QB Jackson Arnold gets start for Oklahoma at No. 18 Ole Miss - ESPN

Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold will get the start under center when the Sooners visit No. 18 Ole Miss on Saturday, coach Brent Venables announced during his coach's show Monday night.

Arnold, the sophomore passer, began the season as Oklahoma's starter but had not appeared in a game since Sept. 21, before he came off the bench Saturday to replace freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. in the first quarter of the Sooners' 35-9 defeat to South Carolina.

Arnold completed 18 of his 36 passes for 225 yards with a touchdown in the Week 8 loss, which dropped Oklahoma to 4-3 and 1-3 in SEC play.

Arnold's return against the Gamecocks marked his fifth appearance this fall, officially burning his opportunity to redshirt and leaving him with two seasons of eligibility remaining.

In Week 9, the former five-star prospect will make his first start since he was benched in a 25-15 loss to Tennessee in Week 4, back under center on the road against a Rebels pass rush that has tallied 24 sacks, seventh most nationally.

Venables' confirmation of the move to stick with Arnold at quarterback arrived just over 24 hours after Oklahoma fired first-year offensive coordinator Seth Littrell on Sunday evening.

Littrell, the former North Texas coach, lasted just seven games as the Sooners' playcaller and left the job with Oklahoma ranked 128th in total offense and last in the SEC in rushing yards (112.1), third-down efficiency (27.5%) and first downs (120).

Co-offensive coordinator Joe Jon Finley is set to take over interim playcalling duties for the Sooners in Littrell's place. Venables also promoted analyst Kevin Johns, who most recently served as offensive coordinator at Duke, to interim quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator.

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