While Texas will be without starting quarterback David Ash this weekend, Oklahoma expects to have its backup to quarterback Trevor Knight available Saturday at Tulsa.

With projected backup Cody Thomas dealing with a muscle strain the last couple of weeks, the Sooners got through the opener against Louisiana Tech with Knight as their only healthy and eligible quarterback. Oklahoma is hoping to redshirt true freshman Justice Hansen, and the NCAA hasn’t cleared Texas Tech transfer Baker Mayfield’s eligibility. The Sooners could’ve swung Blake Bell, who’s been at tight end since the spring, back to quarterback in a pinch.

But Bob Stoops won’t have to resort to that option this weekend.

“The projection is that Cody will be ready to go this week,” Stoops said Monday. “Blake is healthy and can always go. He took some [reps] last week and still throwing the ball great. Kids were teasing him that he’s still got it.”

But with Bell doubling as Oklahoma’s starting tight end, that was a break-the-glass plan.

Instead, Stoops kept Knight in the entire game, even if after the Sooners had put Louisiana Tech away before halftime. Knight, who threw for 253 yards but only ran the ball four times, was under explicit instruction not to take any hits.

“It’s just kind of odd we had to finish it out that way,” Stoops said. “But it’s OK. It’s one game.”