Brent Venables addresses Jackson Arnold’s return to Norman in Week 4
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Brent Venables was all class and full of compliments when asked by reporters on Tuesday about former quarterback Jackson Arnold, who will make his much-anticipated return to Norman on Saturday.
The Oklahoma head coach and the current Auburn quarterback couldn’t quite make it work during their 2 seasons together in 2023 and 2024, and Arnold decided to head elsewhere for the 2025 season. That elsewhere turned out to be Auburn, so he stayed in the SEC, and now in Week 4 of his first season on the Plains the schedule just happened to have the Tigers playing the Sooners in Norman.
Arnold is thriving so far at Auburn. He’s helped the Tigers become ranked, as they carry a No. 22 ranking in the AP Poll into the showdown at No. 11 Oklahoma. He also has yet to throw an interception in 2025, throwing for 501 yards and 4 touchdowns while running for another 192 yards with 4 rushing TDs.
On Saturday afternoon, Jackson’s glossy stats in leading Auburn to a 3-0 start will be put to the test in a hostile environment full of Oklahoma fans who didn’t see Arnold at his best the previous 2 seasons. But Venables is sure happy for his former QB that he’s finally having that success at Auburn.
“Things have worked out well for him and us both,” Brent Venables said. “I’m really happy for him that he’s having great success. He’s having great success running, throwing, he’s being really efficient, he’s taking care of the ball. Their offense and defense complement one another. He’s really done a great job.”
Auburn and Oklahoma will kick it off at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC in the SEC opener for both teams.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
