Jackson Arnold could be the remedy to Oklahoma’s biggest defensive problem

The Oklahoma Sooners have a top-5 defense in college football, but there's still one aspect that disgusts head coach and defensive coordinator Brent Venables.

Despite so much success in its first three games, the No. 13 Sooners' defense still hasn't forced a turnover of any kind, which even during all of OU's struggles last year, that was still never a problem and even propelled the Sooners to their only SEC wins in 2024. But on Saturday, No. 22 Auburn will bring quarterback Jackson Arnold back to Norman, and like OU's defense, Arnold also has a turnover problem.

Brent Venables says Sooners' turnover issue is 'disgusting'

"How disgusting is that," said Venables after OU's win over Temple about the lack of turnovers. "And we've been preaching it. We start every practice with turnover circuit. They'll come. If we were getting our brains beat in and we didn't have any turnovers, I wouldn't like any of it.

"But we gotta do a better job, because that's going to be a really important part as we jump into SEC play here next week."

Arnold's slippery hands frustrated OU fans many times last season when he was the Sooners' quarterback before transferring to Auburn over the offseason. He threw only three interceptions last year for the Sooners and still hasn't been picked off yet this season, but as a running quarterback, it's fumbling the ball that has been Arnold's kryptonite.

Saturday will be Auburn's SEC opener, and in OU's conference opener last season against Tennessee, Arnold gave it right back to the Volunteers with a poor backward pass just a play after the Sooners' defense forced a fumble to put the ball in Arnold's hands. Then, three possessions later, Arnold fumbled again and was ultimately replaced by freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. Arnold also threw an interception earlier in the game, giving him three turnovers in one half.

After eventually winning his job back, Arnold had the chance for a game-winning drive against Missouri with things tied 23-23 with 1:03 left. Instead, with less than 30 seconds on the clock, Arnold again let loose of the ball, which Missouri scooped up and returned for a game-winning touchdown.

Although Arnold hasn't turned the ball over yet this season, there's evidence it's still not a problem that's been solved. The proof was in Auburn's only real challenge of the season so far against Baylor when Arnold spiked a throw to the turf and fortunately had a teammate recover it.

All of these instances were in big games and in intense situations. Yet, none were as significant for Arnold as Saturday will be in his return to Norman.

It will be a ruckus OU crowd doing all it can to make sure an old quarterback doesn't walk out of Memorial Stadium with a win. It's also Auburn's SEC opener after starting the season 3-0 and cracking the top 25. And the 2025 Sooners could have the toughest defense Arnold has ever faced, with a coach who knows him inside and out pulling the strings.

The Sooners might have a turnover problem, but they could be cured on Saturday.

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