Despite the fact that Oklahoma football does not face the Texas Longhorns in Dallas until Week 7, the Sooners are already discussing the importance of this year’s Red River Rivalry. The 2024 matchup will be the 120th meeting between these two historic programs. While Texas leads the all-time series, Oklahoma has recently dominated, winning last year and 17 of the previous 25 meetings.
When questioned about staying focused, Jackson Arnold underlined the significance of taking each game one at a time, which is consistent with Oklahoma’s core principles. “For us, it’s really about focusing on the opponent in front of us, which right now is Houston,” Arnold pointed out. “People will discuss the OU-Texas game and subsequent games, but as Coach Venables usually says, the following match is the most significant. This week is all about Houston for us. We need to be focused on film study, practice, and Houston. Following that, we continue on to Tulane, Tennessee, and so on. Each subsequent game becomes the most significant one.”
In his first season as a full-time starter, Arnold, a sophomore, made a strong statement in Week 1 against the Temple Owls. He threw for 141 yards and four touchdowns, three of which—before halftime—were caught by Purdue transfer Deion Burks. The Sooners’ defense also shined, racking up six sacks and nine tackles for loss in their dominant 52-7 victory.
Jackson Arnold finds it hard not to glance ahead at Oklahoma football’s 2024 lineup.
Arnold has been laser-focused all offseason, fully embracing the coveted QB1 role. “The biggest thing for me this offseason was stepping into a situation where I knew I was going to be the guy,” Arnold shared. “I knew the coaches trusted me to perform, so I focused on developing the leadership and toughness needed to be the quarterback, not just at any Power 4 school, but at the University of Oklahoma. Having the offseason to prepare myself was crucial in building chemistry with my coaches and teammates.”
As Oklahoma gears up to face moderate opponents at home—the Houston Cougars and Tulane Green Wave—the spotlight won’t be on the rivalry game against Texas just yet. Instead, it’s their Week 4 matchup that’s set to capture the media’s attention.
