The Oklahoma Sooners have a major question to answer at quarterback heading into their Week 10 game against the Florida Gators. The Sooners reportedly have parted ways with offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Ben Arbuckle.
Arbuckle and quarterback John Mateer came to Norman together after spending time at Washington State. In their two seasons at Oklahoma, the offense was among the worst in the country. This season, the Sooners' offense plummeted to No. 111 in total offense. Mateer is completing 65.6% of his passes for 1,835 yards, 13 touchdowns, and seven interceptions with two fumbles this season.
Mateer's struggles with consistently moving Oklahoma down the field and with turnovers have had many wondering if it was time to give Whitt
Newbauer or Bowe Bentley a chance. Newbauer has played sparingly in Norman, completing just 3-of-5 passes for 12 yards in two seasons. He came after one season at Mercer, completing 56.4% of his passes for 1,398 yards, 12 touchdowns and four picks.
Bentley is a true freshman and was one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2026 recruiting class. He has thrown just one pass this season, and it was incomplete. The risk of playing him is that if he's not ready, as most true freshmen aren't, you risk ruining any confidence he has moving forward.
With Arbuckle no longer leading the offense, Oklahoma faces an important decision about how to handle the quarterback position for the final stretch of the season under interim offensive coordinator Jason Witten. Mateer has the most experience in the system and the SEC, but his recent performances have raised questions about whether a different option could provide a spark. Newbauer offers some college experience, while Bentley represents a potential long-term answer who may benefit from more time to develop.
The matchup against Florida gives the Sooners their next opportunity to evaluate the position and determine the best path forward. Whoever takes the snaps will need support from the offensive line and playmakers around him, especially as Oklahoma tries to regain some consistency. The decision could have implications beyond this season, making it one of the most important choices facing the coaching staff during the transition.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Should Oklahoma bench John Mateer after the Ben Arbuckle news?
