In late November of 2021, the unexpected departure of then-head coach Lincoln Riley sent shockwaves through the Oklahoma Sooners football program. Riley had been in charge for five seasons, inheriting the job from the legendary Bob Stoops in the summer

Jackson Arnold is a former five-star recruit, with enough of a pedigree that Oklahoma coaches felt comfortable letting starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel transfer to Oregon this past offseason. But a third of the way into Arnold’s first full season as the Sooners’ starter,

On Monday night, the Sooners coach confirmed that Michael Hawkins will start at quarterback instead of Jackson Arnold on the road at Auburn. “Jackson’s going to have an amazing future and career,” Brent Venables said.