Sooners offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle highlights a hungry young roster and massive strides in the trenches as OU looks to overhaul a stagnant run game and sustain elite efficiency
Oklahoma offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle met with the media at Football Media Day and gave a pretty clear picture of where he sees the offense heading into the 2026 season.
Entering his second year calling plays for the Sooners, Arbuckle has been working with quarterback John Mateer since 2023, going back to their time together at Washington State.
That continuity is a big deal, and so does the tone he’s setting with this group.
When asked about the biggest difference he’s seen compared to last year, Arbuckle pointed to the overall mentality, "I think the team this year is really hungry. We've got people at every spot that can compete at a really high level. We've got good competitive depth. It's a younger team this year and there's not as many older guys but the younger guys have done a great job of stepping up and everyone's hungry to build on last year and have a better year."
That tracks. Last season the offense was up and down. Oklahoma ranked 92nd nationally in total offense at 354.3 yards per game and 79th in scoring at 26.2 points per game.
The biggest issue was the run game. The Sooners averaged just 118.5 rushing yards per game (113th in the country) and only 3.5 yards per carry. Protecting Mateer and creating consistent lanes up front was a constant challenge.
The one area that stood out was the red zone, where they scored on 34 of 35 trips (97.1 percent), the best mark in the country. 25 of those scores were touchdowns.
Arbuckle spent a good amount of time talking about the offensive line, and he didn’t hold back on how proud he is of that group.
Arbuckle stated, "I don't know if I'm any more proud of a certain position group on our offense than I am of the offensive line. Just their consistency, their work ethic, their hunger to attack knowledge. It's been incredible to see. It's a lot cooler whenever Michael Fasusi isn't a true freshman anymore. He has all these different experiences, been through the ringer, gotten beat, had some great victories - all that's out of the way now. You can see it out there in his play and in his confidence. He's just one example of a whole unit of guys that you see coming back and really attacking the mindset and physicality of what we want to be on offense. And a lot of times leading from the front on the mindset and the standards of what we want to be on offense. I couldn't be prouder of that group."
This is the part that should give Sooner fans some optimism. The offensive line took its share of criticism last year, especially in the run game. Hearing Arbuckle single them out for their work ethic and physical mindset is a positive sign.
Michael Fasusi starting as a true freshman and now having a full year of experience under, should lead to a big step forward this season in his progression. That kind of development up front is exactly what this offense needs if it’s going to take a step forward.
The hope is that improved line play opens things up for the running backs and gives Mateer a cleaner pocket. Arbuckle and Mateer already have a strong working relationship, and another year in the system should help with timing and decision-making.
The skill positions look deeper too. Isaiah Sategna is back as the top target, and the tight end room got a boost with the additions of Hayden Hansen and Rocky Beers. Those two should give the offense more options in the red zone, an area that was already a strength.
Arbuckle’s comments paint a picture of a group that isn’t satisfied with last year’s results. They made the playoff, but the offense left plenty on the table. The combination of hunger, better depth, and a more experienced offensive line is what he’s banking on to close that gap.
It’s still early, and fall camp will tell us more, but the message from the offensive coordinator is consistent with what we’ve heard from other coaches — this team wants to build on last year and take another step.
For Oklahoma to reach its ceiling, the offensive line has to play with the physicality Arbuckle described. If they do, the rest of the pieces have a much better chance of falling into place.
Mateer has the weapons, the red zone efficiency should remain high, and the overall talent level is there. Now it’s about consistency and finishing drives the way they’re capable of.
Arbuckle sounds confident in the direction things are heading. The pride he showed in the offensive line stood out the most. If that group takes the jump he’s describing, this offense should look a lot different in 2026.
