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Brent Venables talks decision to bench Michael Hawkins for Jackson Arnold during South Carolina game
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Brent Venables met with reporters in Norman on Saturday afternoon after Oklahoma’s 35-9 loss to South Carolina.
The Sooners made a quarterback change early on in the game after true freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. turned the ball over on 3 straight possessions, leading to a 21-0 edge for the Gamecocks. In doing so, OU turned back to Jackson Arnold, the former 5-star who began the season as the starting quarterback in Norman.
Venables called it an “easy decision” to put Arnold into the game after Hawkins’ struggles and didn’t have a comment on what OU would do at quarterback moving forward.
Venables says “it was a pretty easy decision” to put Jackson Arnold in the game after the three turnovers by Michael Hawkins. He would not comment on what will they do at quarterback moving forward. #Sooners
— George Stoia III (@GeorgeStoia) October 19, 2024
Oklahoma’s offense struggled even after Arnold came into the game, although he did have more success than Hawkins. Arnold completed 18-of-36 passes for 225 yards and 1 touchdown. The score came on a 54-yard touchdown pass to Brenen Thompson.
Oklahoma’s offensive line conceded 9 sacks on the day, which is the most in program history.
It remains to be seen whether or not Arnold will re-gain his starting job this upcoming weekend against Ole Miss. The Sooners are likely to be big underdogs as they go on the road to face the Rebels in Oxford.
Oklahoma is now 4-3 on the season.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
