Auburn QB Jackson Arnold's return to Oklahoma is being downplayed

It's going to be a big-time SEC matchup for the undefeated No. 11 Oklahoma Sooners in their second season in the conference.

Up first on the SEC slate is another undefeated team, No. 22 Auburn Tigers.

Under any normal circumstance, this game in Norman on Saturday would be a huge college football contest, but there's an added storyline in this matchup that's going to make it all worth tuning in to see

Auburn's quarterback, Jackson Arnold, started the 2024 season as Oklahoma's starting quarterback. He's a former five-star recruit from the Dallas-Fort Worth area who cheered for the Sooners growing up. He was so jazzed about his offer from Oklahoma that he was committed for almost two years before signing day. That's an eternity on the college football recruiting trail, but Arnold and the Sooners seemed to be a match made in football heaven.

And then, Arnold struggled when he got his chance to be the starter in 2024. So much so that head coach Brent Venables, at one point, even benched him.

That ultimately led to a disappointing 6-7 campaign for the Sooners in their first SEC go-around, and it led to Arnold transferring to Auburn.

And now, the two parties will reunite again, but Venables is trying to downplay the moment.

Venables says it's not Oklahoma vs. Arnold

“It’s not about Jackson at all,” Venables said earlier in the week on his coach's show, according to John Williams of Sooners Wire. “Certainly, we appreciate his time here and the things he was able to accomplish while he was here. Love him, love his family, (mother) Sharon and (father) Todd, they’re great people."

Oklahoma is not going out to try to prove a point against Arnold, specifically. Yes, the Sooners appear to be in a much better position with John Mateer running the offense alongside new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, but football is a team sport.

Venables seems to be publicly reminding his team to stay focused on that point.

“This is about Oklahoma vs Auburn this week,” Venables said. “There will be an Auburn quarterback, and he’s very talented, as we know. But this is, for us, to find a way to get a win this week in our opener here in the SEC.”

No matter what he says, though, you can bet players on the Sooners' sideline will feel the complexities of the moment. Many of them trained alongside Arnold for two seasons.

Arnold still has supporters on the Oklahoma sideline 

“It’s going to be pretty crazy,” running back Jovantae Barnes said. “We were in a backfield together, we were here for two years together. I’m proud of him and where he’s at right now, and it’s going to be pretty fun.”