It’s the same situation, just a different place now for former Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold.
After transferring from OU to Auburn this offseason, Arnold is once again in a quarterback battle, possibly losing his starting job because of poor play. Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze said during Monday’s press conference that Arnold and backup Ashton Daniels will both get reps at practice this week before he decides who will start for the Tigers against Arkansas on Saturday.
Jackson Arnold in QB battle at Auburn
A former five-star recruit, Arnold was the Sooners’ presumed QB1 last year before the 2023 season even fully concluded with Arnold making his first career start against Arizona in the Alamo Bowl after Dillon Gabriel entered the Transfer Portal.
Arnold’s reign at OU didn’t live up to the hype or last long, though. By his fifth career start, Arnold was pulled and replaced by freshman Michael Hawkins Jr., who is still the Sooners’ backup quarterback this season.
Hawkins then started the next three games before Arnold got the job back, but Arnold still never turned things around. He averaged just 142.1 passing yards a game with 12 passing touchdowns in 10 games.
Arnold then transferred to Auburn and his situation at OU was blamed for his flaws, but he’s still struggled with the same problems as the Tigers are on a four-game losing streak that started with a loss to the Sooners in Arnold’s return to Norman.
This season, Arnold is averaging 170 passing yards a game while still struggling to throw the ball downfield and taking way too many sacks like he did at OU. The same issues have put him back in the same situation despite the move, proving maybe the Sooners didn’t deserve all the blame after all.