Oklahoma's former quarterbacks Hawkins and Arnold are thriving as the Sooners' offense stalls

Two quarterbacks who used to play for Oklahoma are now producing the kind of numbers the Sooners can't find. As The Sporting News reported, Michael Hawkins has become one of the best players in the Big 12 at West Virginia. Jackson Arnold has steadied himself at UNLV. Meanwhile, John Mateer and the Oklahoma offense keep coming up short.

Hawkins had his best game yet last week in a 45-42 win over Cincinnati. He threw for 464 yards and three touchdowns, ran for 77 yards and two more scores, and led the drive that set up the winning field goal in the final seconds. Through seven games, the sophomore has 1,519 passing yards, 10 touchdown passes and one interception. He has also run for 749 yards and 14 touchdowns, the most rushing touchdowns in the country, and has topped 100 rushing yards four times. West Virginia is 4-3. In 2024, Hawkins threw for 783 yards and ran for 204 at Oklahoma. He then spent a season as Mateer's backup after Mateer arrived from Washington State with offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle.

Arnold's path was rougher. He arrived at Oklahoma as a five-star recruit, lost the starting job to Hawkins in 2024, won it back and then transferred. He had a forgettable 2025 at Auburn before moving on to UNLV. This season he has thrown for 1,386 yards, 10 touchdowns and two interceptions, and he has run for 408 yards and six scores. Last week he accounted for three touchdowns in a 41-31 win over Air Force. UNLV is also 4-3.

The comparison stings because Oklahoma can't score. The Sooners have reached 20 points only twice in six games, and they have scored 14 or fewer four times. Arbuckle is not changing quarterbacks. Speaking Tuesday after the 21-13 loss to Kentucky, he said, "We believe that John Mateer gives us the best chance to win," according to News On 6. Arbuckle said Oklahoma put together four drives of 10 or more plays against Kentucky but kept settling for field goals. He blamed basic mistakes, including a false start on third-and-2, along with injuries on the offensive line.

What it means at Mississippi State

Oklahoma is 3-3 and visits Mississippi State on Saturday, October 24 (SEC Network). The Sooners' season has gone back and forth. They beat UTEP 51-0, lost 17-10 at Michigan, got past New Mexico 14-6, were beaten 41-13 at Georgia, upset No. 1 Texas 27-24 and then lost to No. 15 Kentucky. Not counting the UTEP game, they are averaging a little over 15 points.

Oklahoma is still favored on this site's board, which tracks 11 venues. Novig has the Sooners at -182 on the moneyline and Mississippi State at +174. On the spread, Oklahoma is favored by 4.5 at Novig at -100. The best Oklahoma price anywhere is BetRivers at -4 for -112, so the venues are no more than half a point apart on the number. The total is 44.5 at Novig, with the over at -111 and the under at +104. The best over is at theScore Bet, 44.5 at -105, and Hard Rock Bet has the high total at 45.5. Sportsbook hold on the spread runs from 3.8% to 7.0%.

That total suggests the market expects a low-scoring game, which fits how Oklahoma has played. For the favorite's price to hold up, the Sooners will need touchdowns on the long drives Arbuckle described. Hawkins and Arnold will keep coming up until they get them.