Sooners QB Arnold burns redshirt

With Oklahoma trailing South Carolina 21-0 in the first half, sophomore quarterback Jackson Arnold entered the game for the Sooners. He had not played since being benched in the first half against Tennessee on Sept. 21.

It is Arnold’s fifth game played this season, meaning he is no longer eligible for a redshirt. He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining after this season.

Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said this week he did not consider playing Arnold in the Sooners’ lopsided loss to Texas a week ago, but that Arnold was still in the team’s plans.

“What was told to Jackson is if we put you in, it’s because we need you to help us go win,” Venables said Tuesday. “We’re certainly sensitive to everything. We’re not sitting here with our head in the sand or naive to what it is. But man, he’s a great teammate. He wants to be the starting quarterback at the University of Oklahoma.”

Former Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel transfered to Oregon this season, opening the door for Arnold to take the reins.

The Sooners entered the game against South Carolins 4-2 and 1-2 in the SEC.