Why Alamo Bowl could be blessing in disguise for Jackson Arnold

Jackson Arnold starting the Alamo Bowl vs. Arizona brought some juice to the matchup. Oklahoma fans were excited to see the true freshman play against a quality opponent on a big stage. But they were quickly reminded that Arnold was, in fact, a true freshman.

Oklahoma turned the ball over six times, three of which were interceptions thrown by Arnold. Brent Venables then saw the season in charge result in a loss after a successful turnaround in Year Two.

But there were still some throws where Arnold flashed the potential and even at the level of prior elite quarterbacks at Oklahoma.

This caused On3’s Andy Staples to ask Sooner Scoop‘s Eddie Radosevich if the Alamo Bowl performance could wind up being a blessing in disguise for Arnold. Sure, there are some lessons to be learned but confidence should still be high for Arnold heading into 2024.

“I think we’re going to look back at the Alamo Bowl, I don’t know as a blessing in disguise, because you never want to see a guy turn the ball over six times in his first career start,” Radosevich said during Tuesday’s episode of Andy Staples On3. “But at the same time, there were certain throws and they probably were throws that didn’t even go for scoring drives. I can remember two or three particularly that you go ‘Woah, okay.’

“That’s something that Oklahoma fans were a little more used to with the Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, Jalen Hurts of the world. And even Caleb (Williams) to an extent.”

Williams is probably the closest comparison to Arnold’s current situation.

As special of a talent as he turned out to be, Oklahoma fans did have to go through some of those roller coaster moments. One week, Williams threw for 402 yards and six touchdowns against Texas Tech. The next — 142 passing yards on 18 attempts with no touchdowns and two interceptions in a loss to Baylor.

Those types of moments could occur for Arnold, Oklahoma is just hoping they do not happen in some big-time SEC games the program has on the schedule.

“You are going to have to go through those low points in turning the ball over,” Arnold said. “I think Oklahoma fans just hope it doesn’t come at a certain moment in the Cotton Bowl or making that first trip down to Baton Rouge. Or over on the Plains against Auburn. Certainly, Missouri with the rivalry people have created off the field.”

No Oklahoma fan wanted to see Arnold struggle against Arizona but sometimes, growing pains are just part of the process. The only way to get through it is by gaining experience.

“I think it’s going to be a positive to a certain extent,” Radosevich said on the Alamo Bowl. “But there are going to be moments of 2024 where you go ‘Oh yeah, he is a true freshman.”