Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables didn’t mince words during his Tuesday press conference, spending nearly 20 minutes dissecting the offensive struggles in the Week 4 loss to Tennessee. At the heart of his frustration were Oklahoma’s multiple turnovers, particularly those from quarterback Jackson Arnold, who accounted for three costly errors—two fumbles and an interception. Venables made it clear that these turnovers played a significant role in the decision to bench Arnold and turn to freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. as the starting quarterback for this week’s game against Auburn.
“If even one of those fumbles had gone our way, we might be talking about a different result,” Venables said, reflecting on the what-ifs of the loss. Oklahoma’s inability to protect the ball, especially in critical moments, became a decisive factor, as the Sooners pulled Arnold halfway through the game. Venables was visibly upset about the repeated mistakes, which he emphasized were unacceptable, particularly in tight games where field position and momentum matter.
In Arnold’s place, Michael Hawkins Jr., a true freshman, took over under center. While Hawkins didn’t light up the stat sheet, he showed poise beyond his years, managing to settle into a rhythm by the fourth quarter. He led two touchdown drives, helping the Sooners close the gap on what had been a lopsided game.
Venables addressed the quarterback switch, pointing directly to the turnovers as the catalyst. “The turnovers are something we simply can’t afford—whether it’s about field position or just basic decision-making. We weren’t following the rules of our offense, and at some point, it starts to get away from you,” Venables explained. The coach admitted that if the game had remained a 3-3 slugfest, he might have stuck with Arnold, but the repeated mistakes forced his hand.
One notable contrast between the two quarterbacks was Hawkins’ willingness to throw the ball away when a play wasn’t there, a discipline Arnold has struggled with at times. In earlier games, Arnold had been guilty of trying to force plays, leading to costly mistakes like his pick-six against Tulane in Week 3. Hawkins’ decision-making, while not perfect, appeared more conservative and calculated, which Venables praised.
However, Venables made it clear that Jackson Arnold’s future with Oklahoma is far from over. “He’s got a bright future here,” Venables said, hinting that Arnold could still play a significant role later in the season or beyond. But for now, with a bye week and the Red River Showdown against Texas looming large, Venables stressed that the team needs a clean, mistake-free game to build some positive momentum heading into the break.
It’s no small task for Hawkins to make his first collegiate start in a hostile environment like Jordan-Hare Stadium, but Venables had no choice. The Sooners can’t afford to make the same mistakes again, especially with the season beginning to hang in the balance. Now, all eyes will be on whether the freshman can rise to the occasion and give Oklahoma a much-needed win.