Jackson Arnold came to Oklahoma with all the expectations of a future star. A 5-star recruit and the next great quarterback for the Sooners, Arnold’s arrival was heralded as a new era in Oklahoma football. But as the 2024 season unfolded, Arnold’s once-promising future became clouded by a combination of bad luck, poor performance, and a series of challenges that not even the most talented players could overcome. What was supposed to be a year of development for Arnold turned into a reminder of just how much can go wrong in college football.
When Arnold committed to Oklahoma, the plan was clear. He was expected to come in, start for two years, lead the Sooners to the SEC, contend for the Heisman, and eventually leave a lasting legacy in Norman. But instead, Arnold’s story became one of frustration, disappointment, and ultimately, an untimely exit through the NCAA Transfer Portal. While the blame for his lack of success falls on many factors, it’s difficult to ignore the unfortunate circumstances that derailed his career before it ever really got off the ground.
Injuries and Offensive Line Woes
Arnold’s first season as the starter in 2024 was marred by a historically bad offensive line and a wide receiver corps decimated by injuries. At one point, Oklahoma’s top six wide receivers were all sidelined with various injuries, leaving Arnold with little support from his playmakers. With no established receiving corps, Arnold was forced to rely on an offensive line that, unfortunately, could not provide the protection needed to succeed at the highest level.
The offensive line was, without question, a significant obstacle. The Sooners ranked dead last in the SEC in sacks allowed, giving up 3.85 sacks per game, which placed them 130th in the nation out of 133 teams. Arnold, despite his mobility and escapability, was under constant pressure, and that made it difficult for him to settle into any rhythm. He didn’t have the time to go through his progressions, and with receivers struggling to get open, it wasn’t a matter of bad decision-making but more of a lack of opportunity.
But it wasn’t just the line. Arnold was also hindered by a series of drops from his receivers, who couldn’t consistently catch the ball when it was thrown their way. With 20 dropped passes over 342 targets, the Sooners ranked among the worst in the SEC in terms of catchable passes. With such an unreliable supporting cast, Arnold’s struggles were more than just his own fault, but the mounting pressure and lack of support led to his decline as the season wore on.
Inconsistent Coaching and Development
One of the most glaring problems Arnold faced was the lack of consistent coaching. The 2024 season saw a revolving door of offensive coordinators and quarterbacks coaches, each bringing their own philosophies and ideas without much continuity. When Brent Venables hired Seth Littrell as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, it was clear he was stepping outside the norm. Littrell, despite being a respected coach, had no previous experience coaching quarterbacks, and his lack of experience was evident throughout the season.
As the offensive struggles mounted, Venables realized his mistake and fired Littrell midseason. Joe Jon Finley took over as the offensive coordinator, but the results were only marginally better, and the team’s struggles persisted. The lack of stability in the coaching staff prevented Arnold from developing properly. Coaching turnover is one of the most damaging things a young quarterback can face, and Arnold was stuck in a system that wasn’t built to nurture his growth. When Kevin Johns, a veteran coach with a wealth of experience, was brought in to work with Arnold, the young quarterback showed slight improvements, but the damage had already been done.
With such upheaval, Arnold’s development stagnated. He wasn’t allowed the opportunity to grow into his role as the team’s leader. A quarterback’s success relies not just on his physical tools, but also on the stability around him, and Arnold didn’t have that luxury in 2024.
Turnovers and Poor Decision-Making
Despite the external factors, Arnold still had significant flaws that contributed to his struggles. One of the most glaring issues throughout the season was his turnover problem. Arnold had a tendency to make disastrous mistakes, especially when under pressure, resulting in turnovers that led to scoring opportunities for the opposition. He fumbled 12 times and lost six of those fumbles, while also throwing an interception here and there.
Arnold’s decision-making was also an issue. His unwillingness or inability to push the ball downfield often resulted in the offense stagnating. With a lack of explosive plays, the Sooners’ offense became too predictable, and defenses had little trouble shutting down the attack. Arnold’s lack of trust in his blockers and receivers made it difficult for him to function as the type of playmaking quarterback he was supposed to be. While some of this was due to the circumstances around him, there were still moments where Arnold’s hesitation and poor decision-making hurt his team.
Statistics That Tell the Story
By the end of the 2024 season, Arnold’s statistics were among the worst in recent memory for Oklahoma quarterbacks. His 1,421 passing yards were the fewest by an Oklahoma starter since 1998. His 12 touchdown passes tied for the lowest total since 2013, and his six fumbles lost were the most by an OU quarterback since Rhett Bomar in 2005. Arnold’s completion percentage of .626 was the lowest by an Oklahoma starter since 2014, and his yards per attempt (5.78) ranked 118th in the nation.
In comparison, Arnold’s backup, Michael Hawkins, also struggled but showed some promise. Hawkins’ brief stint as the starter was marked by both mistakes and flashes of brilliance. Hawkins had moments of success, such as in the Sooners’ first-ever SEC win against Auburn, but he also struggled, particularly when under pressure. Ultimately, neither quarterback was able to establish consistency, and the result was a forgettable season for Oklahoma.
The Future and What Went Wrong
As Jackson Arnold transfers out of Oklahoma and looks for a fresh start at Auburn, his time in Norman will be remembered as a failed experiment. It wasn’t entirely his fault, though; the circumstances around him — a bad offensive line, injured receivers, and ineffective coaching — played significant roles in his inability to meet expectations. However, Arnold still failed to take full advantage of the opportunities that came his way.
Looking back, one can’t help but wonder if things would have been different if Oklahoma had kept Dillon Gabriel for one more season. Gabriel, the former starter, had a stellar year at Oregon, leading the Ducks to a Big Ten title and the College Football Playoff. If Gabriel had stayed in Norman, it’s possible that he could have provided the leadership and stability that Arnold and Hawkins so desperately needed. But hindsight is always 20/20.
Ultimately, the 2024 season will go down as a lost opportunity for the Sooners. The hope is that the 2025 season will be one of redemption, both for the program and for the quarterbacks involved. With the arrival of new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, the Sooners are hoping for a fresh start — one that doesn’t involve the mistakes of the past.
