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Eli Lederman, ESPN writer
Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold will start under center when the No. 18 Sooners visit Ole Miss on Saturday, coach Brent Venables announced during his coach’s presentation Monday night.
Arnold, a sophomore, began the season as Oklahoma’s starter but had not appeared in a game since Sept. 21, before coming off the bench Saturday to replace freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. in the first quarter of a 35-9 Sooners rout. Defeat against South Carolina.
Arnold completed 18 of 36 passes for 225 yards with a touchdown in the Week 8 loss, dropping Oklahoma to 4-3 and 1-3 in SEC play.
Arnold’s return against the Gamecocks marked his fifth appearance this fall, officially blowing his chance at a redshirt and leaving him with two seasons of eligibility remaining.
In Week 9, the former five-star prospect will make his first start since coming off the bench in a 25-15 loss to Tennessee in Week 4, returning to the position on the road against a Rebel rush that tallied 24 sacks, seventh most The bag. Nationally.
Venables’ confirmation of the move to commit to Arnold at quarterback arrived just over 24 hours after Oklahoma fired first-year offensive coordinator Seth Littrell on Sunday night.
Littrell, the former North Texas coach, lasted just seven games as the Sooners’ starter and left the job with Oklahoma ranking 128th in total offense and last in the SEC in rushing yards (112.1), third-down efficiency (27.5%) and first downs (120). ).
Co-offensive coordinator Joe John Finley is set to take over interim play-calling duties for the Sooners in Littrell’s place. Venables also promoted analyst Kevin Jones, who most recently served as offensive coordinator at Duke, to interim quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator.
Arnold enters Week 9 having completed 57.2% of his passes this season for 763 yards and eight touchdowns with three interceptions. He started Oklahoma’s first four regular season games before being pulled before halftime against Tennessee.
Arnold replaced Hawkins against South Carolina after the first-year passer committed turnovers on each of the Sooners’ initial three possessions as the Gamecocks built a 21-0 lead after just 5:20.
Leading pass rusher Dion Burks is stepping up every day for the trip to Ole Miss, while wide receiver Jalil Farooq — who hasn’t appeared since the Sooners’ Week 1 win over Temple — is still “a few weeks away” from returning to the field, Venables said Monday.
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