Brent Venables has been terrific for the Oklahoma Sooners at keeping defensive stars in Norman and developing them from high school recruits to NFL Draft prospects while keeping them out of the transfer portal. The same can't be said for the offensive side of the ball, though.
Venables was asked during his time at the podium at SEC Media Days this week how exactly he and his staff can get the offense on the same level as the defense when it comes to competitive depth. That's obviously a key part of the Sooners boasting one of the best defenses in college football while the offense has consistently struggled under Venables.
Read more: Brent Venables makes a middle-of-the-road Oklahoma offense enough to be a title contender
"At the end of the day, I think we've addressed and improved every one of the positions from the guys that are in the room. I think you develop that as well," Venables said. "I think modern college football today requires you to get more inexperienced players ready sooner rather than later to develop that. Raising the bottom half of your roster, if you will, guys that maybe haven't established themselves quite yet or they're out of high school, I think it's important that we do a great job.
"We're very mindful that we expeditiously develop them and put them in a position where they can create the kind of depth that helps you win. It's easier said than done, but that's really where the focus is."
In theory, Venables would like to build up the offense in the same way he did the defense by developing highly-touted recruits through the system. The Sooners' starting defense in 2026 could be made up entirely of players who got to Norman as high school signees. He pointed out, though, that it's easier said than done, and that's especially true on the offensive side of the ball for the Sooners.
The players on defense are Venables' guys. Even as defensive coordinators changed and Venables ultimately took full control last year, it's still always been his system since becoming head coach in 2022. However, on offense, Ben Arbuckle is returning for his second season, and it's the first time since Jeff Lebby in 2023 that the Sooners have the same offensive coordinator back. Lebby was replaced by Seth Littrell, who didn't make it a season before getting fired in 2024. No OC under Venables has been around longer than two seasons, and with each bringing their own system with them. That's ruined any chance of consistency on that side of the ball.
That has Arbuckle, with the help of general manager Jim Nagy, playing catch-up to have the needed talent on offense that fits into the new system. That's meant using the transfer portal a lot more than homegrown talent.
The Sooners' projected starting offense includes seven solidified starters from 2025. Of the seven, though, five just showed up in Norman last year as Arbuckle had to essentially start from scratch. That meant no continuity in 2025.
Sooners offense could soon have the same mold as the defense
In 2026, though, there's evidence that OU's offense could soon reflect the defense in the way it's structured. The returning starters are headlined by quarterback John Mateer, who followed Arbuckle from Washington State. Mateer will be protected by an offensive line that has four returning starters and mirrors exactly what Venables is trying to accomplish when it comes to building a roster. Three were freshmen last season after signing with OU out of high school. The Sooners' backfield duo Tory Blaylock and Xavier Robinson also came to OU from high school.
There's hope that even if Arbuckle leaves as soon as after this season, the Sooners can still retain their talent on offense thanks to Nagy. Obviously, the chances increase, though, if Arbuckle also sticks around as a young OC before likely jumping at a head coaching opportunity one day.
"But I'm really excited about what Jim Nagy and our front office have helped us do, transform that side of the football," Venables said. "We're going to be better and our quarterback and have a lot of experience coming back this year compared to where we were a year ago."
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