Although the Oklahoma Sooners won’t face the Texas Longhorns in Dallas until Week 7, Jackson Arnold and his team are already focused on this year’s Red River Rivalry. This upcoming game will be the 120th meeting between the two schools, with Texas leading the all-time series. However, Oklahoma has won the last matchup and 17 of the last 25 games.
Arnold emphasized the importance of focusing on their current opponent, Houston, rather than getting distracted by the upcoming rivalry game. He echoed the team’s philosophy of treating each game as the most important, as coach Brent Venables advises. Arnold stressed the need for the team to concentrate on film study and practice for the Houston game, noting that after Houston, they will face Tulane and Tennessee, maintaining the approach of treating each game with utmost significance.
In his first season as a full-time starter, sophomore Arnold had a standout performance against the Temple Owls in Week 1, throwing for 141 yards and four touchdowns, three of which were to Deion Burks, a Purdue transfer, all before halftime. The Sooners’ defense also shone, with six sacks and nine tackles for loss in their 52-7 victory.
Jackson Arnold can’t help but look ahead at Oklahoma football’s 2024 schedule
Arnold has been eager for the QB1 role all offseason and feels well-prepared for the challenge.
“That was my main focus this offseason—entering as the guy,” Arnold said. “Knowing that the coaches had faith in me to perform was crucial. Building leadership and toughness required to be the quarterback at a Power 4 school, particularly at the University of Oklahoma, was essential. The offseason gave me the opportunity to develop chemistry with my coaches and teammates and prepare for what was ahead.”
While Oklahoma’s upcoming home games against Houston and Tulane may not draw much media attention, their Week 4 matchup is expected to be a significant media event.
The game against No. 14 Tennessee is generating buzz, especially with Nico Iamaleava making bold statements. After their win over Chattanooga, Iamaleava emphasized the need to maintain intensity, regardless of the score.
“We learned to keep our foot on their throat,” Iamaleava said. “Even when we’re ahead, we need to stay focused as if the score is 0-0.”
Other notable opponents on the schedule include No. 3 Texas, No. 6 Ole Miss, No. 9 Missouri, No. 4 Alabama, and No. 18 LSU. Oklahoma began the season with the second-most challenging schedule in college football.
