Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables opens up on controversial decision during loss to Tennessee

The Oklahoma Sooners did not start off their first-ever season in the SEC the way they maybe imagined this summer. They started 3-0, so that's not the bad part. What's bad is how their first-ever SEC conference game went. It was at home, and they embarrassed themselves and the fan base against a good Tennessee Volunteers team.

Believe it or not, the defense actually played amazing . This is not only a SEC defense, but a defense that could be one of the very best in the entire country. The only issue is that they continue to get hurt, the biggest issue they have had as a whole. The defense played great, but the offense was unable to put the defense in good situations.

And, they could not finish the good situations the defense put them in. So, head coach Brent Venables made a change, one that has somewhat split college football fans. Earlier this season Venables said that he thought Jackson Arnold and Michael Hawkins would both play in some games. On Saturday, we saw that. But, it was because of the benching of Arnold, who didn't play the best.

“Felt like we needed to make a change there… Felt Mike (Hawkins) could give us a spark and he did,” Venables said after the game. We are going to find out who the best guy is to get us to [win] number four.”

Sure, Arnold played badly, but the offense as a whole didn't really help him. The offensive line was getting pushed around, the wide receivers were not creating separation, and the running backs weren't hitting their gaps, when there were gaps. It was a combination of things.

But, Arnold did play badly overall.

“I felt like the first interception we just threw it up there," Venables said. "And then the throw behind the line of scrimmage, that’s not even an option there… It’s a take all the way.”

The offensive struggles started from the get-go, and there was never really a sense that they would get it fixed as long as Arnold was in the game. So, you always wondered when it would happen.

"Just didn’t feel good. There was not enough other evidence that we’ll be just fine," Venables continued when asked why he didn't do it earlier.

Hawkins, the true freshman, came in and he did light a spark. There were plays that he would still like to have back, but this was the first real competition he's played.

He finished with 132 passing yards on 11/18 passing with a passing touchdown and nearly a rushing touchdown that saw him flip in the air and land on the goalline. He played desperate, and it worked out. He may very well be the guy going forward.

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