Tag: 2024 Oklahoma Sooners Football

Where did the Oklahoma Sooners land in Locked On SEC’s updated Power Rankings?

Where did the Oklahoma Sooners land in Locked On SEC’s conference power rankings for week 2?

The Oklahoma Sooners are coming off of a 48-point week one win over an overmatched Temple Owls team. Led by a dominant defensive effort, the Sooners earned a bump in both the US LBM Coaches Poll and AP Top 25.

But that isn’t the only place the Sooners saw a bump. Locked On SEC’s Chris Gordy has been covering the SEC for a long time and has a good feel for the conference as a whole. He has the Sooners ranked No. 7 in the conference.

The Sooners moved up one spot after LSU’s loss to the USC Trojans on Sunday night.

They’re right behind the Tennessee Volunteers, who the Sooners will see in the SEC debut on September 21. The following week, Oklahoma will go on the road to take on the Auburn Tigers for their much anticipated first-ever SEC road trip. Aside from Auburn, the only team the Sooners play this year that is ranked behind them is South Carolina.

The Gamecocks struggled with Old Dominion in week one. Even though they got the win, it was so unimpressive that they came in at No. 16 in Gordy’s power rankings.

No surprise who sits at the top of the SEC power rankings, with Georgia coming in at No. 1 in both of the major national polls. Texas is No. 2 in the conference. SEC and national analysts are very high on the Longhorns heading into the season. But given the turnover on offense, they still have a ton to prove, in my opinion.

https://twitter.com/LockedOnSEC/status/1831036984087007634

We’re higher on the Sooners in the SEC early in the season. Oklahoma is my No. 4 team in the conference behind Georgia, Alabama, and Ole Miss. Though there are a lot of OU doubters out there, this is a team with a defense to make a ton of noise in the SEC despite it being their first year in the league.

But the Sooners will get their opportunity to prove it in the coming weeks.

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Brent Venables provides injury update to trio of Sooners starters

The Oklahoma Sooners could get back some key personnel for their week two matchup with the Houston Cougars.

The Oklahoma Sooners are dealing with a rash of injuries to key personnel on the offensive side of the ball.

Wide receiver [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] and offensive tackle [autotag]Jake Taylor[/autotag] missed Friday’s win over Temple. Starting center [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag] was lost due to an ankle sprain in the first quarter.

All three have a chance to be back for Week 2 against the Houston Cougars.

On his weekly coach’s show, Sooners head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] shared that Branson Hickman looked good at practice Monday evening but is questionable for this week’s showdown with Houston. If he were unable to go, Oklahoma could go with [autotag]Geirean Hatchett[/autotag], the Washington transfer who slid over to center in the first half after Hickman went down. Or, they could roll with [autotag]Joshua Bates[/autotag], who made a lot of noise in fall camp for his work and his improvement. He was banged up toward the end of the August and didn’t play until the second half last week against Temple.

The Oklahoma Sooners need [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] back. The Sooners were already down [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag], who was ruled out for the year during fall camp. Then, they lost Jalil Farooq for 6 to 8 weeks with a broken foot. The Sooners’ wide receiver depth is pretty thin at this point. Getting Anderson back would provide a huge boost to the passing attack. He had nearly 800 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns in 2023 and was expected to be a significant part of the offense this year, but has been hobbled since fall camp.

The projected starter most likely to return this week, and one the Sooners need to get in the mix, is right tackle [autotag]Jake Taylor[/autotag]. Taylor had a strong offseason and beat out [autotag]Spencer Brown[/autotag] to earn the starting role along Bill Bedenbaugh’s offensive line. His unavailability was noticeable against Temple, as the Sooners had a hard time blocking on the right side of the formation.

At some point, the Oklahoma Sooners need to begin building continuity and cohesion with their offensive line. But the injuries they’re dealing with makes that difficult. If Taylor and Hickman can go this week and next against Tulane, it will give the Sooners an opportunity to see their starting five together for a couple of weeks before the Tennessee Volunteers roll into town.

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The Good, the bad and the ugly from the Oklahoma Sooners win over Temple

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from the Oklahoma Sooners week one win over the Temple Owls.

The Oklahoma Sooners had a strong start in their 51-3 win over the Temple Owls. They did just enough on offense to take advantage of a great defensive effort.

Oklahoma knew it didn’t need to go deep into the playbook to beat the Owls. While the offensive performance isn’t quite what we’d expect from the Sooners, it didn’t need to be for OU to win and cover the 42 1/2-point spread.

There was a lot of good in Oklahoma’s win over the Owls and some stuff that has to improve as the Sooners move through the 2024 season. Here’s a look at the first installment of the good, the bad and the ugly from Week 1.

The Good: Defense is Back in Norman

It’s just one game, but the Oklahoma Sooners defense looked great against the Temple Owls on Friday night.

The Sooners held Temple to less than 200 yards of total offense and 1.9 yards per carry. Oklahoma’s defense recorded six turnovers, the most in a game since 2003. It also recorded six sacks and nine tackles for loss. The production came from everyone.

The Owls couldn’t get much going offensively as the Sooners frustrated them with a relentless defensive effort.

The Sooners will face tougher teams down the road, but you have to be happy about what they put on the field to start the 2024 season.

The Bad: Run Game Needs Work

Yes, the Oklahoma Sooners ran for 217 yards. You take the 28 yards from sacks out of the equation and the yardage number jumps to 245. On the surface, that looks pretty good. But nearly a third of that rushing total came on the final drive when [autotag]Michael Hawkins[/autotag] and [autotag]Taylor Tatum[/autotag] added 76 yards to the total.

In the first half, OU ran for 4.1 yards per carry. By contrast, the Sooners averaged 9.1 yards per carry in the second half. A much better number, but Temple went deeper into the depth chart as the game went on.

Yes, the offense had a vanilla game plan, but the first-team offense should have been more effective against the Temple Owls. The unit was without [autotag]Jake Taylor[/autotag] and lost [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag] to injury in the early going.

The Sooners will have an opportunity to right the ship when they take on a Houston Cougars team that allowed UNLV to rush for nearly 200 yards and average 4.1 yards per carry.

The Ugly: Wide Receiver Depth takes another Hit

The Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver room was lauded this offseason for being one of the deepest in the nation. Well, that depth is going to be put to the test as the Sooners suffered another significant injury.

[autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag], who was third on the team in receiving yards in 2023, was expected to have another strong season but suffered a broken foot in the first quarter of the win over Temple. That’s the second significant injury suffered by the wide receiver during the last month. [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag] was lost for the season in the preseason.

[autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] has been banged up and is expected to be ready to roll this week against the Cougars, and Oklahoma will need the breakout star from 2023 to have a repeat season this year.

[autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] looked good and [autotag]Brenen Thompson[/autotag] is off to a nice start to the season. But the Sooners need Anderson back and will need a younger player to earn a significant role in the wide receiver rotation.

Oklahoma can’t afford another significant wide receiver injury.

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Final thoughts on Oklahoma Sooners vs. Temple Owls

The Oklahoma Sooners get set to open the season against the Temple Owls and here are this week’s final thoughts.

It’s football time in Oklahoma, and the Sooners are stepping into a monumental season in college football. The Sooners enter 2024 in unfamiliar territory as a team with something to prove.

No longer are they the conference powerhouse, but instead will fight to earn their place at the SEC’s grown-up table alongside Georgia and Alabama. But that’s what this program has been about throughout its existence. The Sooners are one of the big boys of college football, a blue blood that’s had as much success as anyone.

But, like anything in life, the Sooners will have to earn the respect of their new conference brethren. And that’s the way Brent Venables wants it.

As the Sooners get set to kick off the 2024 season, here is this week’s final thoughts.

Offensive Line Time

So much has been said about the Oklahoma Sooners offensive line. Sure, they don’t return a primary starter from a year ago. But no reason to fret. The Sooners have had productive offensive line play for a long time and are coached by one of the best in the business in [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag].

It will come together and this week against Temple provides the first opportunity to see the unit begin to gel. [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag], [autotag]Jacob Sexton[/autotag], [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag], [autotag]Febechi Nwaiwu[/autotag], and [autotag]Jake Taylor[/autotag] have a nice mix of blue-chip talent and experience.

Believe in Bedenbaugh.

Need for Speed

The Oklahoma Sooners will start two legitimate speedsters this week against the Temple Owls when [autotag]Brenen Thompson[/autotag] and [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] take the field. Burks showed off his big-play ability in the spring game and Thompson, though in a limited role, averaged more than 34 yards per reception on his seven catches last season because of his track speed.

The Temple defense is going to have a difficult time keeping track of Burks and Thompson, who will blow down the field like an Oklahoma wind on the prairie.

Welcome Back JoBa

[autotag]Jovantae Barnes[/autotag] got off to a great start to his collegiate career when he emerged as the backup to [autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag] during the 2022 season. He ran for over 500 yards and looked headed for a jump in production as a true sophomore in 2023. However, injuries kept Barnes from getting going and last season was pretty much a wash.

In 2024, Barnes has stayed healthy and looks primed to reprise his role from the 2022 Cheez-It Bowl, where he and fellow 2022 four-star signee [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] operated in the lead running back tandem.

Sawchuk may get the start, but Barnes is going to get a lot of work in 2024 and the two will complement each other well in the Sooners rushing attack.

Jackson Arnold Show

The former five-star quarterback, Elite 11 winner, and Gatorade National Player of the Year is set to take the stage for his first season as a starter, and the anticipation has reached a fever pitch. [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] has all the talent in the world to be Oklahoma’s next great quarterback.

With an entire offseason to work with his wide receivers and to familiarize himself with [autotag]Seth Littrell[/autotag]’s offense, look for a much more comfortable and decisive heading into his second career start. Though the level of competition isn’t quite what Arnold faced in the Alamo Bowl, there’s still a lot to be gleaned from this game against Temple.

Defensive Dominance

The Oklahoma Sooners’ defense will lead the way for the Sooners in 2024. And that starts against Temple. The Owls are one of the worst teams in the country in SP+ offensive ranking and don’t have a settled situation at quarterback.

Oklahoma’s depth and talent are so much greater on the defensive side of the ball. The Sooners should be able to dominate the line of scrimmage, making life incredibly easy for the back seven. Look for this game to resemble what OU did to Arkansas State last year.

Brent’s Guys

It’s year three of the [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] era. All but a handful of guys on the roster committed and signed to play for Brent Venables and the Oklahoma Sooners after his arrival.

This team has his fingerprints all over it on both sides of the ball. It’s a team marked by energy, intensity, and determination. They may not be the most talented team in the country, but they’ll be one of the hardest working and toughest teams in the nation.

Young Guns

The [autotag]2024 recruiting class[/autotag] has already made a name for themselves with the way they’ve worked this offseason to get ready for OU’s first year in the SEC. [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag] earned a starting spot on the defensive line. Venables praised David Stone’s work ethic. [autotag]Taylor Tatum[/autotag] and [autotag]Eddy Pierre-Louis[/autotag] received rave reviews for the work they put in after arriving this summer.

We still need to see that group on the field. What they look like in year one isn’t a finished product. But from what we’ve seen, the Sooners coaching staff won’t have to wonder if this crew is going to work for what they want.

Tonight, we get our first glimpse of what this class is made of.

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No. 16 Oklahoma Sooners vs. Temple Owls: Sooners Wire Staff Predictions

Sooners Wire Staff predicts Oklahoma vs. Temple Owls.

The Oklahoma Sooners kick off the 2024 college football season on Friday night when they welcome the Temple Owls to Norman. The Sooners come into the contest No. 16 in the nation in both the US LBM Coaches Poll and the AP Top 25.

The Sooners are No. 13 in the final SP+ rankings prior to their opener, while Temple ranks No. 132 out of 134 teams in the FBS.

On paper, it’s a mismatch and the Oklahoma Sooners should be able to do whatever they want on the gridiron. This game won’t tell us everything we need to know about Oklahoma, but if they put on a performance similar to their 2023 outing against Arkansas State, then odds are this team will be pretty good in 2024.

Oklahoma is a heavy favorite. Fan Duel has OU as 42.5-point favorites heading into Friday’s opener.

As we will each week of the season, here are the predictions from our staff here at Sooners Wire.

More: SEC week 1 predictions

Sooners Wire Staff Predictions

Oklahoma starts fast in week one, showing off their supreme talent on both sides of the ball against Temple.

[autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag]’s debut as OU’s full-time starter at quarterback goes well as he begins the process of getting more comfortable in Seth Littrell’s offense at game speed.

The starters on defense pitch a shutout before the backups give up a fourth-quarter field goal.

As with any first game, there will be things to clean up, but Brent Venables is happy with his team on Saturday morning.

Sooners 59, Owls 3

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Up Next: More Sooners Wire Staff Predictions

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3 keys for the Oklahoma Sooners vs. the Temple Owls

The Oklahoma Sooners take on the Temple Owls on Friday night and here are three keys to the game.

The Oklahoma Sooners kick off their season in a unique way in 2024. Instead of the traditional Saturday game, OU will host the Temple Owls on Friday night to get things rolling this year. The game will begin at 6 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN. The Sooners, Owls, ESPN, and the [autotag]SEC[/autotag] all agreed to the change, which allows Oklahoma’s first official game as a member of the SEC to be highlighted on Labor Day weekend.

Oklahoma enters Year 3 under head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and will be looking to start strong with bigger fish to fry later on the schedule. Still, overlooking any opponent in the unpredictable world of college football would be a mistake, so here are three keys for the Sooners as they welcome the Owls to Norman.

1. Execution

Oklahoma has more talent than Temple. Plain and simple. The Sooners would have to be way off their game to lose this one, but, nothing in college football is guaranteed.

The most important thing coaches want to see on Friday night is execution of offense, defense, and special teams. Sure, the occasional procedural penalties will come with the first game of the new season, but all three units need to show high-level execution this week.

As Oklahoma breaks in new coordinators on all three units and plenty of newcomers will be playing their first game at OU, it’s impossible to expect perfection. But mistakes on offense, missed assignments on defense, and mishaps on special teams shouldn’t (and won’t) be tolerated.

2. Avoid Turnovers

Going hand-in-hand with execution is avoiding turnovers. No FBS team forced fewer turnovers than Temple last season, with just five total takeaways. The Owls only intercepted opposing quarterbacks three times and return zero players who registered a pick in 2023.

Turnovers plagued Oklahoma in their loss against Arizona in December’s Alamo Bowl. They’ve had nine months to work out the kinks, but fans will have their eyes on the turnover numbers all season long.

Sacks should also be mentioned here. Perhaps the biggest difference between the 2022 Temple defense and the 2023 Temple defense was the pass rush. That was a clear strength two seasons ago when the Owls registered 38 sacks, but that number went down to 22 last year. OU’s rebuilt offensive line knows that this is the first of 12 chances to prove everyone who doubted them this offseason wrong. A clean sheet against Temple would be a great start.

3. Stay Healthy

Perhaps the biggest thing fans and coaches will want to see on Friday night is the Sooners walk away as healthy as they can be after the game. Oklahoma is a little banged up coming into the season. Several players are dealing with injuries.

Aside from wide receiver [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag]’s season-ending injury, none of the other players seem to be out for the year at this point, and most are day-to-day. However, the last thing OU needs is more players going down with anything more that bumps and bruises. Health will be the most important factor to keep track of during the game.

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College football analyst has Oklahoma Sooners making College Football Playoff

USA TODAY Sports College Football analyst believes the Sooners are in for a big season.

The game has changed in college football. Conference realignment has shaken up the sport, placing plenty of teams in new leagues in 2024. Name, image, and likeness has become a huge part of the sport, as players can now (legally) get paid by businesses and collectives. The [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] has altered the way you can build your team.

The [autotag]College Football Playoff[/autotag] has expanded from four to 12 teams, beginning this season. It’s a change that aligns with the big realignment moves, making 2024 a season of change in college football.

We’re just a few days away from the Oklahoma Sooners kicking off their season at home against the Temple Owls, as Labor Day weekend marks Week One of the season. That means it’s time to get those final [autotag]CFP[/autotag] predictions and bowl projections in before the games begin.

That’s exactly what USA TODAY Sports did on Tuesday, predicting every bowl game and the playoff. While most national projections have [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]’ team on the outside looking in when it comes to competing for a championship, college football expert Erick Smith  has a different opinion.

One thing to expect is a heavy dose of [autotag]SEC[/autotag] and [autotag]Big Ten[/autotag] teams. This year’s preseason forecast has four from the former and three from the latter. There’s two from the [autotag]ACC[/autotag], an independent and Group of Five winner and a [autotag]Big 12[/autotag] representative. Oklahoma sets up to be an excellent case study in how people need to readjust evaluating teams beyond win-loss record. The Sooners face five teams ranked in the top 15 of the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll with three of them on the road and one at a neutral site. A 9-3 record should likely be enough to overcome a 10-2 team without the same quality of wins. – Smith, USA TODAY Sports

Smith has the Sooners making the playoff and heading to South Bend, Indiana to face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first round. It’s been 13 years since OU last visited Notre Dame, walking away with a 35-21 win in the 2013 season.

Smith has the Sooners moving onto the second round of the playoff, where they’d play Ohio State in the Rose Bowl.

The Rose Bowl represents one of the low moments in the [autotag]Lincoln Riley[/autotag] era. Oklahoma took a 31-14 lead with six seconds left in the first half. Riley opted to squib kick the ball back to Georgia, who got the ball in great field position. Bulldogs kicker Rodrigo Blankenship kicked a 55-yard field goal to cut Oklahoma’s lead to two scores.

Georgia took control of the game, scoring the next 21 points to take a 38-31 lead. The Sooners battled the Bulldogs but ultimately fell in double overtime.

Facing Ohio State in the Rose Bowl would provide Oklahoma an opportunity to play one of the best teams in the nation. Going back to the Rose Bowl, the Sooners would be able to exorcise some demons.

A trip to the playoff and advancing to the quarterfinals this year would validate everything that Venables and his coaching staff have been doing since he took the reins. Navigating their brutal schedule this year to make it into the top 12 would send a statement to the rest of college football that the Sooners are going to be a force.

It’s a tall task, but those are the expectations in Norman, Oklahoma.

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What are the toughest games on Oklahoma’s 2024 schedule per USA TODAY Sports?

The season is about to get underway and USA TODAY Sports takes one final look at the Sooners 2024 schedule

Week one of the 2024 college football season is upon us. In just a few days, the Oklahoma Sooners will play their first game of the season when they host the Temple Owls on Friday night.

The nonconference will provide the Sooners a chance to get off to a strong start and they’ll need to pick up wins in all three games with the daunting schedule they have in year one. The Sooners will play six teams ranked in the top 15 of the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll.

Paul Myerberg of USA TODAY Sports considers the Sooners slate one of the 10 toughest schedules in college football.

Four of Oklahoma’s final five games come against Mississippi, Missouri, Alabama and LSU; all but the Crimson Tide come on the road. Hey, welcome to the SEC. That stretch joins the neutral-site rivalry with Texas, a road game against Auburn and the Sooners’ SEC debut against Tennessee on Sept. 21. OU also gets a pair of feisty non-conference opponents in Houston and Tulane. – Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports

Myerberg points to Texas, Alabama, and at LSU being OU’s toughest games in 2024. Well, the Sooners beat Texas last year. Alabama doesn’t have Nick Saban leading the charge anymore. LSU is replacing Heisman-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels and a pair of first-round wide receivers and is trying to improve upon a defense that was one of the worst in the SEC in 2023.

Oklahoma’s opponents had a combined 62.3% winning percentage in 2023. But a new year brings a new set of teams. What happened a year ago doesn’t always translate.

Just like Oklahoma is dealing with turnover, everyone else on the schedule is dealing with turnover or trying to find a way to improve from lackluster seasons.

Tennessee – New starting quarterback

Auburn – Was just 6-7 last year

Texas – Turning over their entire skill position units

South Carolina – was 5-7 last year

Ole Miss – trying to improve a lackluster defense

Missouri – replacing a good defensive coordinator

Alabama – replacing a legendary head coach

LSU – replacing a Heisman trophy winner

So while the Sooners have questions, the rest of the SEC, aside from maybe Georgia, is dealing with some things too. The season will be tough, but it was always going to be tougher going into the SEC. But Brent Venables and his staff have been building for this moment.

Are they ready for it? We’ll find out soon enough.

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Jayden Jackson starting at defensive tackle because ‘he’s worked for it’

After a tremendous offseason, freshman defensive tackle Jayden Jackson earns opportunity to start week one vs. Temple.

The Oklahoma Sooners have taken a different approach with their younger players than they did in year one, when freshmen didn’t play much. They’re letting competition play out, and if guys get the opportunity to get on the field early, [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and his staff will give them the chance. And true freshman [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag] has earned the opportunity to start for the Sooners this week when they take on Temple.

Speaking at the Rudy’s BBQ Coach’s Show this week, Venables was asked about Jackson, who is listed atop the depth chart at defensive tackle for week one.

“Since Jayden got here, he’s really shown a different level of maturity,” Venables said. “He shows up every day. Just how he lives his life, everything is pretty clean for him. … He makes good decisions, and he’s got incredible discipline.”

Discipline as a defensive lineman, especially a defensive tackle, is as important as some of the more tangible traits like strength or quickness. The defensive tackle can often be responsible for multiple gaps in the defensive alignment and has to be ready to go from run defender to pass rusher or vice versa in a split second. If a defensive tackle guesses wrong or doesn’t play their assignment, it can open up a massive hole in the middle of the defense,c creating vulnerability.

Jayden Jackson’s being lauded for his discipline and decision-making is a strong sign of his potential. If you make good decisions and remain disciplined off the field, it will translate to the field.

Coming out of IMG Academy in the 2024 recruiting class, Jackson flew a bit more under the radar than his teammate [autotag]David Stone[/autotag], who was a five-star prospect and the crown jewel of the Sooners 2024 class. However, Stone himself praised Jackson’s ability and work ethic coming out of high school, and his trajectory has been skyrocketing ever since.

Jackson had a really strong spring, earning the start in the Sooners’ spring game. And he’s continued that throughout fall camp.

“He knows what he wants,” Venables said. “He’s willing to sacrifice things that don’t help get him what he wants. He just lives a really disciplined lifestyle and that’s a prerequisite in order to earn an opportunity to play at a consistent level. He’s really (starting) because he’s worked for it.”

Jackson has the size, strength, and quickness to be an immediate contributor for the Sooners defense. He had a great first offseason, where he showed the coaching staff that he’s ready to play a significant role for the Sooners. And it all starts this Friday night against Temple.

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Oklahoma Sooners announce captains for week one vs. Temple

Oklahoma names Jackson Arnold, Billy Bowman, Danny Stutsman, and Bauer Sharp captains for week one vs. Temple.

The first game week of the season is at hand and the Oklahoma Sooners have announced their first set of captains for their week on matchup vs. Temple.

The Sooners select captains for each game during the regular season and then will select season captains when they get to the postseason.

Leading the Sooners into the game against Temple and into 2024 are the guys you’d expect to get a captain nod. Quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag], linebacker [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag], and safety [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] represented the Sooners at SEC Media Days in July. They’ll be joined by transfer tight end [autotag]Bauer Sharp[/autotag], who has impressed this offseason with his work ethic, attitude, and physicality.

Stutsman and Bowman are going into their fourth season with the Sooners. They were a part of Lincoln Riley’s final recruiting class in Norman but have become two of the most valuable pieces of the first three years of the Brent Venables era.

Stutsman and Bowman turned down an opportunity to go to the NFL for one more year at Oklahoma and a swim through the SEC. SEC media and coaches have taken note of the development of Oklahoma’s defensive stars, voting the dynamic duo to the preseason All-SEC first team.

They’ll be relied upon as the Sooners enter the SEC. Their experience and playmaking ability is a part of what has so many optimistic about the potential of Oklahoma’s defense in 2024.

Arnold is entering his first year as a starter. The former five-star prospect and Gatorade National Player of the Year has all the tools to be one of the next great quarterbacks to wear the crimson and cream. Venables has praised Arnold’s leadership and work ethic this offseason as the Denton Guyer product takes over for [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag].

More: Takeaways from Oklahoma’s official 2024 depth chart release

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