. Mayfield and Nichols are OU’s 2017-18 nominees.
Both Mayfield and Nichols had outstanding athletic years and are highly deserving of the honor to represent Oklahoma in the annual competition.
Mayfield concluded his collegiate career this past school year, leading the Sooners to an 12-2 record on the gridiron, a third consecutive Big 12 championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff for the second time in three seasons.