Brent Venables still has a big offseason ahead of him, and it goes beyond finding a new offensive coordinator. Oklahoma also needs a new starting quarterback, because even if John Mateer steadies things this season, he’ll be out of eligibility after it ends.
That’s why the Sooners could be looking at another OC-QB package deal. It didn’t work out last time with Ben Arbuckle and Mateer coming over together from Washington State, but the idea itself isn’t the problem. If Venables can land the right play caller and a quarterback who already knows the system, Oklahoma could get instant chemistry and, ideally, instant production.
The top priority has to be hiring the right offensive coordinator. Still, three of the names being floated as potential candidates also have quarterbacks who could come with them.
Mitch Dahlen at Oregon State is one of the biggest names to watch. His offense has been among the best in the country, powered by a No. 1 passing attack led by sophomore quarterback Braden Atkinson. Through Week 11, Atkinson leads all of college football with 352.1 passing yards per game and ranks fourth with 25 touchdown passes against just three interceptions.
Atkinson has made a smooth jump to the FBS after transferring from Mercer, where he had actually replaced current Oklahoma backup Whitt Newbauer. Both quarterbacks started at Mercer as freshmen before moving on, but Atkinson’s production has been on another level.
He’s also been throwing to one of the nation’s top receivers in Jesse Legree, who leads the FBS with 134.3 receiving yards per game. Legree has already said he plans to return to Oregon State, though that could change if both his quarterback and offensive coordinator head to Oklahoma, where bigger games and more money would be part of the pitch.
That said, this is the kind of move that would make some Sooners fans uneasy. Another OC-quarterback duo leaving after one successful season together would feel awfully familiar.
Kevin Decker at Memphis is another name in the conversation, even after being mentioned previously as someone Oklahoma should avoid. The Tigers still have the No. 5 offense in the FBS, and redshirt junior quarterback Marcus Stokes has been a major reason why.
Stokes transferred from West Florida and has thrown for 25 touchdowns this season, tying Atkinson for the national lead. He’s been more accurate than Atkinson too, completing 69.1% of his passes. He also ranks 10th in the country with 281.3 passing yards per game and has added three rushing touchdowns.
Rob Ezell at Wake Forest rounds out the group. His quarterback, Gio Lopez, will likely enter the portal again regardless, but Ezell has clearly gotten the most out of him this season.
Lopez transferred from South Alabama, struggled at North Carolina, and then bounced back at Wake Forest. He’s now 13th in the FBS with 272.0 passing yards per game, with 18 touchdown passes and only one interception. He’s also added six rushing scores, making him a proven dual-threat threat.
Lopez has been so productive that Wake Forest even launched a Heisman campaign for him.
In Other News...
Former Sooners Defender Hits Crushing NFL Setback In Rookie Year
Gracen Haltons first NFL season came to a painful halt when the rookie defensive tackle suffered a broken ankle in San Franciscos game against the Las Vegas Raiders. For Oklahoma fans still tracking former Sooners across the league, it was a tough reminder of how quickly a promising debut can change, especially for a young defender trying to carve out a role early in his pro career.
There was a brighter note elsewhere for another former Sooner defender, as Nik Bonitto helped the Denver Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers by forcing a late fumble. And in a matchup that carried plenty of Oklahoma ties, Baker Mayfield and Caleb Williams faced off with Williams guiding the Chicago Bears to a 27-24 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. [Read more 🡒]
Sooners Could Land An Early Recruiting Boost Fans Will Notice
A potential early recruiting spark is starting to take shape for Oklahoma as the Sooners wait on a few key 2028 names who could help shape the next wave of the roster. Kamieon Compton-Nero, one of the top prospects in Oklahoma, is expected to announce his college decision on Nov. 13, with Oklahoma in the mix alongside Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Alabama and SMU. For a program that always has to balance regional priorities with national competition, getting in early on a player like that matters.
The momentum does not stop there, either. Recruiting reports and insider predictions have Oklahoma projected to land edge rusher Keoni Snipes, a four-star recruit from Alabama, while the Sooners are also still battling for offensive tackle Lincoln Faalafi, another highly ranked 2028 prospect out of California. None of those decisions are final yet, but the combination of local interest, national reach and analyst buzz is the kind of early-cycle attention that can give fans a real reason to keep an eye on the recruiting trail. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahomas Road Win May Have Revealed A New Offensive Spark
Oklahomas trip to Florida came with more than just the usual road-game pressure. Offensive coordinator Jason Witten had already been working through the challenges of the Sooners season while trying to build a stronger rapport with quarterback John Mateer, and that effort showed up in a performance that looked far more connected than the unit had at times earlier in the year. The offense found a rhythm, and a 20-play touchdown drive stood out as the kind of sustained march that can change the feel of a game and maybe even a season.
Witten and Mateer both came away sounding encouraged by how their working relationship is developing, which matters for a team still searching for consistency. For Oklahoma, the bigger question now is whether that road win was just a good night or the start of something more stable on offense. If the Sooners can keep pairing Wittens structure with Mateers comfort in the system, this could be the kind of spark that carries beyond one afternoon in Gainesville. [Read more 🡒]