Quarterback success is like a finely tuned machine—when one part misfires, the whole engine sputters. To prove this theory, Jackson Arnold, last season with Oklahoma Sooners didn’t just sputter, it “broke down structurally”. The 5-star talent, who once seemed destined to anchor the Sooners’ offense for years, now finds himself at Auburn Tigers’ (5-7) doorstep looking for a fresh start. And as Joel Klatt put it bluntly, for a guy who entered his freshman season as the backup to starter former Sooner Dillon Gabriel last season. His journey to reclaim his potential is as much about fixing his confidence as it is his game.

On The Next Round Podcast, Joel Klatt joined to keep it stack about Arnold’s time at Oklahoma and what the Tigers halls expect out of the No. 8 prospect in the country for the class of 2023. “Hard to say because Oklahoma’s offense was so bad, and it was structurally bad,” Klatt said, adding that the Sooners’ system left Jackson Arnold with little chance to shine. “I watched the Tennessee game and subsequent games after that, and I was just like, this is gross… I did not understand what their intent was.” That’s about as brutal an assessment as you’ll get from the Fox Sports analyst. Watching the Denton native under pressure behind a crumbling offensive line while operating an offense that seemed to lack any cohesive identity made one thing clear: the kid was swimming upstream with a cinderblock tied to his ankle.

To Arnold’s credit, his raw numbers weren’t abysmal under Brent Venables. The sophomore threw for 1,421 yards and 12 touchdowns in 10 games while adding 444 rushing yards and three more scores on the ground. But stats don’t always tell the story. Oklahoma’s offensive woes—not to mention the constant pressure he faced—were like a wrecking ball to the Former Oklahoma #11 passer’s confidence. Klatt wondered aloud what kind of toll last season took on him. “I think he can have a lot of success,” Klatt explained. “But my biggest question is going to be his confidence… Losing your job, coming back into the game, the offense in general being so bad—I’m wondering just what happened to his psyche.”

And that, right there, is the heart of this transfer. Coach Hugh Freeze and Auburn isn’t just getting a former five-star recruit with a high ceiling; they’re getting a player who needs to be rebuilt mentally and schematically. “It’s a bit of a reclamation project,” Klatt admitted. The Tigers will need to nurture the half Croatian by descent (from his mom’s side) skill set while surrounding him with a system that works—something Oklahoma failed to provide. If anyone doubts the impact of fit, they need only look at the NFL pipeline of quarterbacks whose careers took off after finding the right offense.

He’s seen too many transfer QBs crash and burn under the weight of expectations. But his natural talent isn’t in question. At 6’2”, 220 pounds, with mobility and a cannon arm, he’s got the tools to succeed. What Auburn fans need to hope for is a coaching staff that understands how to unlock his potential.

Ultimately, Arnold’s move to Auburn is about second chances. Klatt believes in his “strong skill set,” and he’s right—talent doesn’t just evaporate. If Auburn can provide him with a functional offense and rebuild his confidence, Arnold could still become the star he was projected to be. “If he gets into a place where he can fit into a system that they know what they’re doing, I think that he could have a lot of success,” the former Buffs QB emphasized. But another great analyst might be after him to drop some ‘Fine bombs’, with quick skepticism, as he isn’t entirely sold on Arnold’s move, revolutionizing Auburn’s passing attack.

Jackson Arnold transfer doesn’t hit the “slam dunk” for Finebaum

Paul Finebaum isn’t ready to crown Auburn’s quarterback room just yet. While the addition of Jackson Arnold from Oklahoma is generating plenty of excitement on the Plains, Finebaum is here to play the voice of reason. During his regular Monday spot on McElroy & Cubelic in the Morning, the ESPN analyst pumped the brakes on any premature celebrations.

“I think they have to be excited. It’s an upgrade over what the program has,” He explained. But then he added the kicker: what does it really mean? According to Finebaum, Arnold’s exit from Oklahoma might have had more to do with the Sooners’ struggles to develop him than anything else. He pointed out that the hope for Auburn is simple—Arnold pulls a Bo Nix. “Bo was suffering at Auburn, went to Oregon, and became a first-round draft pick and a Heisman finalist,” Finebaum said. “That’s the dream for Arnold.”

But does he think it’ll pan out? Let’s not get too ahead of us. “I don’t know,” the ESPN’s sportscaster admitted. “His predecessor at OU did better leaving, and I’ve never been wild about Oklahoma’s offense. I don’t think it’s a slam dunk.”