The Oklahoma Sooners have made a major change heading into their ninth game of the season against the Florida Gators. The Sooners sit at 4-4, but after having one of the worst offenses in college football, head coach Brent Venables announced the firing of offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle.
That leaves many speculating if a change at quarterback will be next. John Mateer has started the first eight games of the season. He's completed 65.6% of his passes for 1,835 yards, 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions, with two fumbles. Mateer has been backed up by Whitt Newbauer and Bowe Bentley; neither has much experience, although Newbauer started for the Mercer Bears at the FCS level.
Venables was asked whether Mateer will be the guy on Saturday; however,
he didn't want to commit yet.
"Everything's on the table," Venables said.
"I'm not going to talk about reps and depth chart (Tuesday). All three got reps."
Venables' comments suggest Oklahoma is evaluating all three quarterbacks as it prepares for a critical matchup with Florida. Mateer has the advantage of experience and familiarity against SEC defenses, but the coaching change gives the staff an opportunity to reassess the position. Newbauer and Bentley now have a chance to make their cases for more playing time, even if neither has much FBS experience.
The decision will be closely watched as the Sooners try to get their season back on track. Oklahoma needs more consistency at quarterback, regardless of who earns the starting job. With the offense searching for answers and the coaching staff undergoing a transition, how Venables handles the quarterback competition could have a major impact on the rest of the season.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Brent Venables on quarterback change: 'Everything's on the table'
