The sting of a 6-7 season still lingers in Norman, but there’s a buzz building around the University of Oklahoma. After years spent dominating, the Sooners suddenly stumbled, and everyone wants to know — can this program really turn things around in the Southeastern Conference with so much on the line?
CFB Analyst Trusts Oklahoma’s Improved QB Situation to Spearhead SEC Renaissance
With just two losing seasons in the last 27 years, the Sooners are used to setting the pace, not chasing it. Last year, though, they never quite found their groove. Following moves up and down the roster, the feeling isn’t just that Oklahoma can take a small step forward, but that they can pull off a full reset and become a real threat in the SEC.
So what’s different now? ESPN analyst Josh Pate broke down the new look on “Get Up,” focusing on the quarterback situation and coaching changes. He pointed out how the defense already ranked near the top in FBS, giving up 21.5 points per game. At the same time, the offense just didn’t hold up its end, averaging only 24 points per contest.
Those numbers led to major offensive changes. Pate talked through the renovations and what they could mean moving forward.
“Greeny, they don’t feel underrated to me because I’ve been banging the drums since February, but I’m going with Oklahoma. Uh, the season was terrible last year. They looked like a terminally flawed team. They weren’t. It’s a bunch of top 10 recruiting classes stacked on each other,” Pate said.
“Really good staff. They had a terminally flawed QB/OC combo. They rectified that. Brought in a QB OC from Washington State. I like him to compete in the SEC,” he added.
While starter Jackson Arnold jumped into the portal and left for Auburn, Oklahoma brought in former Washington State quarterback John Mateer. Mateer is known as a true dual-threat, and a year ago, he finally locked down the starting job for the Cougars. He completed 64.6 percent of his passes for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns, plus added 826 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground.
The Sooners went a step further, hiring Mateer’s offensive coordinator from Washington State as well. Arbuckle’s coaching reputation was strong even before Mateer broke out. In 2023, Arbuckle coached Cam Ward in Pullman, and Ward also put up a 3,000-yard season. That track record, Pate said, is why the relationship between Arbuckle and Mateer could help the Sooners climb the conference standings.
Now, Mateer and Arbuckle will be looking for playmakers. One of the top targets expected is Zion Kearney, who last season, as a true freshman, caught eight passes for 128 yards and a touchdown. With flashes like those, it’s clear Oklahoma wants to see what Kearney can do on deeper and intermediate routes as he works to get open.
All the moves address what the Sooners believed was the main reason for last year’s problems. The real question: will it be enough for Oklahoma to move up the rankings and challenge the SEC’s best?
