Ex-Oklahoma star Baker Mayfield explains his Texas hate on 'The Pat McAfee Show'

As Baker Mayfield walked onto the Pat McAfee Show stage in front of the Cotton Bowl on Friday, he was welcomed to a crowd of boos by a contingent of Texas fans. In typical Mayfield fashion, the former Heisman-winning quarterback for Oklahoma then flashed horns down to the pack of spectators.

"So, you grew up in Texas, obviously," McAfee said to Mayfield.

"Yep, in Austin," Mayfield replied.

"Hated Oklahoma?" McAfee asked.

More: Who are OU football's most important players for Red River Rivalry vs. Texas Longhorns?

"No, I hated Texas," Mayfield said with some conviction, making sure the microphone registered his answer. "Grew up in their backyard. My dad introduced me to a lot of the coaches on (former coach Barry Switzer's) staff. So, growing up I used to go to OU games all the time, and just right in the enemy town down there in Austin."

Mayfield, currently the quarterback for the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is on bye week at a perfect time to represent his alma mater for the Red River Rivalry. On Saturday, he'll be in attendance for OU-Texas as the celebrity guest picker on ESPN's "College GameDay."

Mayfield also appeared at fast-food chain Raising Cane's alongside Vince Young on Thursday, before heading onto the show with McAfee, a "GameDay" panelist and former All-Pro punter for the Indianapolis Colts.

Here's the best of what Mayfield said from his appearance on the Pat McAfee Show:

What did Baker Mayfield say on the Pat McAfee Show?

Mayfield said the Buccaneers feel similar to how he felt playing football at Oklahoma.

The 28-year-old struggled to find a solid situation after being traded from the Cleveland Browns to the Carolina Panthers ahead of the 2022 season. Mayfield was eventually benched and waived by the Panthers before landing with the Los Angeles Rams for a fill-in starts last season.

However, Mayfield rebounded a won the starting job with Tampa and has led it to a 3-1 record this season.

"I'm loving it," said Mayfield, who played in Norman from 2015-17. "I think that's an understatement, but it's a great organization, the people are great. They know how to win. They know that it's all about winning. I'm having fun again. I was telling people it kind of reminds me (of) back at Oklahoma. It's just 'get the best guys on the field, all about football, no BS and let's just get after it."

More: Mussatto: Are Brent Venables, Sooners ready for SEC? Why OU-Texas is bigger than ever

What did Baker Mayfield say about Oklahoma coach Brent Venables?

While Mayfield never played under current OU football head coach Brent Venables, he offered high praise for the Sooners' current leader.

“I’m excited. last year obviously wasn’t a good year for them," Mayfield said. "Lost so many guys to the transfer portal. But Venables is a dawg. He’s got that defense playing with their hair on fire, and that’s the best way that he knows how to do it, and our offense can score on anybody.

“So, I mean, I’m looking forward to the matchup of our offensive group against their defense, because I don’t think either has seen the competition that they’re going to see tomorrow.”

How did Baker Mayfield's stint with the Cleveland Browns end?

Cleveland drafted Mayfield No. 1 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft but moved on from him after signing Deshaun Watson to a massive contract ahead of the 2022 season. Mayfield played through a torn labrum in 2021 and threw 13 interceptions in 14 games in his final season with the Browns.

McAfee said he was confused by how the situation unfolded, given Mayfield led the Browns to the playoffs in 2020, breaking an NFL-record of 19 seasons with a playoff appearance.

"I think I'm still confused too," Mayfield said. "I think toward the end there, I played 2021 with a pretty much torn-apart shoulder and I was excited to get the surgery, get healthy and get another shot to try to get back to that 2020 form, but that wasn't their plan.

"I'm a firm believer everything that happens for a reason. Now the rollercoaster I went on after that was a little bit nuts for me, but it gave me a good perspective."

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield explains Texas hate on 'The Pat McAfee Show'