Sooners quarterback Jackson Arnold enters the game, officially burns his redshirt.
Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold officially burned his redshirt by stepping in for a struggling Michael Hawkins Jr. during the first quarter against South Carolina on Saturday. With this being his fifth appearance of the season, the former five-star recruit can no longer redshirt and will have two years of eligibility remaining after the 2024 season, per NCAA regulations. Arnold, a sophomore, has completed 61 of 102 passes for 538 yards, along with seven touchdowns and three interceptions, contributing to the Sooners’ 3-1 start. He has also rushed for 138 yards and two touchdowns. His last performance on September 21 saw him benched in a 25-15 loss to then-No. 6 Tennessee, where he completed only 7 of 16 passes for 54 yards and an interception. Hawkins took over, throwing for 132 yards and a touchdown, and was named the starter for Saturday’s game. However, after Hawkins turned the ball over on the first three possessions against South Carolina, Arnold was called in. Earlier in the week, Oklahoma coach Brent Venables mentioned that Arnold remains part of the team’s plans this season. “What was communicated to Jackson is that if we put you in, it’s because we need you to help us win,” Venables stated. “We’re aware of the situation, and he’s a fantastic teammate who aspires to be the starting quarterback at the University of Oklahoma.”
