Oklahoma QB Future Faces One Big Test After Ben Arbuckle Firing

Amid coaching changes, Jamison Roberts reassures Oklahoma fans of his unwavering commitment, solidifying the Sooners' future at quarterback despite potential challenges.

Oklahoma got a small but important bit of relief on the recruiting front Wednesday: Jamison Roberts is still in.

The 2027 quarterback commit had been a source of concern after the Sooners fired offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, the coach who pushed hard for Roberts early in the process and helped land his commitment. Roberts initially declined to address where things stood, telling Rivals, "No comment at this time," but he later made it clear he’s not backing off Oklahoma.

“Of course I am, just wanted to take a step back and view the situation. I’m still 100% locked in," Roberts told OU Insider’s Brandon Drumm.

Roberts’ update matters because Oklahoma’s quarterback picture is already unsettled enough without losing one of its most promising young commitments. The Sooners are still trying to figure out who will run the offense next, and keeping Roberts on board gives Brent Venables at least one potential building block at the position.

The Alabama standout has been rolling through his senior season at Saraland High School. Through 10 games, he has completed 75% of his passes for 2,712 yards and 33 touchdowns against just two interceptions, according to MaxPreps. He also has 321 rushing yards and nine scores on the ground.

Saraland is 9-1 and carries an eight-game winning streak into the playoffs, with Roberts driving the surge. Two weeks ago, he set a school record with 444 passing yards in a game.

According to the 247Sports Composite, Roberts is a four-star prospect listed at 6-foot-3, the No. 19 quarterback in the 2027 class and No. 240 overall player in the country. Given the way he has been performing, those rankings figure to keep climbing.

Roberts wasn’t the only quarterback commit to calm the waters after Arbuckle’s exit. 2028 commit Trey Tagliaferri also said he’s staying with Oklahoma.

“It doesn’t change anything. Still love OU and all of the coaches and people," Tagliaferri told SoonerScoop’s Parker Thune.

Even with both commitments holding firm for now, Oklahoma is going to have work to do. Other programs will surely come after Roberts and Tagliaferri now that their main contact at OU is gone, and Roberts’ rise comes with the Early Signing Period just a month away.

The bigger issue is the state of the quarterback room itself. Oklahoma once had a reputation as QBU, but under Venables the position has been a mess over the last three seasons. Jackson Arnold didn’t work out in 2024 after arriving as a former five-star, and Mateer has flopped over the past two seasons after following Arbuckle as the top quarterback in the Transfer Portal in 2025.

That leaves the next offensive coordinator with a major job ahead. The transfer portal will likely be part of the answer for next season’s starter, but keeping Roberts committed would give Oklahoma something it badly needs: a young quarterback to develop and some stability for the future.

In Other News...

Big 12 Shakeup Could Change What Oklahoma Is Up Against

Brett Yormarks decision to step down as Big 12 commissioner on Jan. 31 adds another layer of uncertainty to a conference that has already spent plenty of time adjusting to change. He said he plans to move into a new role outside college athletics, ending a run that helped steer the league through a turbulent stretch and into its next phase.

For Oklahoma, the timing matters because the Sooners are still navigating what the Big 12 looks like around them, even as their own future has shifted. A leadership transition at the top of the conference can influence everything from long-term direction to the way the league positions itself in a crowded national landscape, and the next commissioner will inherit a job with plenty of pressure attached. [Read more 🡒]

Oklahoma May Get A Crucial O Line Boost At Florida

A potentially important piece is trending in Oklahomas favor as the Sooners head to Florida, with center Jake Maikkula listed as probable after dealing with a lower-body injury. Any return up front would matter for an offense trying to steady itself on the road, especially against a Gators defense that is also dealing with its own injury concerns.

Oklahoma still has a few names to watch, though, with tight end Rocky Beers and defensive backs Peyton and Eli Bowen all listed as questionable. Floridas availability report is hardly cleaner, either, as the Gators are set to be without starting offensive tackle Emeka Ugorji and could also be missing multiple skill-position pieces, leaving both sides to sort through some late-week uncertainty before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]

Oklahoma Has Reached A Point Even Winning Out Cannot Fix

Brent Venables is trying to steady a season that has already slipped well below Oklahomas usual standard, with the Sooners sitting at 4-4 and the frustration only growing around the program. The recent dismissal of offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle was the latest sign that the staff is searching for answers, and the responsibility for the offense now falls to first-year tight ends coach Jason Witten.

Venables has made clear he wants Oklahoma to keep fighting through the rest of the schedule, but even a strong finish may not change the larger verdict on this season. For a program measured by championships and playoff expectations, the disappointment has become hard to ignore, and the remaining games feel less like a rescue mission than a chance to stop the slide from getting any worse. [Read more 🡒]