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Oklahoma

Jackson Arnold admits he’s having more fun than early in season

Stephen Samraby: Steve Samra11/01/24SamraSource
Oklahoma QB Jackson Arnold
Petre Thomas | Imagn Images

Jackson Arnold is back at the helm of the Oklahoma after some early season struggles, and he’s beginning to have more fun as the team’s quarterback, even if it hasn’t amounted to any wins yet.

The young signal-caller returned to the starting lineup last weekend against Ole Miss, and his talent shined through at times, even if it wasn’t a perfect performance. Following the loss to the Rebels, Arnold compared his start this past Saturday to what he felt when he had some rough showings at the start of this season, and it’s evident something was different.

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“Honestly, yeah,” Arnold responded, asked if he’s having more fun now than he was at the start of the 2024 campaign. “I mean, like you said, losing does suck, but I mean, it’s better when I’m with my guys and enjoying what I’m doing, rather than going out there, not enjoying it, just kind of looking the wrong way and playing stressed out.”

Alas, that bodes well for Arnold’s future in Norman, as that’s been a question since his benching earlier this season. Now that he’s received a vote of confidence from his head coach in Brent Venables, the future is looking better for the Sooners star.

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“My assumption is that you’re dang right he wants to be back,” Venables said, regarding Arnold’s future in Norman. “Why would he not? That’s how I look at it. I don’t have my head in the sand. I would be concerned if I was thinking in that way, ‘I wonder if he wants to be back.’ Well, shit, you’re the starting quarterback at Oklahoma. This is your dream. 

“You turned down a lot of good people to come here, and now that you’ve faced some headwinds, now you’re just going to quit? I don’t see that in him and I don’t see that in guys in our locker room. Does it happen in college football and in life? You’re damn right but not with people that are built with the right stuff, not at all. Jackson’s got the right stuff.”

Changes may be on the horizon for Oklahoma, but Brent Venables and Jackson Arnold is a good starting point for the Sooners. Better times are on the horizon, and the rest of the 2024 campaign will be about how the quarterback develops.