Big changes are happening at Oklahoma, and head coach Brent Venables has just made a game-changing decision! During Wednesday’s “Sooner Football With Brent Venables” show, the coach revealed that new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle will step in to coach the Sooners’ quarterbacks during their upcoming Armed Forces Bowl showdown with Navy.
Arbuckle, who only just secured Washington State transfer quarterback John Mateer, wasn’t originally slated to coach in the bowl game. However, after a staff change—following Kevin Johns’ move to Oklahoma State—Venables saw the need to get Arbuckle involved on the field.
“Kevin Johns took a job at Oklahoma State, and that opened up a spot,” Venables explained. “Now, Arbuckle will step in and coach the quarterbacks for the bowl game.”
While tight ends coach and co-offensive coordinator Joe Jon Finley will continue to call plays, this shift brings a fresh energy to the Sooners’ QB room. With the recruiting part of Arbuckle’s role now complete—thanks to the addition of Mateer—he’s ready to dive into coaching freshman Michael Hawkins and redshirt freshman Steele Wasel.
Venables highlighted this opportunity as a crucial moment for Hawkins to get used to Arbuckle’s coaching style and drills. “It’s a chance for Mike to start understanding Arbuckle’s fundamentals, which will be key for next season,” he added.
As the Sooners prepare for a high-stakes battle against Navy on December 27 in Fort Worth, Oklahoma will look to turn things around after a 6-6 season. Despite the challenges, Venables remains upbeat: “We’re going to have the whole world against us. It’s us against America.”
With a new coach, new players, and a fierce determination, the Armed Forces Bowl promises to be a thrilling chapter in Oklahoma’s journey. Will Arbuckle’s coaching debut lead the Sooners to victory? Stay tuned!