The Oklahoma Sooners are officially announcing Washington State’s Ben Arbuckle as the new offensive coordinator. Fresh off the heels of losing to LSU, but before this year’s bowl game, the announcement was made late on Monday. With this pick, it’s clear Head Coach Brent Venables is taking Sooners football in a whole new direction.
Ben Arbuckle Officially Named Oklahoma’s Next Offensive Coordinator
Why Choose Ben Arbuckle?
For those not in the know, Arbuckle was one of only two candidates remaining for the job. After the firing of Seth Littrell, numerous names were put forth as potential replacements. Many of these are known for quick but massive turnarounds, such as UNLV’s Brennan Marion. As the season has worn on, though, a new name was put in contention: Ben Arbuckle.
Arbuckle is currently the offensive coordinator for Washington State. Although his concepts and schemes are primarily from the Air Raid playbook, Arbuckle has made it clear that he is an adaptable coach who will meet the needs of the moment. For a Sooners team that is 121st nationally in offense, this is a welcome change.
After some time at Western Kentucky, Arbuckle moved to the Washington State Cougars for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. In both instances, he has set an expectation for excellence. The most notable aspect here is his time with Washington.
Jackson Arnold, Oklahoma’s current quarterback, is not the best passer in the world- however, he is an excellent runner. Arbuckle’s time with the Cougars has been a masterclass in how to put together the most creative rushing offense in the nation. The Cougars, like the Sooners, have been suffering from a lackluster offensive line. They also don’t have the best running backs to work with. Pairing Arbuckle with the current Sooners team is perhaps the best possible match in college football right now.
Who Is Ben Arbuckle?
The young coach is from the little-known town of Canadian, Texas. In college, he played for the West Texas A&M Buffaloes, a Division II team, and was the starter during his junior year. Almost immediately after college, Arbuckle dove into coaching.
Arbuckle’s first big break came at Western Kentucky. A mentor of Bailey Zappe, Arbuckle was a major factor in the Hilltoppers electrifying offenses of 2021 and 2022. Although his time with Washington State has been a bit disappointing, in comparison to Kalen DeBoer’s run, it’s certainly not been negative. Currently, the Cougars possess the 22nd-best offense in the nation. This is ahead of teams such as Ohio State and Georgia.
What anyone should know about Arbuckle is that it’s impossible to state how huge of a get this is. Arbuckle is one of the best young minds in football right now and he’s been a major factor in improving every offense he’s come in contact with. As a native of Texas, he’s also going to be a big boost to Oklahoma’s biggest recruiting pipeline state.
Oklahoma Sooners Outlook for 2025
Last Word On Sports recently predicted that it would come down to either Arbuckle or Texas State’s Mack Leftwich. Ultimately, Arbuckle won out. Although changes happen all the time, Arbuckle is reportedly signing a three-year contract with Oklahoma. This is well within Venables’ own contract extension.
Next year’s lineup is another tough one. Michigan is coming to Norman in the second week and will certainly not be an easy opponent. Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas are all currently on the schedule as road games. Without a competent coaching staff, and some serious improvements on the roster, the 2025 season is shaping up to be extremely difficult. Arbuckle’s signing drastically changes all of that.
The speculated playbook changes could also be a boon to the 2025 season. Arbuckle knows he’s coming into an emergency situation, and changing the entire style of the team isn’t off the table. The changes he makes in the offseason are critical to success.
Last Thoughts on Oklahoma Sooners Signing Ben Arbuckle
The inaugural SEC season has been fraught with ups and downs. From getting only three points against Texas to demolishing Alabama, nothing has come easily. While Venables may have been on the hot seat for a majority of the season, he’s certainly making the most of the offseason. His first win comes from signing Arbuckle- and we can only guess what the transfer portal will bring.
Overall, there couldn’t be a better choice than Arbuckle. Washington State will sorely miss him, as they do DeBoer, but all things must change. In Oklahoma, however, the excitement is already on the rise. After a dreadful year of college football from both Oklahoma State and the Sooners, the signing of Arbuckle as Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator is a ray of hope. His adaptability, youth, and knowledge of the game could complement Venables perfectly. Or it may be too late for Sooners football in the 2020s.
Either way, Last Word On Sports will be there, every week, to keep you updated on all things Oklahoma Sooners.
