In a twist of fate, freshman Jackson Arnold was called upon to lead the No. 14 Oklahoma Sooners in the second half against Brigham Young University (BYU) after starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel suffered an apparent head injury.

Gabriel had a strong first half, completing 13 of 21 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns. With the scoreboard reading 17-17 at halftime in Provo, Utah, the injury came as a blow to the team. The Oklahoma radio broadcast confirmed that Gabriel had sustained a head injury.

Arnold, highly regarded as the third-ranked player in the 2023 ESPN 300 rankings, was initially expected to redshirt this season. However, with his previous appearances in four games, the redshirt option is no longer available to him. Despite this setback, Arnold has been diligently preparing and taking all necessary reps to stay ready in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Head coach Brent Venables expressed the challenges of maintaining a redshirt plan in his Tuesday news conference, stating, "You are always trying to be mindful of that... but there's disaster that happens and then you got to make a hard right-hand turn." Coach Venables emphasized the importance of having contingency plans, both best-case and worst-case scenarios, in order to be prepared for unexpected situations.

This injury is not the first time Gabriel has dealt with head trauma. Last season, after transferring from UCF to Oklahoma, Gabriel suffered a head injury during a game against TCU, causing him to miss a start against Texas. Despite the setback, Gabriel has had an impressive season, throwing for 3,260 yards and 27 touchdowns with only 5 interceptions. Notably, he orchestrated a game-winning drive, leading the Sooners to a 34-30 victory by covering 75 yards in just 62 seconds.

As the second half commenced, all eyes were on newcomer Arnold as he took over the reins of the offense in a crucial matchup against BYU. The young quarterback has impressed coaches and teammates alike with his talent and work ethic. Now, thrust into the spotlight, Arnold has an opportunity to showcase his skills and contribute to the team's success.

The outcome of the game remains uncertain, but the Sooners will undoubtedly rally behind their young quarterback as they look to secure a victory in Gabriel's absence. The resilience and adaptability of the team will be put to the test as they navigate unexpected challenges on the path to victory.