The Oklahoma Sooners’ offense has been seeking explosive plays all season long, especially after a tense 16-12 victory over the Houston Cougars left fans feeling uncertain about their offensive capabilities. However, against Tulane, they may have discovered a spark.
With just over six minutes remaining in the game and the Sooners holding a slim five-point lead following a pick-six thrown by quarterback Jackson Arnold, Oklahoma faced a crucial third-and-11. After struggling with back-to-back three-and-out possessions, the Sooners desperately needed a conversion to regain momentum.
Arnold took the snap, surveyed the field, and then took off running. After breaking a couple of tackles, he dashed into the end zone for a 24-yard touchdown, effectively sealing the game for Oklahoma.
Jackson Arnold is on pace to rush for over 650 yards this season, the most of any Sooners QB since Jalen Hurts.
The QB run game (and ability to make plays out of structure) is going to be a pivotal part of their offense moving forward with Arnold under center pic.twitter.com/rEmwHGoHvp
— AJ Schulte (@AJSchulteFB) September 18, 2024
Post-game, offensive coordinator Seth Littrell expressed that he didn’t want to reveal too much about the quarterback run game this early in the season. Still, it was clear he recognized the need for a spark, and the team certainly found one against Tulane. Arnold rushed 14 times for 97 yards and two touchdowns, with impressive runs of 17, 47, and his decisive 24-yard touchdown. Every drive where Arnold had one of those big runs resulted in points.
Littrell says the quarterback run game was not something he was wanting to get into this early in the season, but they have to because it’s one of the few things working for them. Says Jackson has been really good at reading it right. #Sooners
— George Stoia III (@GeorgeStoia) September 15, 2024
Currently, Arnold leads the Sooners in rushing yards with 159, making him one of only 18 quarterbacks nationwide with over 150 rushing yards this season. He is also one of just two Power 5 quarterbacks who lead their teams in rushing, alongside Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia.
Having begun his football career as a running back, Arnold understands the significance of the quarterback run game. “The QB run game is an advantage for every team that runs it. You’ve got a plus-one in the box almost always, so you’re always going to have an advantage there,” he explained.
While the Sooners won’t transform into a service academy-style offense, many of the top quarterbacks in recent college football history have been dual-threat players. Last season, Heisman winner Jayden Daniels rushed for over 1,100 yards, and in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft, every first-round quarterback prospect—except for Michael Penix Jr.—rushed for over 300 yards and multiple touchdowns. While Arnold may not match Daniels’ impressive tally, his added threat in the run game creates opportunities for both himself and the running backs.
If Arnold maintains his current pace, he could rush for over 650 yards this season—the highest total for a Sooners quarterback since Jalen Hurts surpassed 1,000 yards in 2019. His dual-threat capabilities, along with the anticipated return of star wide receiver Nic Anderson, are crucial for the Sooners as they prepare to face the Tennessee Volunteers this weekend in a highly anticipated matchup.
