OU football offense has to improve in Year 2 under Ben Arbuckle | Mussatto
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NORMAN — Brent “Double Nickels” Venables is the oldest head coach in the SEC, but he was once a 28-year-old co-defensive coordinator on Bob Stoops’ first OU staff.
Even younger than Ben Arbuckle, then 29, when Venables hired the former Washington State offensive coordinator to run OU’s offense. Arbuckle, who’s since turned 30 and is a month shy of 31, is set to enter his second season as the Sooners’ OC.
Year 1 was as rocky as the mountains that bear his name. Oklahoma ranked ninth in passing, 13th in rushing and 14th in yards per play in the 16-team SEC. Quarterback John Mateer, who followed Arbuckle from Wazzu to OU, was ineffective after injuring his hand. OU’s offensive line was green. The running game stagnated. The passing attack was void of big plays.
But now Mateer is healthy, and his supporting cast is more experienced.
Arbuckle included.
Coaches, like players, take time to develop. And if this Sooner offense is to take a leap, Arbuckle will have to do the same. The two are inextricably linked.
“Excited about all the work and development that has taken place,” Venables said Tuesday to kick off preseason camp. “None of it can happen without him.”
Mateer’s quarterback play is the biggest swing factor for the Sooners this season, but Arbuckle’s performance as OC might be a close second.
Everyone wants the young, hot-shot coordinator. But when they struggle, suddenly their age becomes a detriment. Arbuckle is somewhere in between. His sheen is starting to erode, but he still has plenty of time to prove himself.
“I think from last year to this year, one of the biggest things I feel like I have more confidence in is just finding the absolute best way to do something and lean on the guys around me,” Arbuckle said Tuesday. “Coming into Year 1 you really are trying to build trust and confidence with not only the players, but everybody in the building and everybody in your offensive staff room.”
OU’s offensive staff has shuffled.
Former NFL star Jason Witten replaced Joe Jon Finley as tight ends coach. Deland McCullough is the new running backs coach, taking over for DeMarco Murray. Kevin Wilson, the former Indiana and Tulsa head coach — who coordinated some electric offenses at OU in the 2000s — was elevated from special assistant to the head coach/offensive analyst to assistant head coach of offense.
Having a coach of Wilson’s ilk on staff puts pressure on Arbuckle, intentionally or not.
“I’m just kind of like the conscience, if that makes sense,” Wilson said of his role. “I’m not really pushing an agenda.”
In addition to having years of experience, Wilson said he also brings “a lot of bad play calls, a lot of bad decisions, a lot of bad game plans along the way.” In other words, he can advise Arbuckle of all the things not to do.
“He’s got great intelligence, great passion, great work ethic, really good knowledge …” Wilson said of Arbuckle. “I think he’s a fantastic young coach off to a great start, but I think he has a willingness to learn and grow, and most importantly, try to fit what’s best for our players and what’s best for Coach Venables’ team.”
Wilson has to pick his spots on when to weigh in. Arbuckle is the boss of the offense, and Wilson doesn’t want to be the here’s-how-I-used-to-do-it guy.
“A young me would struggle,” Wilson said. “An old me bites my lip. I’m very experienced not because of my coaching pedigree, but at being married for over 30 years with five kids. I’ve had a lot of ideas that nobody bought.”
That doesn’t mean Wilson won’t speak up when sees something that could make the Sooners gain an extra yard.
Wilson, 64, has coached college football longer than Arbuckle has been alive. Arbuckle was born in 1995. Wilson was the offensive coordinator at Miami-Ohio in 1995.
But there’s been a Sean McVay-ification in football. Young coaches not only have innovative schemes, but also a natural way of relating to players.
“He’s probably the first OC that really connects with the players on a personal level outside of the game,” said tight end Hayden Hansen, a Florida transfer. “He’s really good at flipping the switch. When it’s time to go, it’s time to go. There’s no messing around. But outside of the game and before practice he just cuts it up with a lot of players. It really does take a load off your shoulders.”
Arbuckle’s relationship with Mateer goes even deeper. This will be their fourth season together as coordinator and coach. If there’s anybody who can bring the best out of Mateer, it’s Arbuckle.
“I wish you could see them behind the scenes,” Hansen said. “It’s kind of like brothers.”
Venables has trended younger with his coordinator hires. Former OC Jeff Lebby was 38. Former DC Zac Alley was 30. Arbuckle was even younger.
Venables used to be one of those guys. He knows the grace he was afforded as he was learning on the job.
“You don't know what you don't know until you go through it,” Venables said. “… You feel like you have to carry this heavy weight of, ‘I’m supposed to know everything because I have that title.’ But in reality, how would you ever know everything? You have no capacity at that time from an experience standpoint to know everything. But he’s been great. He’s very hungry, super bright, really smart.”
Venables noted OU’s offensive improvement from 2024 to 2025, which, true. Almost by default. John Mateer was better than Jackson Arnold. Arbuckle, unlike Seth Littrell, survived a full season as OC. OU surged from 113th in total offense to 92nd. From 124th in yards per play to 97th.
The 2025 Sooners won 10 games and made the College Football Playoff in spite of an uninspiring offense. Venables’ defense was that dominant.
The 2026 OU defense could be just as good. Maybe better.
But the Arbuckle-led offense can’t be an anchor, not again, if the Sooners are to take another step toward contention.
Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at jmussatto@oklahoman.com. Support Joe's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football offense has to improve in Year 2 under Ben Arbuckle | Mussatto
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