Ben Arbuckle Faces Pressure as OU Survives New Mexico Scare

September 20, 2026 - 22:00

Oklahoma escaped with a 14-6 victory over New Mexico on Saturday at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, but the narrow margin has intensified scrutiny on offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle. The Sooners struggled to move the ball consistently, managing just two touchdowns against a program that was expected to be overmatched. For a team with playoff aspirations, the performance raised uncomfortable questions about whether Arbuckle is the right person to lead the offense moving forward.

The running game showed flashes but lacked explosiveness. Passing downs were often predictable, and red zone execution remained a problem. Quarterback play was uneven, with missed reads and timing issues disrupting drives that could have put the game out of reach early. New Mexico's defense, which entered the game with modest expectations, held its ground longer than most anticipated, exposing cracks in Oklahoma's scheme.

Defensively, the Sooners did enough to win. They limited New Mexico to two field goals and came up with stops when it mattered. But relying on the defense to bail out a stagnant offense is not a sustainable formula in conference play.

Arbuckle's play calling will be dissected heavily in the coming days. The staff must find answers quickly, because the schedule only gets tougher from here. If the offense does not show marked improvement, the conversation about Arbuckle's job security will only grow louder.