Tag: Jackson Arnold

Breaking: Brent Venables names starting quarterback for Week 5 vs. Auburn

It didn’t take long for Oklahoma to decide on a starter for this week. Brent Venables announced who the starter would be this week vs. Auburn.

Four games into the 2024 season, the Oklahoma Sooners have made a change at the quarterback position.

[autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] became the full-time starter with the transfer of [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] this offseason. However, Arnold was benched late in the second quarter of OU’s 25-15 loss to Tennessee following three first-half turnovers. In the wake of that game, the coaching staff has decided, at least for the time being, it’s time for a change.

Instead, third-year head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] has named true freshman [autotag]Michael Hawkins Jr.[/autotag] the starter for Saturday’s game in Auburn. Venables confirmed the move on his coach’s show on Monday night. OUInsider broke the news on social media.

Hawkins was inserted into the game on the final possession before halftime, and Venables stuck with him the rest of the night. Taking his first meaningful snaps at this level, Hawkins took a while to settle in, but when he did, he moved the ball and produced a couple of touchdown drives for the Sooners. Those drives were a stark contrast to the ineptitude Oklahoma had shown on offense the rest of the evening.

Hawkins finished 11-for-18 for 132 yards and a touchdown. He was also OU’s leading rusher, showing a knack for scrambling and gaining yards with his legs. He nearly ran for two touchdowns, coming up less than a yard short twice.

In contrast, Arnold struggled mightily, completing seven of his 16 passes for 54 yards and committing those three back-breaking turnovers. Quarterback hasn’t even been the biggest problem for the offense this year, as that unit has not produced up to the standard in Norman. However, after the turnovers that plagued the offense against the Vols, the head coach decided it was time to make a change.

Venables didn’t name Hawkins the starter for the rest of the season, and that distinction will come down to play on the field. Hawkins earned a shot to be the starter against the Tigers, and if he plays well, it’s likely Venables and his staff will stick with the youngster.

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Sooners tumble in updated ESPN Power Rankings after loss to Tennessee

After their loss to Tennessee, the Oklahoma Sooners nearly fell out of ESPN’s updated power rankings.

The Oklahoma Sooners received a rude awakening in their first SEC matchup against the Tennessee Volunteers. The margin of victory is so narrow in the SEC that three first-half turnovers and the failure to capitalize on first-and-goal from the 5-yard line are all it takes for the game to run away from you.

It was a disappointing loss for a Sooners squad that has higher expectations for itself.

After the loss to Tennessee, the Oklahoma Sooners dropped to No. 18 in the US LBM Coaches Poll and No. 21 in the AP Top 25. In ESPN’s updated power rankings, the Sooners held on by a thread, coming in at No. 24.

The Sooners’ offensive frustrations boiled over against Tennessee, with Brent Venables benching Jackson Arnold for freshman Michael Hawkins Jr., but neither quarterback had much time to throw, with the Tennessee pass rush pressuring the Sooners on 49% of dropbacks, according to ESPN Research.

And there was no running game to take any pressure off, with 16 of the Sooners’ 34 rushing attempts gaining zero or negative yards and OU gaining just 222 total yards. The Sooners’ defense held up against the Vols’ acrobatic offense, but it will need help through the Sooners’ first SEC season. – Dave Wilson, ESPN

The quarterback situation became the tip of the iceberg for the Oklahoma Sooners offense that can’t find a running game and a wide receiver room dropping like flies.

Arnold hasn’t been the only issue, but he hasn’t helped the offense with his decision making. He has to be better. Oklahoma hasn’t determined who will be the starter this week, but it’s safe to say there will be a legitimate quarterback competition this week. Hawkins proved capable of making the right reads in the game and taking care of the football. And as long as Oklahoma doesn’t turn the ball over, it has a defense capable of keeping it in games all season.

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Has Michael Hawkins done enough to earn the start vs. Auburn?

The Oklahoma Sooners have a decision to make at quarterback ahead of their week five matchup with the Auburn Tigers. Is it Michael Hawkins job at this point?

After Oklahoma moved on from [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] to chart their course with [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] at the helm, the Sooners have a quarterback conundrum just four games into the 2024 season.

Though Arnold has had promising moments, his three first-half turnovers on Saturday left the coaches with no choice. On the final drive before halftime, the Sooners went to Michael Hawkins and let him finish the game.

It took a minute for Hawkins to settle in. The Sooners punted on all three of their possessions in the third quarter, but Hawkins found his footing in the fourth quarter, helping the Oklahoma Sooners score touchdowns on two of their final three drives.

It wasn’t a perfect outing, but Hawkins showed greater comfort, even when under pressure, than Arnold had been during the game. In his two-plus quarters of work, Hawkins was 11 of 18 for 132 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 22 yards on 12 carries, leading the Sooners in rushing.

“He’s a tremendous athlete. There were several times there where we had edge pressure that we didn’t block and he got outside of,” Venables said of Hawkins after the game. “So, he has some playmaking ability. He can hurt you with his legs, but also, that can’t be your game. We did have some drives where we got into a nice rhythm, and he showed that he could make some plays.”

The Sooners haven’t decided who will start Saturday against Auburn, but you have to imagine Hawkins has earned a long look and some first-team reps this week.

“Figure out who the best guy is to help us get to No. 4, find our fourth win,” Venables said.

With the offensive line still playing inconsistently and not creating much in the running game, going with the faster and more athletic Michael Hawkins may be more of what this team needs moving forward. With the way he played in relief of Arnold on Saturday evening, Hawkins has earned an opportunity to start for the Sooners. We’ll see if the coaching staff comes to the same conclusion this week in practice.

For now, we have a quarterback controversy on our hands.

More: SEC power rankings after Week 4

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Kickoff time announced for Oklahoma Sooners vs. Auburn

Broadcast information and kickoff time announced for Oklahoma Sooners vs. Auburn Tigers

The Oklahoma Sooners are 3-1 through four games of the 2024 season after losing on Saturday night to Tennessee, 25-15.

OU showed off an impressive defense that looks able to hang with the best in the country. The Sooners held the normally high-flying Volunteers to an output of 23 points on offense.

However, the Oklahoma offense has major problems a month into this season.

Offensive coordinator [autotag]Seth Littrell[/autotag] has struggled mightily since being promoted to the play-caller role. The offensive line and running game have been unmitigated disasters. There are more injuries at wide receiver to keep track of, and Jackson Arnold was benched against the Vols in favor of true freshman [autotag]Michael Hawkins Jr.[/autotag]

We may not find out who will start for the Sooners at quarterback, as the coaching staff will undoubtedly keep that under wraps. But head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] was clearly frustrated with what he’s seen from Arnold through four starts. Hawkins Jr. provided a spark and moved the ball once he settled. He also had zero turnovers to Arnold’s three.

Up next for the Sooners is their first road game of the season and first road conference game as a member of the [autotag]SEC[/autotag]. Oklahoma will travel to Auburn to face the Tigers, who are 2-2 and coming off a loss to Arkansas.

The game will kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT at Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium, and it will broadcast on ABC.

https://twitter.com/OU_Football/status/1837877136767472023

This one could turn into a defensive slugfest, as neither team currently wields a competent offense. For Oklahoma, it’ll need to figure out if it’s time to overhaul the entire operation on that side of the ball or if it’s wiser to let it ride and try to improve for the final eight games of the season.

The Sooners look to improve to 4-1 going into their bye week in their first trip away from Norman in 2024.

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Best photos from the Oklahoma Sooners 25-15 loss to Tennessee

Some of the best photos from Oklahoma’s 25-15 loss to the Tennessee Volunteers.

What was a big-time matchup between a pair of top-15 teams fizzled in the first half when Oklahoma’s offense couldn’t muster more than three points. Turnovers and inconsistent play from Jackson Arnold led to a 19-3 deficit at halftime. Arnold was benched just before halftime in favor of true freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins.

Though Hawkins came in and provided a spark that led to a pair of fourth quarter touchdown drives, it was too little too late for the Sooners.

Oklahoma’s defense put together another strong performance, holding the No. 1 scoring offense in the country to just 25 points and 2.9 yards per carry on the day.

Despite the bright spots from Michael Hawkins and the defense, the Sooners took their first loss of the season and fell to 3-1. Now, the Sooners sit in the middle of a quarterback controversy. Brent Venables didn’t give a clear indication as to who would start in week four when Oklahoma makes the trip to Auburn. But based on their respective performances on Saturday night, Michael Hawkins has earned the right to a long look running the Sooners’ offense.

Here’s a look at some of the best photos from the Sooners loss to Tennessee.

Oklahoma Sooners fall to Tennessee Volunteers 25-15

Michael Hawkins led a pair of fourth quarter touchdown drives, but they weren’t enough as the Sooners fall to 3-1 in 2024.

The Oklahoma Sooners dropped their first game of the 2024 season to the Tennessee Volunteers, 25-15. Despite a fourth quarter spark from Michael Hawkins, Jr., the Sooners couldn’t overcome their big first-half deficit.

[autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] struggled to protect the football in the first half. Arnold turned the ball over three times, an interception and two fumbles lost. The Sooners defense gave Arnold and the offense the ball in Tennessee’s half of the field, including at the Volunteers five-yard line.

On the very next play, Arnold attempted to run, but the ball was knocked loose, giving it back to Tennessee. That took at least three points off the board but kept the Sooners from keeping pace with the Vols by not being able to get a touchdown there.

The Sooners weren’t able to take advantage of the work the Sooners defense was doing, and eventually, the Volunteer’s explosive offense hit on several big pass plays to take a commanding 19-3 lead into halftime.

Just before the half, the Oklahoma Sooners turned to true freshman quarterback [autotag]Michael Hawkins[/autotag] to lead the offense.

It took a minute for Hawkins to get his legs under him, but in the fourth quarter gave the Oklahoma Sooners’ offense some life. He helped orchestrate a 10-play, 68-yard touchdown drive to cut the lead to 13 after Tyler Keltner’s failed extra-point attempt.

The Sooners’ defense continued to get stops on the high-octane Tennessee offense, even after Brent Venables left his offense on the field on 4th and 14 deep in their own territory. The Sooners defense held Tennessee to a field goal, extending their lead to 16 points.

On Oklahoma’s next drive, Hawkins hit Jaquaize Pettaway on a slant and Pettaway took off for a 48-yard gain, putting the Sooners in the red zone. The Sooners were able to take advantage of a Tennessee roughing the passer penalty on fourth down and Hawkins showed off his athleticism, speed, determination, and heart as he somersaulted into the end zone but was ruled short. On fourth and goal from the one-inch line, Jovantae Barnes plowed into the end zone.

The Sooners weren’t able to convert on the two-point conversion, leaving OU down 10 points with just over a minute to play.

Oklahoma failed to get the onside kick and couldn’t stop Tennessee on 3rd and two, and the Vols were able to run the clock out to win the game.

Hawkins showed good poise and toughness in the second half. He was 11 of 18 for 132 yards and a touchdown. He also led the Sooners in rushing on the evening with 11 carries for 22 yards.

The Sooners offense wasted a strong defensive effort in which they held the No. 1 offense in the country to just 25 points. The Sooners held the No. 3 rushing attack to just 2.9 yards per carry on the night, recovered three sacks, and forced two turnovers.

It was an effort that would be good enough to win if not for Arnold’s play in the first half.

The Sooners now get ready to go on the road to face the Auburn Tigers and look like a team that will have a new starting quarterback next week.

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3 keys that could lead to an Oklahoma victory over Tennessee

Three keys to the game as the Oklahoma Sooners get set to take on the Tennessee Volunteers.

It’s safe to assume Oklahoma’s preparation has intensified over the last week. The Sooners are preparing for a much more talented foe than they have seen at any point this season. No. 7 Tennessee presents an incredible challenge for OU on Saturday night, but that’s to be expected with the Sooners entering the SEC. The conference games will be more challenging than they were in the Big 12.

The rest of the college football world doesn’t give the Sooners a real chance to win this game. Brent Venables, a master motivator and no stranger to coaching in high-profile matchups over the last 20 years, knows what it will take for his team to come out on top Saturday night.

While Tennessee is the higher-ranked team, it is not invincible. Oklahoma has a path to victory. We took the time to highlight that path with our three keys to the game below.

1. Start Fast

It’s such a cliche statement, but it does hold a lot of weight in a football game. Especially in a game where one team has heard they were the underdogs and didn’t have a chance at winning. It’s a confidence thing that can boost one team and psychologically damage the other.

Oklahoma has had some decent starts to their games this season, but they’ve yet to carry it into the second quarter. And that’s where Oklahoma needs to hone in on Saturday. Play a complete first half, take a breather, and gear up to scrap in the second half because Tennessee will not go away if you come out swinging.

Oklahoma offensive coordinator Seth Littrell must get his young quarterback into a rhythm. Maybe start out with the short passing game and mixing in designed QB runs along with the regular run game to ease him in. As the results show and his confidence grows, Littrell can then start to open up the playbook even wider.

Up Next: More Keys to the Game

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Paul Finebaum believes Jackson Arnold is the key to Oklahoma vs. Tennessee

As the Oklahoma Sooners get set to take on the Tennessee Volunteers, Paul Finebaum believes Jackson Arnold is the key to the Sooners.

It’s a heavyweight showdown in Norman on Saturday night. The Oklahoma Sooners host the Tennessee Volunteers in a top-15 matchup. It’s a game that features the return of Josh Heupel and, more importantly, a battle of former five-star quarterbacks.

The Tennessee Volunteers boast the No. 1 offense in the country. Oklahoma’s defense has a big challenge ahead of them as they take on one of the top rushing offenses in the country. Oklahoma’s ability to slow down the run will be critical to the Sooners success. But for ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum, it comes down to the offensive side of the ball and quarterback Jackson Arnold.

The Oklahoman’s Colton Sulley spoke with Finebaum ahead of this big-time matchup that Arnold holds the key to Oklahoma’s success.

This game is so much about Jackson Arnold. He just has to be consistent. I like him very much. I had a chance to talk to Jackson two weeks ago and was impressed with his poise, his demeanor, what he said, how he said it, but that doesn’t scrape away what he’s done so far, and he’s not been great. So, he has to play probably close to a perfect game, he can’t make mistakes, he can’t turn the ball over. He can’t give away points. The problem with Tennessee is they score. They score with abandonment. And as good as OU’s defense is, you can’t throw away a possession because you’re not going to get it back. And unless you get points on the defensive side, you’re in trouble. – Paul Finebaum to The Oklahoman

Jackson Arnold has been solid in his first three starts of the 2024 season, especially when you consider he hasn’t had his full complement of wide receivers or much health along the offensive line. But he showed a lot more comfort in the offense last week against Tulane.

Aside from the interception returned for a touchdown, Arnold was really good, leading the Sooners in rushing yards and helping the offense score 34 points, their most since week one.

But this week against Tennessee marks the biggest test in Arnold’s young career. If he can play poised and under control, the Sooners offense will have an opportunity to make plays against the Tennessee defense.

More: Sooners Wire staff predicts Oklahoma vs. Tennessee

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Last time Tennessee came to Norman, Oklahoma’s defense came up big

The last time Tennessee visited the Sooners, Oklahoma’s defense reigned supreme.

The year was 2014. The Big 12’s Oklahoma Sooners were hosting the [autotag]SEC[/autotag]’s Tennessee Volunteers in a primetime showdown in Norman, as OU looked to make an early season statement.

Head coach [autotag]Bob Stoops[/autotag] led the Sooners to a surprising Sugar Bowl victory over Alabama the previous January, and now, in September, Oklahoma was undefeated and ranked in the top five. They had hopes of making the inaugural College Football Playoff behind emerging star quarterback Trevor Knight (a Heisman Trophy candidate heading into the season after his performance against the Crimson Tide) and a stout defense led by Mike Stoops. Fourth-year offensive coordinator [autotag]Josh Heupel[/autotag] was at the controls of OU’s offense.

On the other side, Butch Jones seemed to be turning things around in Knoxville. The Vols were undefeated, and though they knew a long road back awaited them, they believed they had the right man for the job in Jones. He was recruiting well and adding talent to the Tennessee roster.

Fast forward ten years, and a lot has changed, but a lot has stayed the same. The Sooners and Volunteers now reside in the SEC, but the game will still be in primetime on Owen Field, and Oklahoma would still love an early season statement.

The baton was passed from Stoops to Lincoln Riley in Norman. He carried it for a while before tossing it aside. [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] was the man chosen to begin the climb back to the top. Venables was at Clemson ten years ago, but many of his recruits were on OU’s roster that night.

The Sooners are unbeaten through three games once again in Venables’ third season as the head coach. However, they aren’t ranked as high as they were when they faced the Vols ack in 2014. It’s [autotag]Seth Littrell[/autotag] in control of the offense. His quarterback is [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag].

The Volunteers went from Butch Jones to Jeremy Pruitt before finally hiring the right coach in Heupel. He was let go by Stoops after the 2014 season but has reemerged as a star on Rocky Top. Heupel is doing everything in Knoxville that Jones was thought to be doing a decade ago. The Vols are not the underdogs this week, and they are playing just like anyone in the country. Heupel has a star quarterback of his own in Nico Iamaleava.

On that night in 2014, the Sooners reigned supreme with a strong defensive effort. Oklahoma was constantly pressuring Tennessee quarterback Justin Worley and picked off two of his passes. They also forced a Worley fumble and sacked him five times. Oklahoma won by a score of 34-10, thanks to two Keith Ford touchdowns for the offense.

One of Worley’s interceptions came courtesy of Julian Wilson in the fourth quarter. Wilson returned the ball 100 yards to seal another OU victory. Other standouts included linebacker Eric Striker and defensive backs Zack Sanchez and Quentin Hayes.

Offensively, it was a solid outing for Knight and the Sooners, as they did more than enough to get the win, considering how well the defense played. Tennessee had just 313 total yards and only 112 on the ground.

Unfortunately, Oklahoma didn’t continue their strong play in the 2014 season. We may have Katy Perry to thank for that.

A team with playoff hopes coming into the season went just 8-5, getting exposed on both sides of the ball. Heupel was fired, Knight lost a quarterback battle the following summer to Baker Mayfield, and the Sooners bounced back with much better seasons in the final two years of the Stoops era before he retired in the summer of 2017.

Bringing things to the present day, Venables has brought defense back to Norman after it was missing in the Riley era. Tennessee is an extremely good football team, and Oklahoma will have to get more out of their offense this week if they want to pull the home upset.

However, if the Sooners are able to do just that, it’ll be the defense once again dominating the day as Oklahoma hosts Tennessee under the lights.

More: Sooners Wire staff predictions for Oklahoma vs. Tennessee

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3 key Oklahoma Sooners vs. the Tennessee Volunteers

The Oklahoma Sooners and Tennessee Volunteers are set for a big-time matchup on Saturday night and these three players will be key to victory.

The stage is set Saturday for a terrific ball game between the No. 7 Tennessee Volunteers and the No. 13 Oklahoma Sooners.

The storylines are plentiful, with Josh Heupel’s return to Norman leading the way.

Oklahoma and Tennessee are in a spot where this game is the first serious test for either team this year. It also begins the conference slate for both squads.

Media and betting pundits have the Sooners as the underdog, with Tennessee the overwhelming favorite to win the game. With that in mind, which players will be the difference makers for Oklahoma and help them pull off the first major home upset for the Sooners since 2008 versus Texas Tech?

Danny Stutsman, LB

Picking [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] as a player to watch feels shallow, but there’s a specific reason. He is the team’s leader, and this is the season’s biggest game.

Tennessee’s running game is potent. They are currently the nation’s No. 3 rushing attack. Stutsman is at the center of the nation’s No. 22 run defense, and as a linebacker, he will be tasked with flowing to the ball and making tackles.

Da’Jon Terry, Damonic Williams, and Jayden Jackson will all play pivotal roles as well, but a team captain and the vocal leader of this defense needs to show up in a big way in what is a monumental game.

Nic Anderson, WR

Saturday is expected to be [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag]’s first game of the season. He fought injuries all offseason and is finally ready to contribute to an Oklahoma offense deprived of consistent playmakers.

He immediately slots back in as a starter, and play-caller Seth Littrell will open things up with a proven threat like Nic Anderson for Jackson Arnold to depend upon. How he responds to his first bit of game action will be vital, but if Anderson can provide one or two big plays, they could go a long way in helping the Sooners pull off an upset.

Jacob Sexton, LT

Jacob Sexton may have the single most challenging matchup on Saturday as he will likely be the tackle opposite of projected first-round pick James Pearce for most of the evening on Saturday.

It will not be easy, but Sexton will have to give Jackson Arnold a chance on Saturday. Tennessee boasts a ferocious and deep defensive line, so Sexton will face challenges regardless of who lines up across from him on Saturday night.

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