Oklahoma QB Jackson Arnold faces South Carolina and burns his redshirt

Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold returned under center in the first quarter of the Sooners' game against South Carolina on Saturday, replacing freshman Michael Hawkins and burning his redshirt in his first action since Sept. 21.

Arnold, a former five-star prospect, had not played since sitting on the bench in the first half of Oklahoma's Week 4 loss to Tennessee. He started Saturday's game as the Sooners trailed the Gamecocks 21-0 after Hawkins suffered turnovers on each of Oklahoma's first three possessions.

With his fifth appearance this fall, Arnold will no longer be eligible to redshirt in 2024, leaving him with two years of eligibility remaining after this season. When asked earlier this week whether Oklahoma had considered redshirting Arnold, coach Brent Venables made it clear that the sophomore passer was still in the Sooners' plans.

“Jackson was told if we use you it's because we need your help to win,” Venables said Tuesday. “We definitely react sensitively to everything. We are not sitting here with our heads in the sand or being naive to what is. But man, he's a great teammate. He wants to be the starting quarterback at the University of Oklahoma.”

Venables reiterated this week that he didn't consider using Arnold for Hawkins in Oklahoma's 34-3 loss to No. 1 Texas in Week 7.

But the change came early Saturday. Hawkins threw an interception on the Sooners' first possession and then returned a fumble for a touchdown. On the next possession, Hawkins threw a pick-six.

Oklahoma started Saturday at 4-2 with a 1-2 conference record in its first SEC campaign.