Oklahoma’s hiring of Ben Arbuckle as their new offensive coordinator has sparked considerable interest among college football fans. Known for his innovative offensive strategies, Arbuckle is seen as a rising star in coaching. Fans are eager to see how his approach will improve the Sooners’ performance, especially after a tough first season in the SEC.
Let’s explore why Oklahoma chose Arbuckle and how his coaching might shape the team’s future.
Washington State’s Ben Arbuckle hired by Oklahoma
Oklahoma has hired Ben Arbuckle as its new offensive coordinator and play-caller, the school announced on Monday.
Arbuckle, 29, comes from Washington State, where he served as offensive coordinator for two years. The hire comes after Oklahoma’s offense struggled significantly in its inaugural season in the SEC, finishing 15th out of 16 teams in both scoring offense and total offense. The Sooners posted a 6-6 regular season record, including a 2-6 mark in SEC play.
Arbuckle brings a reputation for developing dynamic quarterbacks and high-scoring offenses. Under his leadership, Washington State ranked 12th nationally in scoring offense in 2024, averaging 36.8 points per game. The Cougars also ranked 9th in passing efficiency and 22nd in total offense. Sophomore quarterback John Mateer, one of Arbuckle’s standouts, threw for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns this season.
Before joining Washington State, Arbuckle served as co-offensive coordinator at Western Kentucky in 2022, where Austin Reed led the nation with 4,746 passing yards, and the team ranked second in passing yards per game. Arbuckle’s record highlights his ability to adapt offenses for explosive results.
Oklahoma hired Arbuckle to replace Seth Littrell, fired in October after the offense struggled. Interim coordinator Joe Jon Finley’s run-based adjustments showed improvement, but issues remained. Head coach Brent Venables hopes Arbuckle’s innovation will revive the offense and drive SEC success.
Arbuckle expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity, saying, “We’re going to run an attacking-style offense. I want to take the fight to the defense, put our guys in a position to be successful, and ultimately go out there and be explosive. I’m excited to get to Norman and get to work” (via Associated Press).
Oklahoma boasts a strong history of success with young offensive coordinators. In 2015, the school hired 31-year-old Lincoln Riley, who quickly transformed the Sooners’ offense into one of the nation’s best. Under his leadership, Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray won Heisman Trophies. Now, the Sooners aim for Arbuckle to deliver similar innovation and success as they strive to excel at the highest level in the SEC.
