After Oklahoma turned it up on three straight possessions to start Saturday’s game against him South Carolinalegendary Sooners coach Bob Stoops struggled to find words on the radio show. But if OU made a QB changehe fully supported it.

Oklahoma chose the bench Michael Hawkins Jr. after two interceptions – including a pick-six – and a fumble that led to a South Carolina touchdown. That meant there was a 21-0 deficit with less than 10 minutes left in the first quarter, and Brent Venables turned to Jackson Arnold and burned his red shirt in the process.

Stoops called the start “unbelievable” as Oklahoma struggled to get out of the gate. But when it came to the quarterback transition, he supported Venables’ decision 100%.

“I’m all for it,” Bob Stoops said on the show via Formerly Scoop’s George Stoia III.

Since this is his fifth appearance this season, Arnold can no longer redshirt. After Hawkins’ pick-six, he officially entered the game with 9:24 left in the first quarter.

Hawkins had a rough start to Saturday’s game, throwing an interception on the first play of the game that started South Carolina’s scoring drive. On the ensuing possession, he stayed in the game but fumbled a sack when the Gamecocks recovered it with a scoop-and-score, leaving the score 14-0 with 11:21 to play. Then on the next drive, Hawkins threw a 66-yard pick-six to give South Carolina a 21-0 lead.

That led to the decision to sign Arnold, who hadn’t played since the Tennessee game. In that game, Arnold hit 7 of 16 for 54 yards and an interception before transition. Hawkins came into the game completing 11 of 18 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown while also playing a key role in the running game. All told, he has thrown for 458 yards and a touchdown in his four appearances since Saturday, while adding 128 rushing yards and a score.

Arnold began his second year as a starter after that Dillon Gabriels Departure. However, he has been up and down, previously completing 59.8% of his passes for 538 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions Brent Venables made a change. Hawkins took over amid Arnold’s struggles against it Tennessee as OU suffered a 25-15 loss.