Arnold steps up to guide Sooners to 31-24 win over Cougars in last Big 12 road trip
Playing without starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel in the second half, the No. 14 Oklahoma Sooners managed a 31-24 win on a slippery Provo, Utah football field over a scrappy BYU Cougars on Saturday.
Backup freshman QB Jackson Arnold — a heralded recruit seen to be a future star in Norman — saw his most playing time, leading the Sooners after Gabriel was sidelined with a concussion sustained right before halftime.
Offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby turned to the Sooners run game, both to ease the pressure on the freshman QB but also to capitalize on a BYU weakness. Gavin Sawchuk had the go-ahead touchdown run in the fourth quarter and led Sooner rushers with 104 yards on 14 carries. Arnold carried the ball eight times for 24 yards.
But a late 3rd down conversion with 2:05 left in the game, with Arnold zipping a slant pass to junior receiver Jalil Farooq, sealed the game. Farooq led the Sooners receivers with five catches and 53 yards.