Oklahoma coach Brent Venables believes Jackson Arnold’s return as QB1 was his best outing yet this season.
After being benched Week 4 against Tennessee and serving as freshman Michael Hawkins Jr.’s backup for three games, Arnold, a sophomore, was the starter once again when the Sooners played Ole Miss on Saturday in Oxford. It was the first time since Week 3 against Tulane that Arnold started and finished a game, and only the third time he’s played a complete game this season.
Arnold was the presumed starter when the season began after making his first start in OU’s bowl game last year after Dillon Gabriel entered the transfer portal. Even after that one rocky start, Arnold was thought to be the future face of the program as a 5-star recruit out of Denton (TX) Guyer High School.
Although the Sooners lost 26-14 on Saturday and Arnold’s stats won’t garner him any weekly awards, his head coach was still impressed with the performance and the offense’s improvement overall, especially considering the circumstances.
Advertisement
“Jackson gets a lot of credit,” Venables said Monday during his weekly coach’s show. “That position, as we know, a lot of times, he gets way too much blame and way too much credit. But again, that was easily, again, playing the team that he’s playing as well on top of all that, his best game of the season.”
Jackson finished with 182 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns while completing 71% of his passes, which was a career-best. He was most dangerous with his legs, though, at least when given the chance.
He carried the ball 24 times for 39 yards. However, Arnold accomplished all that he did while his offensive line gave up a program-record 10 sacks, which Venables said Monday night was only seven true sacks considering the other three were on designed quarterback runs that went for a loss.
If those 10 sacks were erased from the stat sheet, Arnold would have rushed for 103 yards. That would have been a career-high for Arnold and also would have been the first time this season an OU player rushed for over 100 yards in a game.
The only blemish Arnold had as a ball carrier was a fumble when he was sacked for an 11-yard loss.
Advertisement
“(Arnold) had a winning performance when it comes to making decisions and accuracy and taking care of the ball,” Venables said. “Again, the mesh charge, he had no chance on the fumble, and they’re in a really good call to disrupt the play. The back’s got to be over. He’s got to align a little more precise that potentially can help you. That’s a nice play there.
“Again, I thought several times he kept his eyes down the field under pressure, bought some time with his legs and then make good decisions about when to keep it and then when to deliver it, and they did a nice job play design to have some outlets and some check downs too, that they had a chance to gain positive yardage, as well.”
Christmas is nearly here, but are you done with Christmas shopping? You still have a few days left, and we know that so many people face the annual challenge of what to buy someone who has everything, or is hard to buy for.
News 9 spoke to Von Maur representative Mathew Burniga to learn how to wrap up your Christmas shopping.
NORMAN, Okla. — Derrion Reed scored 22 points, Xzayvier Brown finished with 18, and Oklahoma set the program’s single-game record for field-goal percentage on Monday night as the Sooners beat Stetson 107-54 on Monday night.
Oklahoma shot 67.8% (40 of 59) from the field and had its highest-scoring game since a 107-86 win over Arkansan-Pine Bluff on Nov. 30, 2023. The previous record was 66.1% (39 of 59) against Baylor on Feb. 26, 2005.
The Sooners made 12 of 24 from 3-point range, outrebounded Stetson 39-24, and outscored the Hatters 54-18 in the paint.
Mohamed Wague had 15 points and nine rebounds for Oklahoma and Tae Davis added 12 points and six assists. Kuol Atak and Nijel Pack each scored 11 points.
Advertisement
Sports Roundup
Get the latest D-FW sports news, analysis and opinion delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, Kevin Sherrington’s A La Carte.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Ethan Copeland, the only Stetson (4-9) player who scored in double figures, had 14 points.
Oklahoma (9-3) used runs of 15-3 and 10-2, the latter of which culminated with a Jadon Jones three-point play that gave the Sooners a 26-11 lead a little more than eight minutes into the game.
Advertisement
Up next
Stetson plays at North Alabama in the ASUN Conference opener for both teams on New Year’s Day.
Oklahoma hosts Mississippi Valley State next Monday.
2026 NCAA football transfer portal: Tracking moves for Texas Tech, SMU, other area schools
Find updates for Baylor, North Texas, Oklahoma, TCU, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and SMU.
As NFL draft decision looms, Oklahoma’s John Mateer will weigh his options
Mateer, a Little Elm alum, is listed as the fifth-best quarterback prospect on Pro Football Focus’ big board and the seventh-best on ESPN’s.
With Alabama on the ropes, Oklahoma squandered golden opportunity to end CFP drought
The Sooners tied their own record for the largest blown lead in College Football Playoff history.
Advertisement
Find more college sports coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
Another offensive lineman from Oklahoma’s heralded 2024 group of freshman has decided to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal.
Third-year sophomore tackle Isaiah Autry-Dent announced Monday on social media that he’ll be entering the portal when it opens on Jan. 2.
“I’m truly grateful for the incredible, life-changing experience I’ve had at the University of Oklahoma,” he wrote. “The dedication of the staff, the camaraderie with my teammates, and the unwavering support from the fans have made this journey unforgettable. I’ve learned lessons on and off the field that I will carry with me for the rest of my life, and I’m thankful for every moment, every challenge and every triumph along the way.”
Advertisement
Dent added that he’s “given it a great deal of thought and prayed for guidance” but intends to leave OU with 3-4 years of eligibility remaining and is “excited about exploring new opportunities to continue growing as a player and as a person.”
After much prayer and family talks, I’ll enter the transfer portal on January 2 with three years of eligibility left. Thank you #SoonerNationpic.twitter.com/AM15EMHlHV
Dent was one of five offensive linemen signed in the 2024 class, and he’s the third one to leave, joining Eugene Brooks and Josh Aisosa. After just two seasons, only Eddy Pierre-Louis and Daniel Akinkunmi remain.
Advertisement
Dent was listed at 304 pounds as a true freshman but in July checked in at 317 pounds — the biggest overall weight gain of any offensive player, which was a reflection of his hard work and dedication as the OU offensive line made an offseason mandate to get bigger and stronger.
Last spring, senior center Troy Everett was asked to assess Dent’s progress following his freshman season.
“Isaiah works hard,” Everett said. “Isaiah’s going to be great. Isaiah, right now, he’s just got to get comfortable when he’s out there, but that goes for every young guy.”
Read More Transfer Portal News
OU Transfer Portal Tracker Oklahoma LB to Enter Portal What Positions Must Oklahoma Address in the Portal?
Advertisement
Dent played in just one game — against Maine — and logged just 26 snaps on offense and nine snaps on special teams during the 2024 season, then didn’t get on the field at all in 2025.
The former 3-star prospect from Fulton, MS, is a second cousin to former OU running back Marcus Dupree. His mother, Pashen Dent-Autry, was a two-time national champion basketball player for Tennessee legend Pat Summitt.
Autry was a consensus 3-star prospect coming out as a high school All-American at Itawamba Agricultural High School, where he was a 6-foot-7, 300-pound standout.
Autry picked the Sooners over Alabama, Auburn, Florida State and Ole Miss, among others, and could have plenty of options.
