Auburn's new QB1, Oklahoma transfer Jackson Arnold, is in the same NIL conversations as Alabama's Jalen Milroe and the Sooners' new starter, John Mateer. AL.com's Joseph Goodman linked the three -- and even gave Arnold special due -- while discussing them in a larger look at Milroe's future.
"How much is Milroe worth as a senior quarterback? Former Washington State quarterback John Mateer is projected to be the best player in college football in 2025. Mateer reportedly left a seven-figure deal on the table at Wazzu to enter the transfer portal. According to a report, Mateer is getting a $3 million deal to be the quarterback at Oklahoma," Goodman wrote.
"Auburn apparently offered Mateer $1.5 million back in October, according to reporter John Canzano. That’s pretty interesting because Auburn ended up grabbing Oklahoma’s old quarterback (Jackson Arnold) out of the transfer portal.
"Is Milroe a better quarterback than Mateer? Is Milroe a better quarterback than Arnold? Not according to the scoreboard. After all, Arnold and Oklahoma upset Alabama 24-3."
It's easy to overlook Arnold looking at just one season in Norman. But most blame fired offensive coordinator Seth Littrell for holding OU back in their first SEC season. Even still, he notched signature wins, none more legendary than playing spoiler in Week 13 against Kalen DeBoer's Crimson Tide -- knocking Alabama out of the College Football Playoff.
Arnold has now been ingratiated to an SEC environment, though. He's a more valuable commodity because of the wars he had at Oklahoma. And now he gets a valuable fresh start with a fanbase dying for the kind of potential he brings to the potential.
There's good ingredients on the Plains for Arnold to succeed, just as there is for Mateer at Oklahoma. Milroe is in an interesting position, because returning to Alabama in 2025 may be realistic given no clear replacement.
Where each go next is interesting considering how the market sees them.