Bill Bedenbaugh’s offensive line is becoming the central problem in Oklahoma’s offensive mess, and Saturday night against New Mexico made that impossible to ignore.
For years, the Sooners have leaned on Bedenbaugh to build and develop the kind of front that fits Oklahoma’s standard. Instead, the unit has become a weakness, and the showing against the Lobos in Norman felt like a brutal new low. On play after play, Oklahoma dealt with blown assignments, linemen getting driven back into quarterback John Mateer, and even stretches where someone was apparently blocking nobody at all.
That kind of breakdown has put a lot of attention on Ben Arbuckle and his play-calling, but the issues start much earlier than that. The offense can’t throw because it can’t run.
It can’t run because the line can’t block. That has left Oklahoma stuck in a vicious cycle that no scheme can disguise.
Bedenbaugh’s résumé still carries weight. He has coached players like Creed Humphrey, Orlando Brown, Gabe Ikard and more, and he has a strong track record of developing NFL talent.
He also knows how to coach and how to identify players. But the line’s slide has been glaring for several years now, and the source of the problem appears tied to the way college football has changed in the NIL era, when top talent has spread across the country and often signed with the highest bidder.
That shift raises uncomfortable questions around Oklahoma’s recruiting approach under Bedenbaugh. Was he given enough money?
Did he ask for it? Has he lost his spark?
Whatever the answer is, the results are not acceptable.
The numbers around the offense underline just how deep the problem goes. Oklahoma ranks No. 119 in tackles for loss allowed and No. 128 in yards per rush attempt.
That’s not a small leak. That’s the floor giving way.
And the timing could hardly be worse. Oklahoma now heads to Athens to face Georgia on Saturday, and the Bulldogs bring one of the most aggressive and talented defenses in the country. They will have plenty to feast on if this version of the Sooners’ offensive line shows up again.
At this point, the standard is simple: Bedenbaugh and his front have to get better fast. If they don’t, the damage won’t stop at ugly offensive numbers. Players could get hurt, and jobs could be on the line.
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Brent Venables has tried to keep the focus on steady, methodical improvement and on avoiding the trap of letting one uneven stretch shake the groups confidence. The defense showed up against New Mexico, but turnovers and other offensive mistakes have kept Oklahoma from looking like a finished product, leaving the Sooners with a clear message to absorb before the next step in the season gets any tougher. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma Just Added Another Future Piece Fans Will Want To Track
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Oklahoma's Offense Has One Urgent Question Entering SEC Play
Oklahoma enters SEC play still sorting out an offense that has been through multiple quarterback changes this season, and the uncertainty has pushed the conversation beyond simple execution. Around the program, the focus has turned to how much the Sooners identity on that side of the ball is being shaped by Brent Venables, and whether the staff needs to lean in more or give the unit more room to find its footing.
The debate has become a familiar one among those watching the team closely, with host Juwan Lee, OU beat writer Mason Young and sports columnist Berry Tramel all weighing in on what the Sooners need most right now. However the answer is framed, the urgency is clear: Oklahoma is heading into league play with an offense that still has to prove it can settle in and deliver under the pressure that comes with the SEC. [Read more 🡒]