The Sooners are finally joining the Southeastern Conference after years of dominating the Big 12. They have a new defensive coordinator, Zac Alley, and new co-offensive coordinators, Seth Littrell and Joe Jon Finley. They are also fully transitioning to Jackson Arnold as their quarterback.
These changes are important as No. 16 Oklahoma adjusts to the SEC. It’s expected to be challenging — the media has predicted the Sooners will finish eighth out of 16 teams, a big shift from the top positions they often held in the Big 12.
“We’re excited for the challenge,” Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said. “As competitors, as a football program, Oklahoma isn’t intimidated as a football program.
We’re running towards the SEC. I think that goes without saying. We’ve looked forward for the last several years for this partnership, to be a part of an amazing conference, the best conference in college football.”
Arnold was one of the top high school prospects and was named the 2022-23 National Gatorade Player of the Year. He became the starting quarterback at the end of last season after Dillon Gabriel transferred to Oregon.
Arnold threw for 361 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions in the Alamo Bowl loss to Arizona. He said he’s learned a lot since then.
“There was a lot of maturing and a lot of growing up that I had to do,” he said. “Stepping into that QB1 role, I had to be a real leader for us, for our team, and just stepping into that role, I know I need to mature as a person.
As a player too. And the person that I am now and the player that I am now has improved drastically from where I was in that bowl game.”
