Dave WilsonESPN Staff Writer November 18, 2023, 2:48pm ET2 minutes read
Dillon Gabriel leaves the game after being tackled late in the 2nd quarter
Oklahoma’s QB Dillon Gabriel leaves the game apparently injured after being tackled in the red zone.
Freshman Jackson Arnold started the second half at quarterback for No. 14 Oklahoma against BYU after Dillon Gabriel suffered an apparent injury.
Gabriel went 13 of 21 for 191 yards and two touchdowns in the first half while the Sooners and Cougars were tied 17-17 early in the half in Provo, Utah. The Oklahoma radio show said Gabriel had a head injury.
Arnold, the No. 3 player in the 2023 ESPN 300 rankings, was expected to redshirt this season, but with appearances in four previous games, he won’t be able to stick it out.
“You always try to be cognizant of it,” Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said of Arnold’s potential redshirt at his press conference Tuesday. “Sometimes you can potentially do it and sometimes that was the plan, but then disaster happens and then you have to take a hard right turn. You always have plan A or plan B in mind, best case scenario, worst case scenario, but he was still able to do all the reps just in case something unforeseen happens so he can stay ready .”
Gabriel, who transferred to Oklahoma from UCF last season, suffered a head injury against TCU last season and missed a start against Texas. This season he has thrown for 3,260 yards and 27 touchdowns with 5 interceptions, including 75 yards in 62 seconds for the Sooners in a 34-30 victory.