Ben Arbuckle – Syndication Server

Brent Venables shoulders blame for another Oklahoma loss

Brent Venables says he knows things have to improve drastically. Sooner Nation is wondering if he’s the guy who can deliver.

The Oklahoma Sooners concluded a 6-7 dud of a 2024 season with a 21-20 loss against the Navy Midshipmen in Friday’s Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl.

Third-year coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] saw his team take a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, then watched that lead evaporate over the course of the rest of the afternoon. It was another hard moment in a season full of them. OU went 2-6 in SEC play and 4-1 otherwise. Two 6-7 seasons sandwiched around a 10-3 campaign will not get the job done in Norman.

To his credit, Venables has never deflected the blame. He didn’t do it after the loss in Forth Worth either, shouldering responsibility for how the game and the season went in Year 1 in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

“Everything falls on me,” Venables said after the loss. “Everything falls at my feet. Really disappointed in myself. I need to be a lot better, and that goes without saying.”

To be clear, that’s the response I want a coach to have at a time like this. It’s a lot better than saying, “We’re close,” or blaming others.

But Venables knows there are big problems within the Oklahoma football program — problems that aren’t being fixed. So, is he the guy to fix those problems and get the program back to the glory days of Bud Wilkinson, Barry Switzer and Bob Stoops?

Or is he incapable of turning the program around?

That’s why 2025 is a make-or-break season for Venables and the Sooners.

After admitting his mistake of choosing to promote Seth Littrell and Joe Jon Finley to replace Jeff Lebby as offensive coordinator, Venables took a risk on 29-year-old [autotag]Ben Arbuckle[/autotag] to run his offense next season.

After missing on Jackson Arnold at the quarterback position, he spent the money to go get Arbuckle’s QB, the top signal-caller available in the portal, [autotag]John Mateer[/autotag].

Venables is banking on these moves (and more) to help him right the ship in a “gotta have it” season.

If the coach can win enough games next year and prove he has things going in the proper direction, he’ll likely get a chance to build on it in 2026.

But if 2025 is more of the same and Venables doesn’t win enough games, he’ll be out and someone else will take the reins of one of college football’s most storied programs.

So, props to Venables for shouldering the blame for a bad season. But his Sooners have had many of the same problems, big or small, throughout his 39 games at the helm. He apparently knows they need to be dealt with. Next season will be all about seeing whether Venables can fix those problems or not.

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Oklahoma adds second transfer portal tight end

OU will be looking for a better season out of Joe Jon Finley’s tight end room in 2025.

The Oklahoma Sooners made another addition to their roster via the NCAA [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag]. The portal, which opened on Dec. 9 and closes on Dec. 28, had already brought nine new players to OU’s roster, and Saturday brought in a 10th.

Former Pittsburgh State (Division II) tight end Will Huggins signed with coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and the Sooners. The 6-foot-7 254-pounder heads to Norman with one season of eligibility remaining. Huggins joins Carson Kent (Kennesaw State) as the newest tight ends on the OU roster, along with incoming true freshman Trynae Washington.

Huggins spent most of his collegiate career playing for the Kansas Jayhawks, before moving down to DII this past season. In 2024, Huggins recorded 22 receptions for 395 yards and a touchdown. He averaged two receptions per contest for an average of 18 yards per catch, good for a 35.9 yards per game average.

It has been a rough couple of seasons for Oklahoma at the tight end position, and the position group will undergo another remodel after losing Bauer Sharp (LSU) and Jake Roberts (eligibility). Kent, Huggins and Washington join returning players Kade McIntyre, Kaden Helms, Davon Mitchell and Hampton Fay to try to make the position more valuable to the 2025 offense.

Of course, the tight end room will still be coached by former co-offensive coordinator [autotag]Joe Jon Finley[/autotag], the only one of OU’s trio of co-OCs returning to the coaching staff next year. Finley will no longer be calling plays, but he will work under new offensive coordinator [autotag]Ben Arbuckle[/autotag].

It’s still up in the air as to how the tight end position will be used in Arbuckle’s offense, but the Sooners will be looking for someone to help turn things around in that room after a rough 2024.

Oklahoma Sooners QB makes big impression on new offensive coordinator

Offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle had high praise for Michael Hawkins Jr.

The Oklahoma Sooners are once again undergoing a remodel at the quarterback position.

Last year, it was the exits of Jeff Lebby and Dillon Gabriel that led to the promotion of Seth Littrell and Jackson Arnold. That didn’t go as planned. Littrell was fired after seven games, and Arnold is an Auburn Tiger.

2025’s remodel will primarily feature new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach [autotag]Ben Arbuckle[/autotag], assistant quarterbacks coach John Kuceyeski and incoming transfer portal quarterback [autotag]John Mateer[/autotag].

But at least one player from the 2024 room will still be in Norman next season. True freshman [autotag]Michael Hawkins Jr.[/autotag] started three games for coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] this season, mixing in some good and some bad. He’s decided not to follow Arnold out the door and will instead stay at OU.

Arbuckle has been observing bowl practices, and the play of Hawkins has caught his eye. This week Arbuckle did an interview with SoonerScoop.com’s “The Family Business,” in which he raved about Hawkins’ growth in recent practices.

“Talking about Michael Hawkins, that kid in just five practices, I’ve seen him get so much better,” Arbuckle told “The Family Business” after he was asked about the talent already on the roster. “He is so talented, and he’s gonna be such a dang good player. So he’s someone that I’m really, really excited to like get to work with and put my hands around and get to mold and everything, cause he’s uber-talented.”

Arbuckle went on to praise OU’s returning offensive linemen, running backs and wide receiver Deion Burks, saying he’s excited for what the Sooners can be on offense next year.

In addition to the transfer portal departures of Arnold and Brendan Zurbrugg, senior Casey Thompson will be out of eligibility after this week’s game. Now, Arbuckle is reloading the QB room on the fly. Mateer’s commitment was huge, as was Hawkins’ decision to stay. Arbuckle added Jett Niu in recruiting earlier this month and last year’s fifth-string quarterback, walk-on Steele Wasel could return as well.

The Oklahoma Sooners need a significantly better offensive performance in 2025 and that starts with the offensive coordinator and the quarterback.

Newest Oklahoma QB gets high transfer grade from CBS Sports

Oklahoma landed the top overall player in the transfer portal on Wednesday but how did CBS Sports rank the Sooners new addition.

The Oklahoma Sooners landed the top overall player in the NCAA [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] on Wednesday.

Former Washington State quarterback [autotag]John Mateer[/autotag] signed with OU and coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]. In doing so, he followed his former offensive coordinator, [autotag]Ben Arbuckle[/autotag], to Norman.

Simply put, Mateer was the guy Oklahoma had to have. Without him, OU wouldn’t have had a veteran option at the position. Now, the Sooners have their QB and offensive play caller in place for a make-or-break season in 2025. Even better is the fact they’ve worked well together before.

As the top quarterback in the portal, it was only a matter of time before his move to OU landed on a list of the most notable transfer portal quarterback moves. CBS Sports staff writer Will Backus produced such a list, and he gave Oklahoma’s signing of Mateer an A-plus.

Mateer is following his offensive coordinator, Ben Arbuckle, to Norman. In 2024, those two produced 3,965 total yards of offense and a whopping 44 touchdowns both on the ground and through the air. Mateer also completed an impressive 65% of his passes while averaging just over 14 yards per completion. It’s appropriate to feel quite bullish on Mateer’s future with Oklahoma. – Backus, CBS Sports

Aside from Mateer landing at Oklahoma, only Devon Dampier (Utah), Darian Mensah (Duke) and Miller Moss (Louisville) earned “A” grades. None, however, graded above Mateer. Of course, Backus’ list is in no way comprehensive: The portal will be open until Dec. 28.

Takeaways from Oklahoma Sooners depth chart for Armed Forces Bowl

What stands out from Oklahoma Sooners depth chart for the Armed Forces Bowl against Navy?

(This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.)

The 2024 Oklahoma Sooners still have one game to play before we can move on to the 2025 season. OU went 6-6 overall and 2-6 in Southeastern Conference play, earning a berth in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl against the Navy Midshipmen (noon, Friday, Dec. 27).

After a brutal SEC schedule, Brent Venables[/autotag] and his team didn’t get a great bowl draw. Navy went 9-3 and defeated Army, which won the American Athletic Conference title.

The Sooners have released their depth chart for the last game of the year, and it reflects the 25 players who entered the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag]. The Sooners could still see more players enter the portal before it closes on Dec. 28, but this is where things stand.

Some positions have seen plenty of change. Of course, OU will lose more players to graduation, lack of remaining collegiate eligibility or the NFL draft, but they’ll suit up in the crimson and cream one more time.

Here are the four biggest takeaways from OU’s depth chart for the Armed Forces Bowl.

1. No Stutsman, No Bowman

Both [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] and [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] have played their final game in an Oklahoma jersey, and both had excellent careers in Norman.

As the duo prepares for their pro careers and the draft in April, let’s remember to salute what they did in their four years as Sooners.

Otherwise, Oklahoma’s defense will have plenty of familiar faces, and the coaching staff is hoping they will return in 2025. There are still plenty of decisions to be made there, but it looks like that unit will be mostly intact in Fort Worth.

2. Hawkins Takes Over Again

On the other hand, Oklahoma’s offensive depth chart is a work in progress, to say the least. Let’s start at quarterback. With Jackson Arnold’s transfer to Auburn, [autotag]Michael Hawkins Jr.[/autotag] takes over at quarterback one more time in 2024.

Hawkins will make the fourth start of his true freshman season after he spelled Arnold midway through the year. Hawkins has a chance to show Sooner Nation his growth before he settles back into a reserve role behind newcomer John Mateer in 2025.

Hawkins’ decision to stick it out and stay at Oklahoma could prove fruitful for both parties. He has a chance to be developed properly under new offensive coordinator [autotag]Ben Arbuckle[/autotag].

3. Wide Receiver Woes

Oklahoma has six scholarship wide receivers on the roster. They could be down to four scholarship players for the Navy game if Deion Burks is unable to play because Jayden Gibson is still out after his preseason injury.

True freshmen Zion Kearney, Zion Ragins, Ivan Carreon and K.J. Daniels appear on the depth chart, as do walk-ons including Jacob Jordan.

It’s a position the coaching staff is doing some work to rebuild this offseason; they have to find guys who can be both healthy and productive.

4. Barnes Will Not Play

Oklahoma hasn’t had any of the top four running backs on the roster ([autotag]Jovantae Barnes[/autotag], Xavier Robinson, Taylor Tatum and Gavin Sawchuk) enter the portal yet. That could change, but there’s a chance the room will be pretty good in 2025. Each of those four brings a different skill set, but one guy emerging to be the feature back would be ideal.

For a brief minute this season, that was Barnes. He had become OU’s best offensive player, but he was injured against Maine and missed the rest of the year.

Unlike Robinson, Tatum and Sawchuk, Barnes doesn’t appear on the depth chart. That could be because he’s definitely out because of his ankle injury.

Barnes returning in 2025 would give Venables and Arbuckle a veteran guy in the backfield capable of being a workhorse when called upon. That room looks a bit crowded, so don’t be shocked if one of the four decides to look for more carries elsewhere this winter or spring.

Oklahoma Sooners fend off coaching legend to land transfer QB John Mateer

Oklahoma Sooners hold off late recruiting push from Bill Belichick for the nation’s top transfer portal quarterback John Mateer.

The Oklahoma Sooners waded deep into the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] to earn a commitment from the top quarterback in the class, John Mateer. Mateer led the nation in total touchdowns with 44 and accounted for nearly 4,000 yards of offense.

The Sooners added a dynamic weapon to help lead their offense under new offensive coordinator [autotag]Ben Arbuckle[/autotag]. Though the connection to his former offensive coordinator proved significant, the Sooners faced challengers on the recruiting trail.

The Miami Hurricanes, who’d found great success with another former Washington State and Ben Arbuckle product, Heisman finalist Cam Ward, attempted to lure Mateer to South Beach. But they weren’t the only ones making a play for the dynamic dual-threat quarterback.

According to Georgia Stoia of SoonerScoop and On3 and radio play-by-play voice for the Oklahoma Sooners, Toby Rowland, the Sooners had to withstand a late push from legendary head coach Bill Belichick.

The former New England Patriots six-time Super Bowl champion, now with the North Carolina Tar Heels, reportedly appealed for Mateer to come to UNC. However, a pitch from former Sooners Heisman winner Baker Mayfield sealed the deal for Mateer to commit to Oklahoma.

Mateer signed a name, image, and likeness deal with the 1Oklahoma collective, who released this Christmas-inspired video announcing the agreement.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDvUrVOuM8T/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Oklahoma had a lot in its favor in this recruiting battle, but they still had to fend off pushes from Miami, who’s been very effective in the transfer portal market and a legend of the game in Bill Belichick. It was a team approach from the coaching staff and players to a Sooner legend, and the 1Oklahoma collective to push this recruitment over the finish line.

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Oklahoma Sooners target named best available QB in transfer portal

OU’s top transfer quarterback target is among the best in the portal.

The Oklahoma Sooners have to get busy in the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] this winter. Coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] has had 25 players hit the portal from the 2024 roster as of Tuesday night, and the Sooners have added just two transfers.

But help could be on the way. OU is reportedly pursuing one of the portal’s best available players, former Washington State quarterback [autotag]John Mateer[/autotag].

Mateer ranked at the top of the list of best quarterbacks in the transfer portal, according to USA TODAY Sports’ Paul Myerberg. Ten QBs were ranked by Myerberg, including players who have already found new schools.

Myerberg’s list includes two former Sooners, Virginia’s Chandler Morris and Auburn’s Jackson Arnold, who are ranked eighth and ninth, respectively. But no one topped the player Oklahoma’s coaching staff has reportedly set its sights on.

“Mateer is the jewel of this transfer class and the one addition capable of matching Dillon Gabriel and Cam Ward — himself a former WSU transfer — as a top-level Heisman contender on a playoff contender,” Myerberg said. “Playing off the national map in Pullman, the rising junior threw for 3,139 yards, ran for 826 yards and had 44 total touchdowns. Mateer could be a transformative addition for a quarterback-starved program such as Oklahoma, which recently hired his former offensive coordinator, [autotag]Ben Arbuckle[/autotag].”

It’s hard to imagine Oklahoma would be described as a “quarterback-starved program,” but that illustrates exactly how much the Sooners need Mateer.

Many of the other players on Myerberg’s list have already chosen their next schools: Darian Mensah (Duke), Devon Dampier (Utah), Miller Moss (Louisville), Connor Weigman (Houston), Morris and Arnold. If OU cannot persuade Mateer to come to Norman, it could be in deep trouble at a very important position in 2025.

On the other hand, there’s a reason Mateer is so highly sought. He was a star this season and could help the Sooners turn their offense around next season if he decides Oklahoma is the right place for him.

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Joel Klatt believes Jackson Arnold can still have success

Joel Klatt thinks Jackson Arnold QB could still have a good career.

Former five-star quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag]’s short time with the Oklahoma Sooners came to an end on Saturday when he signed with the Auburn Tigers.

The young QB, who was supposed to be the face of the program for at least two seasons and lead OU into the Southeastern Conference, will now try to help Hugh Freeze and the Tigers improve upon their 5-7 season in 2024.

He started 10 games in an OU uniform after serving as the backup during his freshman season in 2023. He went 5-5 as a starter, but just two of those wins came against power conference teams and only one was against an SEC team. 2024 was supposed to be the year that he broke out on the scene, but it didn’t happen.

However, there are many who still believe in Arnold’s potential and what he can do at Auburn.

Fox Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt thinks that Arnold can still be successful, but he also has some questions. He appeared as a guest on “The Next Round” podcast and remarked it was hard to say for sure whether Arnold would live up to his potential with the Tigers.

“My biggest question is going to be his confidence,” Klatt said. “I’m wondering what happened to his psyche during the course of this year.”

Arnold’s confidence appeared shaken a couple of times in 2024, most notably against Tennessee and later in the season against Missouri. In some of the biggest moments for the Sooners, Arnold was turnover-prone and made mistakes that cost OU dearly.

However, he played very well against Alabama and looked more confident in his second stint as the starter for the final five games of the regular season.

“I think he can have a lot of success,” Klatt said. “It remains to be seen.”

Oklahoma’s quarterback room in 2024 consisted of five players. With Jackson Arnold and [autotag]Brendan Zurbrugg[/autotag] opting for the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] and Casey Thompson out of eligibility, it will undergo another makeover in 2025.

[autotag]Michael Hawkins Jr.[/autotag] will return, and the Sooners signed [autotag]Jett Niu[/autotag] as a part of their [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag] earlier this month. Steele Wasel, a walk-on, could return, but OU will need to add at least one portal QB to fill out the room again.

That likely includes a player who will either be the starter or compete to be the starter under OC [autotag]Ben Arbuckle[/autotag] as Oklahoma tries to bounce back at the position in 2025.

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Could an Oklahoma Sooners transfer target be a Heisman contender in 2025?

One of Oklahoma’s transfer targets could be a Heisman contender in 2025 according to USA TODAY Sports.

After Colorado defensive back/wide receiver Travis Hunter edged Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty for the 2024 [autotag]Heisman Trophy[/autotag], some already have their eyes on the next recipient of the award.

The Oklahoma Sooners are no strangers to the coveted trophy; seven OU players have won the Heisman. Running backs [autotag]Billy Vessels[/autotag], [autotag]Steve Owens[/autotag] and [autotag]Billy Sims[/autotag] won in the 20th century. Quarterbacks [autotag]Jason White[/autotag], [autotag]Sam Bradford[/autotag], [autotag]Baker Mayfield[/autotag] and [autotag]Kyler Murray[/autotag] are OU’s 21st century winners. autotag]Josh Heupel[/autotag], [autotag]Adrian Peterson[/autotag] and [autotag]Jalen Hurts[/autotag] finished as runners-up for the prestigious award.

But looking ahead, could the 2025 winner of the Heisman Trophy be wearing a Sooner uniform?

The answer could be found via the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag]. In fact, USA TODAY Sports already has a list of potential Heisman candidates for 2025, identifying 11 players.

One of those players was former Washington State quarterback John Mateer. He has entered the transfer portal and will be one of the top quarterbacks available. He’s expected to be at the top of Oklahoma’s wish list at the position.

That’s because Oklahoma’s new offensive coordinator [autotag]Ben Arbuckle[/autotag] coached Mateer to an excellent season in Pullman in 2024. With Arbuckle in Norman, the Sooners could have an inside track to landing the native Texan.

Mateer’s former offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle recently took the same job at Oklahoma and would be an obvious potential landing spot if he decides to enter the transfer portal, although he may very well be a Heisman contender regardless of what school he plays for next year. – Austin Curtright, USA TODAY Sports

Mateer signing with OU would be massive for the program. The Sooners struggled at the quarterback position all year, and he would be an upgrade at the position.

Furthermore, he already knows Arbuckle’s offense, so there would be much less of a learning curve for him under center.

Mateer is expected to have plenty of other suitors, so the Sooners will have to pay up if they want to bring him to Norman.

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Washington State quarterback officially in transfer portal per report

Washington State Cougars quarterback expected to enter the transfer portal per reports.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

According to multiple reports, Washington State quarterback John Mateer has entered the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag]. It was first reported by Matt Zenitz and Chris Hummer of 247Sports/CBS Sports. Mateer will have two years of eligibility remaining. According to OUInsider’s Parker Thune and Brandon Drumm, Mateer is expected to have a “no contact” tag on his portal entry.

Monday afternoon, ESPN’s Max Olson provided an update to the story, reporting that Mateer is now officially in the transfer portal.

Mateer is considered the top player in the portal, according to 247Sports, after leading the NCAA with 44 total touchdowns in 2024. He had a fantastic season under the direction of new Oklahoma offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and offensive analyst John Kuceyeski.

In 2024, Mateer completed 64.6% of his passes for 3,139 yards and 29 passing touchdowns. He also ran for 826 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Cougars.

Mateer is expected to play for Washington State in their bowl game on Dec. 27. But it’s unclear if this news will alter those plans.

The connection to Arbuckle and Kuceyeski should give the Sooners a leg up in Mateers’ recruitment, but teams like Miami will also be in hot pursuit.

The Oklahoma Sooners have had a lot of success with transfer portal quarterbacks over the last 10 years. Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, Jalen Hurts, and Dillon Gabriel all had great seasons for the Sooners after making the move to Norman.

Mateer’s familiarity with Arbuckles system would make for a smooth transition and be an important domino to fall for the Oklahoma Sooners in the transfer portal.

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