SEC Snapshot: Oklahoma Sooners

Spring practices have ended. The transfer portal has slowed to a crawl. We are entering Summer Radio SZN. As such, let’s get our minds right for the upcoming college football season by taking a 10,000-foot view of every SEC football team.

We started this series with the Texas Longhorns. Even though they aren’t on Kentucky’s schedule this fall, let’s stick with the Red River Rivalry and take a closer look at the Oklahoma Sooners, one of the most fascinating teams in college football.

Preseason Rankings

SP+: 20
Returning Production: 10
Andy Staples: N/A
ESPN: N/A

Who’s the Quarterback?

Ahead of the move to the SEC, Oklahoma made a big bet on Jackson Arnold, opting to play the former Blue Chipper at quarterback, allowing Dillon Gabriel to finish his career at Oregon. That big bet was a big loser. Arnold was benched halfway through the year and Gabriel won a Big Ten title for the Ducks.

Oklahoma hedged its bet by finding one of the most talented quarterbacks in the transfer portal. John Mateer was the third-ranked quarterback who made a move this offseason. Last year at Washington State, he threw for 3,139 yards, 29 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He also rushed for nearly 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns. Mateer will be on every list of Dark Horse Heisman candidates ahead of the 2025 season.

Main Storyline: Can Ben Arbuckle take the heat off Brent Venables?

Oklahoma didn’t just get Washington State’s quarterback. They pulled a Vanderbilt and imported the offense wholesale. Ben Arbuckle called the plays at Wazzu a year ago and will implement his system in Norman.

Joe Castiglione gave Brent Venables a vote of confidence by giving Venables a lucrative contract extension before they played in an SEC football game. That move was widely criticized by Oklahoma fans when the offense could not complete a forward pass. Venables is a defensive-minded coach who became a popular name on every coaching hot board during his time as Clemson’s defensive coordinator. If he can’t get the offense right now, many Oklahoma fans will be ready to move on right away.

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Biggest Question: Is the Oklahoma Offensive Line good enough?

The passing game’s problems were as much about the quarterback and play-caller as they were about the porous offensive line. The Sooners loaded up on transfers to beef up their line and had two too many whiffs.

There’s another dynamic in play at this position. Bill Bedenbaugh is to Oklahoma what John Schlarman was to Kentucky. He has been coaching the Oklahoma offensive line since 2013, when Bob Stoops led the team to a Sugar Bowl victory. He built up enough good will to survive one bad season. Two bad seasons is one too many in Norman.

This offseason Bedanbaugh did what he does best, recruit. The Sooners signed the top-ranked high school offensive tackle in America, Michael Fasusi, who is expected to be a day-one starter. Their second-best high school addition was the 11th-ranked offensive tackle in the class. They added three offensive linemen from the portal, including a former Kentucky target, Derek Simmons. The Sooners offensive line looks improved on paper, and it will be tested in week two when Michigan comes to Norman.

Oklahoma Football Schedule

Date	Opponent	Venue
Aug. 30	Illinois State	Home
Sept. 6	Michigan	Home
Sept. 13	Temple	Away
Sept. 20	Auburn	Home
Sept. 27	Open Date	—
Oct. 4	Kent State	Home
Oct. 11	vs. Texas	Cotton Bowl, Dallas, TX
Oct. 18	South Carolina	Away
Oct. 25	Ole Miss	Home
Nov. 1	Tennessee	Away
Nov. 8	Open Date	—
Nov. 15	Alabama	Away
Nov. 22	Missouri	Home
Nov. 29	LSU	Home

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