The Oklahoma Sooners got just a few games with offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle before the possibility of losing him.
At only 30 years old, Arbuckle, after transforming the Sooners' offense in his first season at OU, has already emerged as a hot head coach candidate as big-time jobs are already open heading into Week 6 of the college football season.
Arbuckle was in front of a mic for the Sooners' weekly press conference on Tuesday ahead of hosting Kent State and reassured his commitment to OU when Tulsa World's Berry Tramel asked about the rumors of him being a head coach soon and if it was an opportunity Arbuckle was even ready for this early in his career.
Ben Arbuckle mentioned for jobs like Oklahoma State and UCLA
"I'm flattered that someone would say that about me, but none of that stuff registers in my head at all," Arbuckle said. "I have a responsibility to this university, to these kids. I haven't even thought about if I would be ready to be a head coach.
"I'm not seeking anything either. My responsibility is to Oklahoma, to these kids, putting them in the best position to be successful every single day. That's where my loyalty lies, and that's where my mind is set is right here at Oklahoma. That's about all I got to say about that one."
“I’m not seeking anything.”#Sooners OC Ben Arbuckle was asked about his name being floated as a head coaching candidate. pic.twitter.com/4p5EdaR6gk
— Colton Sulley (@colton_sulley) September 30, 2025
The job Arbuckle has been linked to the most has been down the road at Oklahoma State, which fired longtime head coach Mike Gundy last week. Other current head coach openings include UCLA, Virginia Tech and Arkansas, all of which at least one college football expert has mentioned Arbuckle as a possible candidate.
The college football season is not even halfway over, so that means not only will more jobs open, but Arbuckle could also rise even further up candidate lists if the Sooners' offense continues to thrive.
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