The Oklahoma football team has an alarming problem at the quarterback position. After entering the year with former five-star mega prospect Jackson Arnold under center and ex-Texas prep star Michael Hawkins serving as the backup, Oklahoma is seven games into the 2024 season with an anemic offense and arguably no answer at quarterback. After three and a half games of Arnold having an up-and-down season as the leadman for the Sooners offense, head coach Brent Venables turned to Hawkins in relief against the top-ranked Tennessee Volunteers. However, Hawkins imploded on Saturday against South Carolina, committing three turnovers in as many drives before being replaced by incumbent starter Jackson Arnold.
In just seven games, the Oklahoma Sooners have gone from Arnold to Hawkins and back to Arnold while owning a 4-3 record and being outscored 89-12 in the last eight quarters. Oklahoma fans are dumbfounded by the program’s direction in 2024, their first competition in the SEC.
Quarterback Position Leaves Oklahoma Football Fans Irate
According to Matt Zenitz of 247Sports:
Oklahoma has benched Michael Hawkins and returned to Jackson Arnold as its quarterback. Comes with Oklahoma trailing 21-0 five minutes into its game against South Carolina. Hawkins has two early interceptions, including a pick-six just now.
The adage, “If you have two quarterbacks, you actually have none,” attributed to the late John Madden, rings valid with the 2024 Oklahoma football program. Sitting at 4-3 and failing to eclipse 28 points in all but two games this season, the Oklahoma Sooners have received little consistency from quarterback Jackson Arnold and Michael Hawkins. The latter, Hawkins, evaded a sack on the first play from scrimmage this weekend before throwing an inaccurate ball that turned into an interception. He fumbled on the next drive before throwing another interception on the team’s third offensive drive, with both turnovers resulting in defensive touchdowns.
Head coach Brent Venables and offensive coordinator Seth Littrell turned back to former starter Jackson Arnold early in the first half, with the redshirt freshman providing a tiny spark. Arnold fired a 54-yard touchdown strike to wideout Brenen Thompson early in the third quarter and finished with 225 passing yards on 18 attempts, but became a sack victim eight times while the Sooners failed to crack ten points for the second consecutive game. The state of Oklahoma’s offense has fans worried about their immediate future, with some calling for the firing of Venables and the offensive staff:
Call stoops back for the rest of the year at least he will win 10 11 games and the big 12 are and beat Texas the most
— Robert Neff (@robertousoft23) October 19, 2024
Bro needs to be holding a clip board
— The Underdawg (@YNL_Domo) October 19, 2024
I’ve stood by Arnold the whole team. He is better is almost every way, and the team really just quit in him after a bad game.
— Professor Beans (@ProfessorBeans4) October 19, 2024
Michael Hawkins Jr put the fries in the bag man
— Chet Ubetcha (@oklanonymous) October 19, 2024
He should have portaled after the Texas game…
— RE (@G650horn) October 19, 2024
OK, THAT'S ENOUGH. Michael Hawkins Jr. has now turned it over twice in the first four plays and MY OKLAHOMA SOONERS have fallen behind 14-0 to South Carolina AT HOME. Time to go back to Jackson Arnold, once the No. 1 QB recruit IN THE NATION.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) October 19, 2024
Michael Hawkins Jr. and Jackson Arnold are the saddest possible sequel of Caleb Williams and Spencer Rattler
— Jakob Sanderson (@JakobSanderson) October 19, 2024
Oklahoma is the new Vandy of the SEC.
— papaBA (@BA_VAWL) October 19, 2024
We have ruined the future careers of both Jackson Arnold & Michael Hawkins. https://t.co/g72R4vqeg6
— Baker Mayfield’s burner (@BiggestOUfan) October 19, 2024
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