Michael Hawkins Jr. chose the hard path. Or, at least in this era of college football, the path that often ends with a trip to the transfer portal and a fresh start elsewhere. If not the path of most resistance,

However, three first half turnovers from Arnold in week four forced head coach Brent Venables to pull his starter and insert freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. into the game. The youngster settled in against the Volunteers and moved the ball in the late stages of the game, earning his first career start against Auburn the following week.

Michael Hawkins Jr. became the first Oklahoma Sooners true freshman quarterback to win on the road in his first career start.

KOCO 5's Hannah Hoover spoke with Hawkins' high school football coach about what kind of quarterback he is and getting to watch Hawkins take over last week.

Michael Hawkins Jr. displayed tenacity and an unflinching determination in his first career start to help propel Oklahoma to an improbable comeback against Auburn.

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian prepares for Oklahoma's freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins, focusing on confusing him and defending his mobility.

Coaches and teammates like his poise and maturity, opponents fear his athletic ability, but now Hawkins steps into an entirely new setting: the Red River Rivalry.

When Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. takes his first snap against the Texas Longhorns on Saturday, he will officially make history. Despite these two teams meeting for what will be the 120th game in the series,