Arnold runs for some confidence
It was a tale of two halves in the No. 15 Sooner’s 34-19 win over Tulane on Saturday.
First half: The offense was on track. The problems experienced in the first two games this season were gone (or perhaps hidden, due to masterful play calling by OC Seth Littrell).
OU was up 21-6 at the half.
Second half: Offensive line failures reared their ugly head, causing a pressured QB Jackson Arnold making his biggest sophomoric mistake of the season – a pick six that squandered a then 24-13 lead and made for an uncomfortable fourth quarter for the Sooner faithful.
Tulane was expected to be tough, given their narrow 34-27 loss to a strong then No. 17 Kansas State the week before. And we remember the close call with Tulane in 2021 (No. 2 Oklahoma won 40-35).
But, maybe we should have known all would end well. After all, the spectator contestant in the Chick-fil-A contest actually made the field goal.
In the second quarter Arnold executed one of the prettiest bootleg plays possible, chugging around left end and down the sideline for 47 yards in a less-than-pretty running cadence that resembled Forest Gump.
Although the offensive line issues never allowed the Sooners to consistently control the line of scrimmage, the Sooners offense came through when needed late in the game.
Arnold engineered a 43-yard fourth quarter drive after DB Billy Bowman grabbed a tipped Tulane pass for an interception. On a third and 11, Jackson zig zagged his way through the Blue Wave defense for a 24-yard touchdown run, putting the Sooners up 31-19 with 6:05 left in the game.
Arnold was 18 of 29 passing for 169 yards and one touchdown. He rushed 14 times for a game and career high of 97 yards. So, despite the cringe generated by the chance of Arnold getting hurt, he established himself as a run threat against upcoming opponents.
The important takeaway is, the Tulane game gave Arnold the confidence needed before turning to conference play.
“Now when I play, things are starting to slow down, and things are starting to calm down,” Arnold said. “When I play, I don’t really hear the crowd anymore, I am just locked into playing. There is definitely some more added pressure next week, but then again, we are focused on ourselves and what we can control.”
Also of note was true freshman RB Taylor Tatum, who scored two TDs in the first half.
Oklahoma converted on half its 3rd downs – major improvement from the Houston and Temple games (where they converted only 4 of 26).
Coach Brent Venables was happy with the improvement over the Sooners’ previous 2024 games.
“You go into a week where there’s a lot of questions and concern, if you will, and they did a great job of managing the week and focusing on what they need to do to improve and get better and take another step forward,” Venables said.
This game also proved Oklahoma’s defense is indeed SEC ready.
The Sooners held Tulane to 279 yards. Defensive end R. Mason Thomas took control late in the fourth quarter, making three sacks, getting a pass break up, forcing a fumble and making a fumble recovery in a four-minutes stretch.
Billy Bowman’s late interception was his 10 career interception.
Thomas’ sack of Tulane QB Darian Mensah, stripped the ball and made the recovery to shut down a late Tulane threat with 1:40 remaining.
Oklahoma ended the game by generating three consecutive turnovers: interception, on downs and a fumble recovery.
Through three games this season, OU has allowed only six scores on its opponents’ 38 possessions, and only three touchdowns.
So, Oklahoma is now marching into the SEC firestorm at 3-0, playing their first conference game against Tennessee on Saturday night in Norman.
Here is when the test of Sooner fans’ patience will be most tested – as much as this team’s offense and defense will be tested in what is shaping up to be a topsy turvy. unpredictable and masochistic Southeastern Conference.
NEXT: Oklahoma v. Tennessee, Norman. September 21. 6:30 pm ABC.
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