Auburn Tigers quarterback Jackson Arnold looked like the answer to AU's problems at quarterback since Bo Nix's departure in 2021 during the team's 38-24 win over the Baylor Bears this past Friday night.
He also looked like a much better player than he did last year with the Oklahoma Sooners. And a radically different one.
The Columbia Daily Tribune's Calum McAndrew believes Arnold looks like a "changed man" since he accumulated 74 yards on mostly checkdowns with an 88.4 passer rating in a 30-23 loss to the Mizzou Tigers last November.
McAndrew doesn't believe it was a flawless performance -- specifically because the Tigers renowned receiving corps wasn't as much of a factor as Hugh Freeze and Co. would've preferred -- but gave him his flowers.
"The quarterback looked like a changed man (in other words, not the one who fumbled last year’s Mizzou-Oklahoma game away) now that he’s out of Norman and part of what may be a much-improved Auburn offense. He rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns," McAndrew wrote.
"Mizzou’s first road game — all the way in mid-October — is definitely not going to be easy.
"There were still significant pressure issues and the Tigers didn’t exactly light Baylor up with their strong group of wideouts, but Arnold navigated it well and was extremely impressive in the run game in a 38-24 win over Baylor."
Considering the media firestorm Freeze's play-calling delegation of duties caused, Arnold navigated the offense seamlessly. In fact, a QB who can call his own number and hit the ground running is the best option for a play-calling structure that has too many cooks in the kitchen.
Arnold had the best debut possible. He looked like fulfilled potential. He looked like the star coming out of Guyer High School in 2023 who could restore OU to championship glory.
Best of all, he looked like someone who's learned from his mistakes in Norman and is ready to finally be "that guy" on the Plains.