After another losing season, it could be argued that a lot needs to be improved or even completely changed for the Oklahoma Sooners, especially on the offensive side of the ball.
The Sooners had a historically bad offense in 2024, which was the biggest influence in OU finishing with a losing record at 6-7. Seth Littrell was fired only six games into his first season as his alma-mater's offensive coordinator. Brent Venables then hired Ben Arbuckle from Washington State to replace Littrell and hopefully turn around OU's offense.
Now, Arbuckle has the responsibility of fixing what was obviously broken last season and brought quarterback John Mateer with him to help. Although OU's offense could use a complete overhaul, there are three specific stats the Sooners were exceptionally bad at last season and Arbuckle will have to improve for OU to be any better in 2025.
What needs to improve for Sooners under Ben Arbuckle
Passing yards per completion
Michigan was the only team in the entire FBS last season that was worse than OU in passing yards per completion. The Sooners averaged only 9.73 yards a completion while cycling between Jackson Arnold and Michael Hawkins Jr. at quarterback. OU was also without its top five wide receivers because of injury most of the season in the midst of that QB drama.
OU, Michigan and Rice were the only three teams in the country that averaged less than 10 yards a completion last year. That influenced OU and Michigan to be in the bottom 20 for total offense.
With almost zero big plays, the Sooners couldn't find offensive success. Healthy receivers would obviously help this issue in 2025, and OU also brought in transfer receiver talent like Javonnie Gibson and Isaiah Sategna with big-play ability.
However, what Mateer and OU's receivers can do won't matter if the next stat doesn't improve.
Sacks per game
It didn't matter who was at quarterback for the Sooners last season, they weren't going to succeed behind that offensive line. Mateer was the No. 1 prospect in the transfer portal and has Heisman aspirations, but if the offensive line is the same, then he'll also have a disappointing season like Arnold, who was a former five-star recruit.
OU averaged 3.85 sacks a game last season, which was tied for third-worst in FBS. Only Virginia and Florida State were worse.
Everything starts up front, so there's nothing the Sooners can do offensively if their frontline has gaping holes and the quarterback isn't able to find an open man, let alone have time for someone to get open deep.
Third-down conversion rate
Those sacks and overall lack of offensive production got the Sooners in a lot of bad situations, which influenced the third-worst third-down conversion rate in the SEC, ahead of only Mississippi State and Kentucky, at .378.
There was no way for the Sooners to get something going if drives were ending and the offense was on the sidelines. It made matters even worse that OU struggled to complete passes downfield to convert long third downs and sacks were forcing more long conversions.
This will come down to OU getting in better situations to convert and keep moving, but if the first two problems mentioned remain, then so will this one.
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