Whether the Oklahoma Sooners' offense is actually better or not following an upset over No. 1 Texas, Ben Arbuckle's unit should at least still look the part for the rest of the 2026 season.
The Sooners, at 3-2, have survived what was already known to be the meat of their schedule, which included four top-25 scoring defenses to exploit an offense that already had a lot to figure out. The Red River Rivalry hinted that maybe the Sooners have solved some of their offensive problems, but even if they haven't, life gets easier for Arbuckle moving forward.
The Sooners won't face a better defense the rest of this season than they already have. Of the seven opponents left on OU's schedule, none can boast being a top-25 scoring defense heading into Week 7. That's compared to four top-25 defenses in just the first five games.
This is exactly what the Sooners have faced and what's coming their way:
- UTEP: 39.5 ppg, No. 135
- at Michigan: 15.8 ppg, No. 20
- at Georgia: 14 ppg, No. 10
- Texas: 16 ppg, No. 21
- Kentucky: 28 ppg, No. 108
- at Mississippi State: 28 ppg, No. 108
- South Carolina: 25.5 ppg, No. 85
- at Florida: 29 ppg, No. 113
- Ole Miss: 28 ppg, No. 108
- Texas A&M: 20 ppg, No. 42
- at Missouri: 17.7 ppg, No. 2
Sooners' offense should improve with toughest stretch behind Ben Arbuckle
After hammering a weak UTEP team in the season opener, the Sooners lost to a Michigan team that has been struggling but still has the No. 20 scoring defense, giving up 15.8 points per game. The Sooners also had to deal with 107,000+ fans inside The Big House.
OU then looked even more disappointing in its next outing, despite getting a win, 14-6 over New Mexico. That performance seemed to drain the hope from Sooner Nation and even knocked OU out of the top 25 in national rankings because of how bad its offense looked against a team from the Mountain West.
Obviously, the Lobos' numbers look prettier because of the competition they play against, but at least statistically, that's the best defense OU has faced this season as the No. 3 scoring defense in FBS that's giving up only 10.6 points per game, which the Sooners surpassed.
Again, the quality of the opponent is lacking, but the Sooners are one of only two teams this season to score more than one touchdown against the Lobos, other than New Mexico State getting into the end zone twice during garbage time of a blowout.
After New Mexico lowered the Sooners' expectations heading into SEC play, they endured a tough environment between the hedges in Athens against Georgia, which is giving up 14 points per game and is the No. 10 scoring defense in the country. The Bulldogs just held an Alabama offense with one of the best quarterbacks in the country to 17 points on the road.
Then there was the Red River Rivalry, where neither offense could do anything in the first half, and the Sooners started things with five three-and-outs in a row while failing to pick up a first down in the first quarter. The Sooners ultimately prevailed 27-24 to reach 20 points for the first time since Week 1, but they did benefit from a blocked punt for a score and a pick-six to contribute 14 of those points.
Texas, though, went into Week 6 allowing 13.25 points per game as one of the stingiest defenses in college football. Take away the Sooners' turnovers, and they still nearly matched what the Longhorns had been giving up.
There's no denying the Sooners' offense is disappointing and doesn't meet OU's standards. Upsetting No. 1 Texas also didn't fix the unit's problems overnight. But there's also no doubt that the defenses the Sooners have encountered magnified their flaws.
Moving forward, Missouri is the best defense the Sooners will have to deal with, and even the Tigers are giving up more points than everyone else OU has faced, except for UTEP. This week, No. 15 Kentucky visits Norman with the No. 108 scoring defense, giving up 28 points per game. The Wildcats are tied with fellow future foes Mississippi State and Ole Miss in the stat.
Oklahoma’s offense has to look better the rest of the season, even if just based on competition.
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