Bill Bedenbaugh's offensive line is what's keeping the Sooners' offense from succeeding

There’s been a lot of finger-pointing when trying to decide who’s to blame for the Oklahoma Sooners’ dysfunctional offense, and although the correct answer is probably everybody, offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh still might not be taking enough fault.

Since a 51-0 blowout against UTEP in Week 1, the Sooners have averaged 12 points per game in their last two outings. That included last week’s 14-6 win against New Mexico, which felt like a new low for an offense that has really been lacking for three seasons now. Things could get even uglier on Saturday, when the Sooners visit No. 2 Georgia.

This is all Brent Venables’ responsibility as head coach, even if he is also the defensive coordinator, but the next one in charge is offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle. Fans have been screaming for change at OC for the last two weeks, but maybe it doesn’t matter who’s calling plays for the Sooners if the same common denominator still exists.

If Arbuckle eventually gets fired, then Bedenbaugh might also be his exit buddy, with Kevin Wilson capable of replacing both.

All of Oklahoma's offensive issues don't fall on Ben Arbuckle and John Mateer

Before we get too into who said what, the most reliable source is Venables. During Tuesday’s weekly press conference, he was asked specifically what the main causes of OU’s offensive struggles are.

Although he noted the multiple injuries, Venables made it crystal clear that the offensive line is one of the Sooners’ most glaring concerns that’s keeping the offense from succeeding.

"Probably just the inconsistent offensive line and then not taking care of the ball," Venables said. "Those two things, bad recipe.”

Bedenbaugh, the highest-paid position coach on OU’s staff with a $1.2 million salary, has been leading the Sooners’ offensive line since 2013, when Bob Stoops hired him from West Virginia. He was then present for the entire Lincoln Riley era and is still around under Venables.

There was a time when he was pumping out NFL talent, and in 2018, his unit won the Joe Moore Award, which is given to the best offensive line in college football. At some point, though, whatever Bedenbaugh had built has since crumbled.

Blame injuries and a revolving door along the offensive line, but the O-line has been a major weak spot for the Sooners since 2024, which was before Arbuckle or quarterback John Mateer got to Norman.

In 2026, it’s starting to feel like nothing has changed, even after Venables fired Seth Littrell midseason in 2024 before ultimately replacing him with Arbuckle. There’s still a quarterback back there under constant pressure and with no running game to rely on.

The Sooners’ lack of offensive production despite so much talent hasn’t just perplexed OU fans, but experts all around college football. Arbuckle’s scheme and Mateer’s inaccuracy are also flaws, but as many dive in to uncover what’s wrong with OU’s offense, the offensive line is a problem that also magnifies every other shortcoming.

OU’s offense clearly has multiple broken parts in order for it to get this run down, but if Arbuckle and Mateer are driving the car with no license, Bedenbaugh’s offensive line is still a flat tire keeping it from going anywhere.

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