Jackson Arnold hit the Transfer Portal on December 4, two days after the Oklahoma Sooners hired Ben Arbuckle away from the Wazzu Cougars. Arnold and Arbuckle spoke during that time, and clearly, the conversation led to a swift decision.
There's a 99.99999999% chance John Mateer's eventual landing in Norman was brought up. Arnold made a business decision after that, knowing that he'd be behind in the Sooners' QB battle, and/or that he wouldn't have the same NIL offer coming his way from OU's boosters.
At that point, Mateer was a hot portal name despite having not entered yet. But everyone knew Arbuckle leaving Pullman meant Mateer was next. Specifically, Auburn Tiger fans were hoping Mateer would consider the Plains. Mateer and Arbuckle were a package deal, though, since Hugh Freeze wasn't going to dump Derrick Nix and Kent Austin.
Stormin in Norman's Dekota Gregory wonders if the conversation between Arbuckle and Arnold influenced a single thing, though; that, perhaps, Arnold had already decided he would move on from Oklahoma already.
"Who really knows if Arnold had already made up his mind before that, or if it really mattered who OU hired and what QB was coming with the new OC," Gregory wrote.
"Arnold's exit wasn't immediate, but dang near close. However, it was just long enough for Arbuckle to have one parting conversation with the QB that could have ran his offense one day."
Coincidentally enough, Arnold likely decided he was done with the Sooners when OU visited AU at Jordan-Hare Stadium during a 27-21 win over the Tigers. Brent Venables and Seth Littrell had benched Arnold the week before against the Tennessee Volunteers, but that happens for struggling QBs. Benching him against AU was the straw that broke the camel's back.
FanSided's Sam Fariss read the tea leaves and called Arnold being a good fit for Auburn right after the game. The writing was on the wall right then and there.
Now, Arnold gets a chance to wrap up this whole saga with a bow in his former home at Gaylord Memorial Stadium. We may never know the full story, but we'll at least get closure one way or another.