Latest news with #BenArbuckle
USA Today
16-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Bowe Bentley moves up in Rivals updated 2026 recruiting rankings
New Oklahoma Sooners offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Ben Arbuckle liked what he saw early on in the 2026 recruiting class, specifically Celina (Texas) High School quarterback Bowe Bentley. Since then, OU's new offensive play-caller has been able to sit back and watch as the rest of the country caught up in their evaluation of Bentley. Arbuckle offered the four-star prospect early on in his time with the Sooners, after a junior season in which Bentley led Celina to a perfect season and a state championship. Plenty of other programs like Georgia and LSU came around on Bentley and showed plenty of interest. Still, the lifelong Sooner fan committed to Oklahoma last month, picking OU over LSU. Now, it looks like some of the recruiting services are giving Bentley more love as well. Rivals released their updated Rivals300 rankings on Monday, with Bentley coming in as the No. 4 QB currently in the recruiting class of 2026. Bentley now slots in behind only three signal-callers in the 2026 class in Rivals' rankings. Five-star prospects Dia Bell (committed to Texas) and Jared Curtis (committed to Georgia) top the list, with fellow four-star Faizon Brandon (committed to Tennessee) ranked one spot above Bentley. If all holds, Rivals' top four 2026 QBs would all be headed to the SEC. Bentley is Rivals' No. 41 player nationally, and the No. 2 player in the state of Texas. He's ranked higher than the player he took the spot of in OU's 2026 recruiting class, as Florida State commit Jaden O'Neal was ranked as the No. 27 QB by Rivals. Bentley is hoping to help end a long line of blue-chip quarterback recruits for the Sooners that finished their careers elsewhere. While Oklahoma has had plenty of success with transfer QBs over the last decade, their best high school signees have typically transferred out of the program before their careers were over, despite OU landing plenty of five-stars on the recruiting trail. Blake Bell was Oklahoma's last five-star quarterback recruit to finish his career in Norman, but he finished college football playing tight end. Bentley may not be a five-star yet, but he's hoping to change Oklahoma's fortunes in QB recruiting, as he's in line to be the face of the program at some point down the road. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.
USA Today
14-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
John Mateer can make the SEC jump; Taylen Green and Diego Pavia did
Games won't kick off for another month and a half, but the unofficial start of football season has arrived with SEC media days beginning on Monday in Atlanta, Georgia. It's the SEC's first opportunity to get to know Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer. Expectations are high for Mateer heading into 2025. If there's much optimism surrounding the Sooners, it's tied to Mateer's arm and legs resurrecting an OU offense that averaged just 13 offensive points per game in SEC play in 2024. Mateer combined for nearly 4,000 yards of offense last season for Washington State. He threw for 29 touchdowns and ran for 14 more. A strong year in his first season as a starter. And now, he'll make the jump to the SEC with offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle. Arbuckle was a big hire in the offseason, providing more direction for the Sooners' offense. But a lot of Oklahoma's hopes ride on Mateer and how he transitions to the SEC. It's a challenging jump. However, 2024 provided evidence that players with solid to good production at a lower level of football can make that jump successfully. Past production doesn't always equal future outcomes, but Arkansas' Taylen Green and Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia walked in 2024 so Mateer could run in 2025. Green started a couple of seasons at Boise State and produced nearly 5,000 yards of total offense and 44 total touchdowns. In his first year with Arkansas, he threw for 3,154 yards and 15 touchdowns and ran for another 602 yards and eight touchdowns. Pavia, who helped Vanderbilt to wins over Auburn and Alabama, combined for nearly 6,000 yards of total offense and 52 touchdowns in his two seasons with New Mexico State. For the Commodores in 2024, he threw for 2,293 yards and 20 touchdowns and ran for 801 yards and eight touchdowns while helping Vanderbilt reach bowl eligibility for the first time since 2018 and their first winning record since James Franklin was the head coach back in 2013. Green and Pavia were good additions for their respective programs and both arrived in the SEC with multiple years of starting experience. And they had their best years yet in 2024. Mateer has just one season of experience as a starter, but has multiple years in offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle's offense. Oklahoma is hoping that familiarity will lead to a career year for Mateer. Though not everything hinges on Mateer's ability to make the jump, he'll have to play well for Oklahoma to contend for a College Football Playoff berth. He'll likely have to play great for the Sooners to reach the conference title game in Atlanta. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
New York Times
07-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Oklahoma AD Joe Castiglione, leading voice in college sports, to retire
Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione will retire this upcoming school year, he announced Monday, ending the longest active tenure for an AD in major college sports. It will also end the run for one of the most successful and respected administrative voices in college sports. Castiglione is entering his 28th year at the helm of the Sooners' athletic department. He plans to stay on as athletic director emeritus and help with special projects. Advertisement Under Castiglione's watch, Oklahoma has won 26 national championships (of the school's 45 total) and 117 conference championships. Castiglione oversaw the football program's return to glory when he hired former coach Bob Stoops before the 1999 season, and he led the school's move into the SEC. Before Oklahoma, Castiglione spent five years as the athletic director at Missouri, and 32 of his former employees have gone on to become athletic directors or commissioners, according to ESPN. Castiglione is also the only AD to serve on the selection committees for the College Football Playoff, men's basketball tournament and baseball tournament. The move comes at a tenuous time for the Oklahoma football program. Brent Venables has posted two 6-7 records over three seasons as head coach, but the program has invested heavily to get back on track this fall. The school hired offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle from Washington State, added Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy as general manager and brought in top transfers in quarterback John Mateer (Washington State) and running back Jaydn Ott (Cal). Castiglione's departure also comes at a changing time in college sports with the implementation of the House settlement. The OU Daily reported in May that the athletic department would lay off 5 percent of staff in preparation for revenue-sharing with athletes.
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
OU football lands Bowe Bentley, beats LSU for 4-star QB in Sooners' 2026 recruiting class
NORMAN — Offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle found his 2026 quarterback. Four-star Bowe Bentley, the No. 10 quarterback in the 2026 class, announced his commitment to Oklahoma over LSU Friday evening. Advertisement Bentley is the No. 94 overall recruit in the 2026 recruiting class, according to 247Sports' Composite ranking. A 6-foot-2, 200-pound rising senior from Celina, Texas, Bentley previously stood as the cycle's third-ranked uncommitted quarterback. After gaining interest from a plethora of Power 4 programs, Bentley narrowed his finalists to LSU and OU in May before taking official trips to see each program in the following weeks. A dynamic dual-threat with 4,200 total yards and 63 touchdowns as a junior at Celina High School, Bentley joins the Sooners as the top-ranked member of the program's 2026 class. Bentley's commitment comes less than 24 hours after the No. 14-ranked 2026 quarterback Jaden O'Neal decommitted from OU. Shortly after hiring Arbuckle this offseason, the Sooners offered Bentley while O'Neal was committed. Bentley took two unofficial visits to Norman — one in February and another in March — before officially visiting earlier this month. Advertisement Bentley visited Florida State, Georgia and Ohio State in March before zeroing in on LSU and OU. Bentley, who led Celina to a 16-0 record and state championship as a junior, becomes the Sooners' potential quarterback for the future after current starting quarterback John Mateer's tenure. Arbuckle and OU previously signed three-star quarterback Jett Niu in the 2025 cycle and welcomed transfers Whitt Newbauer (Mercer) and Gavin Frakes (Virginia). More: Why OU athletic director Joe Castiglione feels Sooners are prepared for House settlement Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@ or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football lands QB Bowe Bentley over LSU in 2026 recruiting class
USA Today
21-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Social media reacts to Bowe Bentley's commitment to the Oklahoma Sooners
The Oklahoma Sooners' 2026 recruiting class has its quarterback after four-star prospect Bowe Bentley committed to OU on Friday evening. Bentley is one of the ten best quarterbacks in the 2026 cycle and has been a rising star over the last six months. After starring in the Navy All-American Bowl in January, Bentley's recruitment took off, and he received offers from Ohio State, Georgia, Missouri, and more over the last few months. The Celina, Texas native attended the Elite 11 finals and had a standout performance on night two, earning praise from a number of recruiting outlets. The commitment is the first big high school quarterback pledge earned by offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle. Arbuckle offered Bentley less than two months after his arrival to Norman and was able to beat an LSU football program that boasts two Heisman Trophy winners since 2019, a Heisman front runner for 2025, and a strong wide receiver recruiting class. It's a huge win for the Sooners and it's given them a big boost ahead of one of the most important recruiting weekends of the year with the ChampU BBQ happening June 20-22 in Norman. Bentley's commitment had social media buzzing on Friday evening, and here are some of the best reactions to the news. Home Run from Arbuckle Oklahoma got their guy He's Home Let's Goooo!!! Ben Arbuckle effect Sooner DNA is Real Director of Player Personnel reacts An impressive talent Oklahoma added one of the best in the class Timing is impeccable Ready to Work Bowe Bentley brings the juice Oklahoma's QB plan comes together Big win for Ben Arbuckle Blue Chip U Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
