Why Brent Venables Is All-In on Ben Arbuckle to Reignite Oklahoma’s Offense
In Norman, the winds of change are sweeping through the Oklahoma Sooners’ football program, and head coach Brent Venables has made a bold move he believes will pay off. At the heart of that decision is 29-year-old offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, a fast-rising coach with a sharp mind for quarterbacks and a proven track record of offensive production.
Arbuckle’s resume may be brief, but it’s already impressive. After a short stint at Western Kentucky, where he developed standout quarterback Austin Reed, Arbuckle landed at Washington State. There, he guided Cam Ward—who later rose to No. 1 NFL draft prospect status—and John Mateer, the current OU quarterback who followed him from the Cougars to Norman. Mateer threw for over 3,100 yards and 29 touchdowns last season, completing nearly 65% of his passes under Arbuckle’s system.
Now, the challenge is clear: can Arbuckle replicate that success in the SEC, arguably the toughest conference in college football? Venables believes the answer is a resounding yes.
“This was a tough decision,” Venables admitted. “But when we saw that change was necessary—especially on the offensive side—we made it. Our players deserve that.”
It was a bold shake-up, one that came on the heels of former coordinator Seth Littrell’s departure. But Venables didn’t just bring in Arbuckle—he fortified the offensive staff around him. Line coach Bill Bedenbaugh, regarded as one of the top minds in his field, stayed on. So did DeMarco Murray (running backs), Joe Jon Finley (tight ends), and Emmett Jones (wide receivers). Arbuckle was even allowed to bring trusted colleagues from Washington State, including senior offensive analyst John Kuceyeski and analyst Colt Garrett.
To Venables, this isn’t just about one man turning things around—it’s about creating a fully collaborative system.
“If you’re going to be successful, it’s going to take everybody,” he emphasized. “And Ben gets that. He has the self-awareness, the understanding of his scheme—its strengths and its vulnerabilities—and he’s surrounded himself with the right people. That’s critical.”
Arbuckle’s age—he’s not far removed from his own playing days—might seem like a red flag to some, but not to Venables. In fact, the Oklahoma coach sees a little of his younger self in the new hire. Back in 1999, Bob Stoops tapped a 28-year-old Venables to be co-defensive coordinator. That experience shaped him, and he believes it’s Arbuckle’s turn now.
“I was given a big opportunity when I was 28,” Venables said. “And I see that same potential in Ben. He may be young, but he’s been coaching and developing quarterbacks at a high level. That counts.”
Indeed, Arbuckle carries himself with a calm maturity that defies his age. Those who’ve heard him speak or seen him command a quarterback room wouldn’t guess that he was still in college himself less than a decade ago. His understanding of offensive strategy, quarterback mechanics, and game planning stands out in a profession filled with seasoned veterans.
And while Arbuckle will be the one calling plays, he won’t be going it alone. That’s something Venables continually stresses. Just like a quarterback needs protection from his offensive line, a coordinator needs support from his staff and his head coach.
“You can’t be the head coach and do things alone from this position either,” Venables said. “We’re all leaning on each other. That’s how this works.”
Still, expectations are sky-high. Oklahoma is entering a new era, with the SEC transition looming and a fan base hungry for a return to offensive dominance. The Sooners’ recent offensive struggles made the coaching shift inevitable, and Venables didn’t hesitate when Arbuckle became available.
Arbuckle’s track record made him hard to pass up. In three short years as a coordinator, he’s already established a reputation for maximizing quarterback talent and running innovative, high-tempo offenses that stress defenses in multiple ways. At Western Kentucky, he orchestrated one of the top passing attacks in the country. At Washington State, he adapted to different personnel and helped young quarterbacks shine in a competitive conference.
In Norman, the blueprint is simple: build an offense that matches the intensity of the Sooners’ defense, and elevate Mateer into a true star.
“We’ve got a guy in Mateer who knows the system,” Venables pointed out. “He’s already had success in it. That familiarity will be huge. But the bigger picture is the system itself—what Ben brings in terms of design and adaptability.”
Indeed, Arbuckle isn’t coming to OU with a one-size-fits-all approach. Those close to him say he thrives on tailoring schemes to his players’ strengths—something OU desperately needs. Whether it’s unleashing dynamic receivers, leaning on a power running game, or finding creative ways to exploit mismatches, Arbuckle has already shown he can make it work at multiple stops.
This fall, all eyes will be on the Sooner offense. Can Arbuckle’s system translate to SEC play? Can Mateer thrive in Norman like he did in Pullman? And can the entire unit return to the high-octane reputation it once held under the likes of Lincoln Riley?
Venables is betting big that the answer is yes.
“I’m excited about this football team,” he said. “We’ve made the changes we needed. We’ve got the right people in place. Now it’s about going to work.”
With Arbuckle at the helm and the offensive staff locked in behind him, Oklahoma’s rebuild isn’t just underway—it’s accelerating.
And if all goes to plan, the Sooners’ offense could be making a lot of noise in the SEC very soon.
