Oklahoma treads into new territory at SEC Media Days

Oklahoma is plenty familiar with Dallas.

The Sooners' annual rivalry with Texas is played in the city every year and the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex has long been the most fertile recruiting grounds for the Sooners.

Tuesday was a different experience for Oklahoma in the city, though, as the Sooners made their way through SEC Media Days as they prepare for their inaugural season in the conference.

"Absolutely," linebacker Danny Stutsman said when asked if the Sooners were ready for the SEC. "I think it's been a long time coming. We're really excited."

The Sooners open the season Aug. 30 against Temple and then begin SEC play Sept. 21 at home against Tennessee.

"Listen, we understand the competitive depth top to bottom if very real," Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said. "We're gonna find out where we match up. That's what the games are for. You figure all that out on the field."

Quarterback Jackson Arnold said he understood the challenge would be greater now.

"I grew up watching SEC ball, and just -- I know those atmospheres are different, bigger stadiums, more capacity," Arnold said. "Obviously it's going to be louder when it comes to that too, and just for our guys, it's just big on focusing on ourselves and just not on the crowd noise or any outside factor."

Plenty of weight will be on Arnold's shoulders, as he steps into the starting role after serving as the backup behind Dillon Gabriel last season.

Tuesday morning, Stutsman worked out with Arnold and the offense before making his way to Dallas for the event.

The workout session gave Stutsman a different perspective on Arnold.

"I just wanted to sit back," Stutsman said. "I wasn't as vocal as I usually was, just kind of seeing how the offense does it, and the first guy to say something was Jackson Arnold. Every single day I know that's how he is. It was kind of a sense of security, like, ‘All right, this guy leads this offense.' ... He's the first guy getting everyone going, kind of being that motivation, that spark plug the offense needs. There's no doubt in my mind he's everything that we need."

With Arnold sliding in for Gabriel, and the Sooners' offensive line in transition after losing much of its production from last year, Oklahoma figures to lean more heavily on its defense as it moves to the SEC.

Oklahoma's defense allowed almost 72 yards fewer per game last year than it did in Venables' first season as head coach in 2022. It also made strides in forcing more turnovers.

Stutsman said he anticipated another significant leap forward this season.

"We're a lot more confident," he said. "A lot of guys know what they're doing."

--Field Level Media