Ben Arbuckle’s first year running Oklahoma’s offense was never going to be a clean ride, and it wasn’t. The Sooners were better than they were in 2024, but still too uneven to feel settled, finishing 2025 ranked No. 90 in total offense, No. 57 in passing offense, No. 78 in scoring offense and No. 112 in rushing offense.
That inconsistency showed up in the numbers that matter most. Oklahoma averaged 118.5 yards per game on the ground, which was the second-worst mark among College Football Playoff participants, ahead of only Alabama.
Arbuckle arrived in Norman with a reputation as one of college football’s rising offensive minds after strong seasons at Washington State. But as Brent Venables pointed out, there’s a real difference between building at Washington State and handling the pressure that comes with Oklahoma and the SEC.
"You don't know what you don't know until you go through it, and you know, what I've tried to help him is having people who have been there who can help you, you know, what's around the corner," Venables said." Does that make sense?
And 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, you know, from an experience standpoint, to certainly know everything."
Now Arbuckle heads into Year 2 with more under his belt, a returning starting quarterback in John Mateer and a better set of playmakers around him. The challenge is clear: Oklahoma does not need a fireworks show every week, but it does need an offense that is far more dependable.
If Arbuckle can keep pushing that unit toward balance, the Sooners would have a much better chance of pairing a steadier offense with Venables’ defense and turning that combination into a serious national championship push.
In Other News...
Oklahoma Is Closing In On A Texas Legacy Recruit
A highly regarded defensive lineman from Texas is becoming a name to watch for Oklahoma, and the Sooners have put themselves in a strong position early with Logan Lokey. The 2028 prospect out of Denton Guyer High School has drawn multiple offers already, and Oklahoma is among the schools that have made a serious push as the recruiting picture starts to take shape.
Lokey has already been to Norman once and is expected back during the season, which should keep Oklahoma in the conversation as the process moves along. Even with family ties to another major program, no commitment has been made, and the Sooners are currently viewed as the team to beat as they try to land one of the more intriguing young defensive line targets in the country. [Read more 🡒]
Sooners Finally Have A Center Battle That Could Matter This Fall
The center room has become one of the more interesting spots on Oklahomas offensive line as the Sooners try to build better depth for the fall. Fifth-year player Jake Maikkula remains the anchor, but the competition behind him has given the staff something it has wanted for a while: a real battle for backup work. Freshman Noah Best and senior Caleb Nitta, a transfer from Western Kentucky, are the names to watch, and both have drawn positive mention from the coaches and from Maikkula himself.
Bests development has stood out during the spring, while Nitta brings the kind of experience that can help stabilize a room that needs it. For an offense trying to raise the level of play up front, the backup center spot matters more than it usually does, because one injury or one missed practice can quickly expose a thin line. The Sooners still have time to sort it out, but this is one of those competitions that could end up carrying more weight than it first seems. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahomas Edge Rusher Battle Is Giving The Sooners Real Hope
Fall camp has put Oklahomas edge-rusher room squarely under the microscope, and Brent Venables has reason to like what he has seen so far. Adepoju Adebawore brings the most experience to the battle, while Danny Okoye has made noticeable strides and continues to flash the kind of upside that can change the feel of a defensive front. Add in Arkansas transfer EMarion Harris, and the Sooners have more than just bodies in the room. They have a legitimate competition.
For a defense built around pressure, this is the kind of position group that can shape the tone of the entire season. Venables is getting a mix of proven know-how, developmental momentum and transfer help, which gives Oklahoma some real hope that the edge could become a strength rather than a question mark. The next step is figuring out how all of that promise translates once the games start for real. [Read more 🡒]