The Oklahoma Sooners have been forced to play multiple quarterbacks this season. After Jackson Arnold’s turnover frenzy against Tennessee, he was replaced by Michael Hawkins Jr., who turned the ball over on Oklahoma’s first three drives against South Carolina. Amid questions about red shirting in 2024, the Sooners reinserted Arnold into the lineup to try to find a spark offensively.
And the Sooners appear ready to hand the keys of the offense back to Arnold. Brent Venables stated during the Rudy’s Coach’s Show that Arnold will start for Oklahoma when it makes the trip to Oxford to face the Ole Miss Rebels this Saturday.
SoonerScoop’s Georgia Stoia shared the news on X.
Venables says Jackson Arnold will be the starting quarterback for the #Sooners on Saturday.
— George Stoia III (@GeorgeStoia) October 22, 2024
Now, the turnovers aren’t completely on the quarterbacks, as the offensive line play, lack of separation from wide receivers, and poor game planning from the now-departed Seth Littrell put way too much on the quarterback’s shoulders in 2024.
But as Arnold replaced Hawkins in the first quarter against South Carolina, the Sooners found a little offense, even if it’s still not to the standard expected at Oklahoma.
In the loss to South Carolina, it was the first time a quarterback had thrown for more than 200 yards in a game this season. Arnold showed improved poise and decision-making. He was 18 of 36 for 225 yards and a touchdown. Pro Football Focus credited Oklahoma pass catchers with six drops, though it felt like more than that.
It wasn’t a perfect performance, and there is still a lot of development that needs to happen, but Arnold had a few solid moments like the 54-yard touchdown to Brenen Thompson.
The Ole Miss Rebels will provide another challenge for Oklahoma’s offense. It can’t be all on the quarterback to help the Sooners find their scoring touch, but if Arnold can build on his performance against South Carolina, it might give them more confidence in the direction of the offense under Joe Jon Finley.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Brent Venables names starting quarterback for week 9 vs. Ole Miss
