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Oklahoma OC Ben Arbuckle’s ‘catastrophic’ John Mateer confession is damning indictment of backups

Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator, Ben Arbuckle, has doubled down on redshirt senior quarterback John Mateer despite a shaky start to the season, arguing that the Sooners’ best chance to win remains with their veteran signal-caller. The Sooners, now 3-3 after a 21-13 loss to No.

12 Kentucky in Week 7, have struggled with inconsistency at quarterback, with Mateer throwing for 1,308 yards, nine touchdowns, and seven interceptions while completing just 65.1% of his passes through six games. Arbuckle acknowledged the team’s offensive miscues, taking full responsibility for the errors and emphasizing the need to tighten up execution.

The coaching staff’s confidence in Mateer is underscored by his extensive experience—42 career games compared to the limited playing time of backups Whitt Newbauer and freshman Bowe Bentley, who have combined for just four appearances. With the Sooners traveling to face Mississippi State in Week 8, the focus will be on whether the offense can reduce costly mistakes and regain its rhythm.

The decision to stick with Mateer, despite his up-and-down play, highlights the depth—or lack thereof—behind him. Newbauer, a junior transfer from Mercer, and Bentley, a true freshman, bring little proven experience to the table, leaving Oklahoma with few alternatives in the short term.

While Arbuckle insists the team’s best option remains Mateer, the pressure will mount if the Sooners continue to struggle with turnovers and inefficiency. The upcoming road game against Mississippi State will serve as a critical test for both the quarterback and the offense’s ability to eliminate the errors that have plagued them this season.

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