Jackson Arnold is reportedly entering the Transfer Portal, a predictable conclusion to a 2025 campaign on the Plains that was anything but beneficial for him or the Auburn Tigers. Arnold threw for 1,309 yards, tossing six touchdowns and two interceptions, adding 311 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground.
Pro Football Network's Joe Broback believes the West Virginia Mountaineers, UNLV Rebels, Mississippi State Bulldogs, Oklahoma State Cowboys, and Old Dominion Monarchs could potentially land Arnold this January.
Several of those teams made hires within the last few years. Rich Rodriguez was hired at WVU last year. Dan Mullen was hired at UNLV the same day. Jeff Lebby was hired at State in 2023. Eric Morris was just hired away from the North Texas Mean Green to Oklahoma State in November. Ricky Rahne is the longest-tenured coach of the bunch with the Old Dominion Monarchs, having been hired back in 2020.
What Jackson Arnold Transfer Portal suggestions mean
Not a single school that's losing its starter is looking at a player like Arnold to commandeer the offense. No, instead, several the schools suggested for Arnold's next landing spot are looking to establish an identity, and have the time to lose games if the gamble goes wrong.
After unsuccessful stints with the Oklahoma Sooners and Tigers, Arnold is a gamble. While he came out of 6A Texas High School Football as a top prospect from the Denton Guyer Wildcats, Arnold was seen as a sure-thing.
Arnold's career trajectory changes make him an SEC casualty, but in this NIL era of College Football, he can keep looking for his best fit year after year with no consequences.
Auburn already paid the consequences by paying a seven-figure premium for a highly disappointing player. Wherever he goes next, things can't get heavier than Arnold helping to get Hugh Freeze fired in East Central Alabama.
Mainly because wherever he goes next, the stakes won't be nearly as high as they were in Auburn or Norman.