Devalued

 I don't know where you had Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler on your Heisman ballot before Saturday. But I hope you wrote his name down in pencil.

That's because Rattler was awful as Texas built a 28-7 lead Saturday in the Red River Showdown, and then he was a spectator, and, whoops, how do you spell "Caleb Williams"?

Because that was Williams, a freshman, who replaced Rattler at quarterback for OU, and who led the Sooners all the way back in the biggest game of the year. He threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in the eventual 55-48 victory, and now maybe he's the Heisman Trophy candidate taking snaps in Norman.

Rattler, meanwhile, had so much preseason buzz around him that he had a Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deal with a local car dealership and was selling his autograph in Cameo. Which college athletes can do these days, especially those projected to be first-round NFL draft picks.

Now?

Now speculation is already flying about where Rattler will transfer after losing his starting spot, and how far his draft stock will plummet. And how future NIL deals might be impacted by his situation.

Maybe the Rattler Effect will be a serious re-evaluation of just how wise it is to invest in college kids. Or maybe potential investors will simply regard Rattler as a cautionary tale and proceed anyway.

More exploration of this brave new college athletics world.