Oklahoma
Oklahoma changing QBs to Michael Hawkins Jr., coach Brent Venables announces
Following a 25-15 loss at home to Tennessee, Oklahoma is making a quarterback change.
Head coach Brett Venables announced on Monday that freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. will start for the Sooners’ first SEC road game at Auburn. Hawkins gets the nod over sophomore Jackson Arnold, a five-star recruit.
Arnold passed for 54 yards and one interception, completing 7-of-16 passes against Tennessee. He committed three turnovers, losing two fumbles, versus the Volunteers. Oklahoma benched Arnold just before halftime with Hawkins taking over on the Sooners’ final series of the first half.
Venables decided to make the change because of the turnovers, according to ESPN’s Holly Rowe (via On3).
“He said it was the turnovers but also stuff has to run on time in our offense. We have timing plays, things that have to happen and it just wasn’t on time. He also said the turnover margin is a big factor. They’re up one for Tennessee. That’s unusual for OU.”
Hawkins threw for 132 yards and one touchdown on 11-for-18 passing. He also rushed for 22 yards on 11 carries. Following the game, Venables said there would be a quarterback battle during the week leading up to Saturday. But his comments seemed to indicate that he was leaning toward Hawkins.
“He’s a tremendous athlete,” Venables said of Hawkins, via The Oklahoman’s Colton Sulley. “There were several times there where we had edge pressure that we didn’t block and he got outside of it. So he has some playmaking ability, and he can hurt you with his legs.”
After presumably reviewing the film, Oklahoma coaches apparently decided to make the change now and give Hawkins a full week of reps with the first-team offense.
In Oklahoma’s first four games, Arnold completed 60% (61-of-102) of his passes for 538 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions.
Falling to No. 21 in this week’s AP Poll, Oklahoma (3–1) faces Auburn (2–2) at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. ET and the game will be televised on ABC.
NORMAN — Oklahoma softball’s transfer portal activity may have been fairly slow developing.
But now, as the portal window nears its end, the Sooners have started having success.
Oklahoma added outfielder Adi Hansen, a standout at the College of Southern Idaho for the last two seasons on Thursday.
Hansen’s announcement, made on Instagram, followed shortly after Middle Tennessee outfielder Macie Harter announced her commitment to the Sooners.
Hansen led the Golden Eagles with a .457 batting average in 186 at bats in 2026, with an eye-popping 82 runs scored and a school-record 62 stolen bases on 67 attempts.
Hansen had 17 games with two or more stolen bases this season and twice had four stolen bases in a game.
Hansen had four triples and 21 RBIs, drawing 23 walks.
She earned NJCAA first-team All-America honors, helping her team finish 43-13 with a NJCAA Division I Juco World Series appearance.
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In 2025, as a freshman, Hansen hit .401 with 36 stolen bases and 62 ruyns scored.
Hansen is a Logan, Utah, product.
Hansen and Harter join a group of outfielders that includes Kai Minor in centerfield and Ella Parker in right field.
The Sooners lost Abby Dayton to graduation and Kasidi Pickering to transfer after the season. Pickering will reportedly transfer to Texas Tech.
Oklahoma finished 52-10 last season, missing the Women’s College World Series for the first time since 2015 after falling to Mississippi State in three games in the Norman Super Regional.
The Sooners have a strong incoming recruiting class and return a trio of pitchers — Audrey Lowry, Miali Guachino and Allyssa Parker — as well as experienced hitters Kendall Wells, Gabbie Garcia, Nelly McEnroe-Marinas plus Minor and Ella Parker.
In addition to the departures of Dayton and Pickering, the Sooners also lost pitchers Sydney Berzon and Kierston Deal, first baseman Isabela Emerling, and second baseman Ailana Agbayani to graduation. Outfielder Tia Milloy, pitcher Berkley Zache and utility player Riley Zache also entered the transfer portal.
Oklahoma’s incoming class includes Edmond Santa Fe pitcher Keegan Baker, Lakewood, Calif., infielder Ki’ele Ho-Ching, Mililani, Hawaii, infielder Ori Mailo, Fullerton, Calif., pitcher Malaya Majam-Finch, Katy, Texas, pitcher EK Smith, and Mesa, Ariz., outfilder Payton Westra.
Mailo was with the Sooners this season, redshirting after joining the program a year early.
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OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Oklahoma City police are investigating an early morning shooting that left one man injured in northeast Oklahoma City.
Around 3 a.m. on Thursday, emergency crews were called to a reported shooting near Kelley and Wilshire Blvd.
Investigators say the shooting occurred between a couple inside the home, adding that the woman shot the man.
However, police say they are trying to determine if the shooting was accidental.
The victim was rushed to the hospital for treatment.
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The woman has been taken into custody for questioning, but it is unknown if she will face charges just yet.
Oklahoma is just three outs away from steamrolling through the right side of the bracket and knocking out Georgia to reach the championship finals.
To prepare, let’s take a look at what arms we should expect for the Sooners just like we did for the North Carolina earlier.
The Sooners have leaned heavily on their freshmen pitching trio in Cord Rager, Xander Mercurius and Nick Wesloski throughout Omaha. The first two went at least seven innings, while Wesloski tossed 5.2 innings on Wednesday. Even though they used relievers LJ Mercurius and Jackson Cleveland in the first two games, neither pitched more than two innings nor allowed a run.
If LJ, who entered for Wesloski on Wednesday, finishes the game, he will have gone 3.1 innings.
That sets up Oklahoma very well to matchup with UNC, which went 3-0 and also hasn’t used many arms up to this point.
If OU does win, expect Rager, Xander Mercurius and Cleveland to be ready to go. Rager, who hasn’t pitched since their first round game against Alabama on Saturday, June 13, would have a full week of rest.
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