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Brent Venables announced that Michael Hawkins will start at quarterback for Oklahoma on Saturday against Auburn.
The true freshman took over for Jackson Arnold late in the first half of OU’s 25-15 loss to Tennessee in Week 4. Hawkins led OU on a pair of touchdown drives that helped the Sooners get back into the game, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win.
Venables announced the decision on his coaches show on Monday evening:
Brent Venables says on his coach’s show that Michael Hawkins will start Saturday at Auburn. #Sooners
— George Stoia III (@GeorgeStoia) September 24, 2024
Venables will presumably elaborate more on the decision to go with Hawkins when he meets with local media for his weekly press conference on Tuesday.
Venables was very critical of Arnold’s performance — specifically on a pair of turnovers — in his postgame press conference after the Tennessee game.
“I felt like our first interception we just threw it up there,” Venables said. “And then the throw behind the line of scrimmage, that’s not even an option there … It’s a take all the way.”
Hawkins completed 11-of-18 passes for 132 yards and 1 touchdown against the Vols. He was also very effective with his feet and nearly scored a rushing touchdown late in the 4th quarter, but came up just shy.
There have been very few true freshmen quarterbacks to start in Oklahoma football history, although it has happened more frequently in recent years. Arnold accomplished the feat last season in OU’s bowl loss to Arizona. Prior to that, the last to do it was Caleb Williams back in the 2021 season. Famously, true freshman Jamelle Holieway led Oklahoma to the 1985 national championship after Troy Aikman suffered an injury.
Kickoff against Auburn is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday afternoon.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
