All the pieces are in place for Jason White to make a run at history.

White will begin his quest for a second straight Heisman Trophy when No. 2 Oklahoma opens the season Saturday against visiting Bowling Green.

White went from question mark to superstar last year with a record-breaking, breakout season, throwing for 40 touchdowns and 4,708 yards. He is the first returning Heisman Trophy winner since Ty Detmer in 1991. Archie Griffin is the only player to win the award twice, doing so for Ohio State in 1974 and ’75.

White appears focused on joining Griffin.

“The Heisman Trophy’s a great honor,” White said. “It’s something that I’ll never forget. It’s also something that you’ve got to put in the past. If last year was my last year to play football ever again, that would be a different story. I’d still be living on the Heisman. But I’ve put it in the past already.”

This will be White’s sixth season at Oklahoma, and he’s hoping it will be injury-free for a change.

In 1999, he received a medical redshirt after injuring his back and ankle. He hurt his left knee during his seventh game and second start of the 2001 season. Then, in 2002, he blew out his right knee in the second game of the season. Again, he was granted a medical hardship.

He ended last season with a broken left foot and sprained right throwing hand. White also had minor surgery to clean out his right knee.

These days White is feeling great. Last summer, he’d run one day then rest for a few. During the season, he’d take off Mondays to recuperate. This summer, he’s been able to work out every day of the week without a problem.

“I can tell a big difference health-wise and how much more I’m in shape,” White says.

It also helps that White will be surrounded by familiar faces, as in his entire offensive line from last year.

The five starters — three seniors and two juniors — enter the 2004 season with 133 combined starts.

“A couple of years ago we were all thrown out there,” All-American right tackle Jammal Brown said. “Now we have gelled and we’ve all been together and know each other. Now we just go out there and do our jobs.”

Brown and center Vince Carter are the stars of a front wall that averages 6-foot-5 and 308 pounds. Each allowed only one sack last season while registering more than 110 knockdown blocks. Around them will be left guard Kelvin Chaisson, right guard Davin Joseph and left tackle Wes Sims.

Despite winning the Heisman, White didn’t finish last season strong. The Sooners closed with losses to Kansas State in the Big 12 championship and LSU in the Sugar Bowl. White was largely ineffective in both games, throwing four interceptions and no touchdowns. His status as college football’s premier player in the eyes of some was somewhat tarnished.

Not that it matters to him.

“Jason’s grounded,” Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. “He’s a blue-collar guy who likes to play and compete more than he likes talking with you guys or talking about the Heisman.

“He’s going to be doing his best to win championships.”

White will get plenty of help this season as the Sooners feature one of the best wide receivers in the country in Mark Clayton and highly touted freshman running back Adrian Peterson.

Clayton, who White has said should be a favorite to win the Heisman this season, shattered school records with 1,425 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns last year.

Bowling Green is coming off one of the best seasons in school history. The Falcons finished 11-3, won the Motor City Bowl, 28-24 over Northwestern, and were ranked 23rd in the final AP Top 25 poll.

Second-year coach Gregg Brandon said the days of the Mid-American Conference being overlooked are long gone. Bowling Green, which is returning 16 starters from last year, will be facing its highest-ranked opponent in school history on Saturday.

“Marshall raised the bar in the MAC, no question,” Brandon said. “They made us all work harder, recruit better and get players to compete at that level.”

The Falcons will have a new quarterback this season as Omar Jacobs replaces Josh Harris, who threw for a school-record 3,427 yards, 24 TDs, and had 762 yards rushing last year.