Jackson Arnold has been a lightning rod for criticism this season. The quarterback phenomenon started the season with massive hope. The Sooners were so confident that the guy would be the next poster boy in the program that they didn’t think twice about letting Dillon Gabriel go to Oregon. Little did they know that Arnold would be benched in the middle of his fourth start. Finally, he is set to make a new start with Auburn Tigers, and JD Pickell deems it a beneficial call for Hugh Freeze, and here’s why.

Benching one of the most promising QBs was never part of Brent Venables’ plan. But football has its own right to dish out surprises, good or bad. Jackson was 7-of-16 with an interception and two fumbles in a horrible game against Tennessee. Bad snaps, spiked balls on the grounds, and irrational passes irked the fans like nothing. The coach had no option but to let him sit on the bench. But that was not the end. Arnold made a comeback, regaining his QB1 title in just two weeks, which made his story a lot more different from others. It’s all about the mental math.

”It would have been understandable for Jackson Arnold to say, Man, forget you all, you all benched me, but have just this fragile, competitive psyche to bounce back after being benched tells me he’s made of the right stuff. I don’t think Oklahoma’s totally new OL, infirmary at WR, and 2 new OCs last year is the right filter to know how good he can be. Rooting for him to ball at Auburn.” said Pickell.

Arnold gave off a revitalized aura ever since he returned to his glory. In just three appearances since resetting at the starting spot, Jackson has amassed 55 of his 88 pass attempts for 631 yards and five TDs without an interception.

Venables acknowledged his effort and noted he had some of his best practices since getting benched. The OU coach was high on hope that he would continue to be this marquee in his process, but it was perhaps too late to spot a gem that they lost in the portal a few hours back.

Brent Venables never saw Jackson Arnold on the transfer portal

Freeze already started foreseeing a bright future at Auburn for Arnold, whose 2024 statistics are giving massive flashbacks of Bo Nix’s 2021 season with the Tigers. After the 6 ft 1 officially jumped ship, Freeze noted, ”He’s going to create a swagger around our offense that draws people to want to play at a higher level.” But on the other hand, it came without Venables’ notice.

He was confident that Jackson would be home for at least another year. When asked about whether he would be back for the next year or not after the benching controversy, the OU head coach promptly answered he would. After all, he has no reason not to be back. He noted Jackson holds the highest prestige as the starting QB of the Sooners. It was his dream school to play for.

“You turned down a lot of good people to come here. And now you’ve faced some headwinds, and now you’re just gonna quit? I don’t see that in him,” Venables said in late October.

Unfortunately, the confidence came out hollow, and the ball went to Freeze’s court already. Watch out for a staggering season loading for the young genius. Just that he needs to take care of his turnovers.