The Oklahoma Sooners are on day one of their offensive coordinator search after moving on from Ben Arbuckle on Monday. Jason Witten holds the interim OC title through the remainder of the season and could earn further consideration depending on how Oklahoma plays. But for now, the Sooners will leave no stone unturned as they search for their fourth offensive coordinator in the Brent Venables era.
So what is Venables looking for?
"Incredibly important that we get someone to come in here and help us score touchdowns," Venables said at his weekly press conference. "I don't care how fast it happens. I don't care how much time is off the clock. I like to put pressure on people, be explosive, have balance, run the ball when we have to, throw the ball when we have to, be efficient
in all the efficiency spaces, lead the world in turnover margin. That's incredibly important to me; that's what wins for you, the turnover margin, being on the plus side of it."
Venables discussion of "how fast it happens" is a call back to the Jeff Lebby days when Lebby's offenses moved at a breakneck pace, sacrificing time of possession for tempo. But it was effective. Lebby had a top-five offense in 2023, which led to the former offensive coordinator being hired by Mississippi State.
Ultimately, the name of the game is points. And to take it a step further, touchdowns.
For as good as Brent Venables' defenses have been, they've been let down over the last two and a half years by offenses that simply haven't scored enough touchdowns.
The Sooners currently rank No. 109 in the nation in scoring offense. Under Arbuckle in 2025, Oklahoma was 79th in scoring offense. In 2024, the Sooners ranked 97th. If last year was one step forward, this year was two steps back.
Venables was pretty generic with his answer, but basically, he doesn't care exactly what the offense looks like as long as it helps them win games. And that's really the only thing that matters. Oklahoma's not trying to win a beauty contest.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: What is Brent Venables looking for in OU's next offensive coordinator?
