The move of Oklahoma from the Big 12 to the SEC — accompanied by Texas — is going to be one of the biggest storylines in the 2024 college football season. Their move, announced in 2021, comes at a unique time for the Sooners.
Brent Venables, fresh off a double-digit season in Oklahoma’s farewell to the Big 12, is entering his third season as the program’s head coach. He went 6-7 in his first year, but has done a good job stabilizing things in Norman. For reference, Lincoln Riley departed shortly after the news of Oklahoma moving conferences.
So, this is a big season for Venables, looking to build off a big season. He’s entering year three with a new quarterback. After Dillon Gabriel transferred to Oregon, the next man up is Jackson Arnold, a five-star recruit heading into his sophomore season.
All the hype is there for Arnold, and he’s been looking sharp in Oklahoma’s spring practices. However, he holds the ceiling to the Sooners’ 2024 season, according to On3’s J.D. PicKell.
“You bring back 79 percent of the production on defense from a year ago, which is massive. Brand new quarterback,” PicKell explained. “Brand new quarterback in Jackson Arnold. The thing about Oklahoma — I really think the defense is going to be okay. I think the defense is going to be more than fine to hold up their end of the bargain in the SEC.”
Winning in the trenches is going to be a big factor in the SEC. The defense showed plenty of promise a season ago, and they’re brining in even more talent while returning a veteran defense. They’re going to be backing up what should be a high-powered offense, with both sides of the ball experiencing new leadership in year one of SEC play.
“When you talk about Oklahoma and whatever your prediction is for them when it comes to succeeding or failing in 2024, it is directly tied to Jackson Arnold. As he goes, they will go,” PicKell continued. “Do they have weapons to allow him to have success it needs? That remains to be seen. A lot of it, obviously, is going to fall on the new starter.”
Arnold is going to have to live up to every bit of hype he’s receiving if the Sooners want to make a big run in their inaugural SEC campaign, which is going to be important as Oklahoma tries to establish themselves as one of the sport’s best programs once again.
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