Brent Venables gives pros, cons of Ben Arbuckle having so much responsibility despite age

Brent Venables will be calling plays for Oklahoma defensively, and is leaving 29-year-old first-year offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle to lead the offense in 2025. Arbuckle was playing college football less than a decade ago, but has had a tremendous start to his coaching career.

Set to enter his eighth season coaching college football, Arbuckle comes into the Sooners program after having had immense success at Washington State. He’s replacing Seth Littrell, who was fired by OU back in October.

“I don’t think that his role is any different from that standpoint, but I think having great self awareness, understanding your schemes and what the strengths and weaknesses is important,” Venables said. “I think he’s got great depth of knowledge of the inner workings.

“He’s got a great group of people around him that he surrounds himself with in the staff room that will help him navigate and manage those things. You’ve got to get through it as a young coach and figure all those things out.”

Coming in from Washington State last season, Arbuckle’s offense ranked No. 22 nationally in total offense, averaging 440.4 yards per game. The Cougars ultimately finished with an 8-4 record and ranked No. 12 nationally in scoring offense at 36.8 points per game.

Former Washington State quarterback John Mateer followed Arbuckle to Norman from Pullman this past offseason, committing to the Sooners from the NCAA transfer portal. He’s set to lead Oklahoma as its QB1 in 2025, and is well acquainted with Arbuckle’s offensive schemes.

“He’s had great success,” Venables said of Arbuckle. “He’s done more with less, as I’ve noted in the past, very confident. There’s a really good system systematically that has proven to have. Elite-level, high-level success for a long time and I feel like he has a great understanding and knowledge of it. (He has) great humility to make the changes, and to adapt and pivot where he needs to along the way.”

With Arbuckle off to a fast start to his career, the Sooners will hope his prowess translates to the SEC. Oklahoma finished with a 2-6 record against competition in its new conference last season and are looking to prove they can hand with the best its conference has to offer.

That effort begins against Illinois State at home in Week 1. Arbuckle and company are expected to have their way against the Redbirds defense, and hope to provide fans with a sample of what they can do against an opponent like Michigan during Week 2.