History has a way of circling back on Oklahoma, and that’s what makes the next two weeks so tense for Ben Arbuckle and Bill Bedenbaugh.
The Sooners go to Mississippi State on Saturday, then come home to face South Carolina on Oct. 31.
If star quarterback Kamario Taylor doesn’t suit up for Mississippi State, an Oklahoma loss in either game would come against opponents the Sooners should probably beat. That kind of result would put staff changes on the table, the sort Oklahoma usually avoids in the middle of a season.
And with the Sooners sitting fifth nationally in total defense, that side of the ball has already done enough to deserve more support.
Arbuckle took the hit after Oklahoma managed only 346 yards, turned it over four times and scored just three points in the second half of a 21-13 loss to Kentucky on Saturday.
"I take full responsibility for those (bad) plays, whenever they happen," Arbuckle said. "Ultimately, I’m the one who calls the play out there. I’m the one who designs it, and if something bad happens, I believe it falls back on me."
That kind of pressure is nothing new in Norman. The last time the Sooners (3-3) changed out a major offensive coach during the season, Venables went with Seth Littrell in 2024 after Oklahoma scored only 12 combined points in back-to-back blowout losses to Texas and South Carolina and slipped to 4-3.
This offense is flirting with the same kind of collapse. Putting up 13 points against Kentucky, one of the SEC’s weakest defenses, was bad enough. If Oklahoma then struggles against a Mississippi State defense that ranks 98th nationally in total defense, the decision-makers may be forced into action.
The quarterback situation remains a sticking point, too. Arbuckle was asked why Oklahoma keeps rolling with John Mateer, and he made the case plainly: “We believe that John Mateer gives us the best chance to win.” Asked again about Mateer after his three interceptions last week, Arbuckle repeated the same thought.
"Throughout everything that he’s done, the player that he is, the preparation that he has, we believe that John Mateer gives us the best chance to win," Arbuckle said.
But the results have been hard to ignore. Mateer threw a pick six against Kentucky, another costly error in a stretch filled with them since he transferred in. Arbuckle is the one drawing the most heat because he is the play-caller and the quarterbacks coach, and Mateer still looks stuck in the same place he was a year ago.
The bigger complaint is simple: when Oklahoma finds something that works, it walks away from it. The Sooners have had success running the ball, then veered right back into throwing and left Mateer exposed to pressure. When that happens, the mistakes usually follow.
Lloyd Avant gave a glimpse of what the ground game can do against Texas, piling up 72 yards on 10 carries in the upset win. He has clearly been the best answer in the backfield. Oklahoma also had some success running early against Kentucky, only to drift away from it again while Arbuckle leaned back into the pass-heavy approach.
Bedenbaugh is in a different spot. A midseason move would be much harder to make after 13 ½ seasons of service, and he has the built-in explanation of a line battered by injuries. He also has a long track record of success that Arbuckle simply doesn’t.
Still, the offense’s current problems have put both coaches under a bright light. Oklahoma has Kevin Wilson waiting in the wings if a change is made. Wilson coached the offensive line and tight ends for Bob Stoops from 2002-2010, later served as offensive coordinator for some strong Ohio State offenses and now is Oklahoma’s assistant head coach for offense.
His background gives Oklahoma a possible answer if the Sooners decide they need one. If the offense doesn’t straighten itself out soon, Wilson’s role could be the next thing to change.
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