Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Jackson Arnold (11) throws a go throughout a university soccer sport between the College of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Houston Cougars at Gaylord Household – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. No. 15 Oklahoma and Tulane are on the lookout for higher issues out of their younger quarterbacks this weekend when the Sooners and Inexperienced Wave play Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Oklahoma is 2-0 however coming off a shaky offensive efficiency in final week’s 16-12 house win over Houston.
The Sooners managed simply 249 yards of whole offense, and sophomore quarterback Jackson Arnold was 19 of 32 for 174 yards and two touchdowns with an interception.
“He is a mature, robust man,” Oklahoma coach Brent Venables mentioned. “So he is dealt with all of it rather well. Once more, he had nice self-awareness and has taken possession the place he is wanted to, and that is allowed him to take the subsequent step so far as his development and improvement.”
Whereas Arnold struggled in opposition to Houston, Oklahoma’s offensive points go far past him.
The offensive line has been a revolving door, with the Sooners on their third heart of the season already — starter Branson Hickman injured an ankle within the opener, then Geirean Hatchett sustained a season-ending torn biceps damage. Joshua Bates has been pressured into motion regardless of Venables saying Bates was enjoying with out the total use of 1 arm.
The Sooners’ working sport has struggled, speeding for simply 75 yards final week after a lot of their 220 yards on the bottom within the opener got here late with the sport properly in hand.
Arnold has additionally been with out a number of key targets, although Venables mentioned there was an opportunity Nic Anderson, who had 10 landing catches a yr in the past, may make his season debut Saturday after coping with a hamstring damage.
“It is a group of men which are dedicated to the work and the issues that it takes,” Venables mentioned. “It could not occur as quick as everybody would love, however it’ll get higher.”
Tulane (1-1) is coming off a 34-27 house loss to Kansas State final Saturday, when redshirt freshman quarterback Darian Mensah threw for 342 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He additionally misplaced a fumble within the fourth quarter that resulted in a Okay-State defensive landing.
“Every thing’s new for (Mensah),” Inexperienced Wave coach Jon Sumrall mentioned. “He is studying. … He’ll get it. He’ll be taught it. Normally being a child, you contact a sizzling range and also you be taught it is sizzling, do not contact it anymore. Hopefully, he learns, ‘Hey, if I am in visitors, put the ball away.'”
By means of two video games, Oklahoma has pressured eight turnovers, tied for the FBS lead. Tulane has turned the ball over twice.
“Good scheme and good gamers normally make for good soccer, and so they’re actually well-coached with nice gamers,” Sumrall mentioned of the Sooners’ protection. “They’re a number of. They hold you actually guessing, hold you off steadiness. We have our work minimize out for us.”
For the second consecutive matchup in opposition to Oklahoma, the Inexperienced Wave are battling inclement climate within the lead-up to the sport.
In 2021, Hurricane Ida pressured the groups’ season-opening matchup to be moved from New Orleans to Norman.
Now, Tropical Storm Francine has impacted Tulane’s preparations, as they practiced on the New Orleans Saints’ facility early within the week.
In that 2021 assembly, the Inexperienced Wave took the Sooners all the way down to the wire earlier than the Sooners pulled out a 40-35 win.
Oklahoma has received each earlier conferences with Tulane.
–Subject Degree Media
