This yr’s Washington State squad, which is 8-4 total (the eight wins are its most since 2018), additionally ranks sixth out of 130 FBS groups in passing touchdowns (30), eighth in yards per go try (9.1), ninth in passing effectivity score (165.2), twelfth in yards per completion (13.9), 14th in yards per play (6.7), twenty second in whole offense (440.4 ypg), twenty fourth in passing offense (268.8 ypg) and speeding touchdowns (27), twenty seventh in turnovers misplaced (12), twenty eighth in completion proportion (.652), thirty first in interceptions thrown (7) and fifty fifth in speeding offense (171.6 ypg). WSU has rushed for over 100 yards in 11 video games (its most since 2005) and 89 yards within the different.
In Arbuckle’s first yr at Washington State in 2023, the Cougars ranked fourth nationally in passing offense at 336.8 ypg (up from forty fourth and 253.8 ypg the yr earlier than his arrival), thirty fifth in whole offense at 421.7 ypg (up from 93rd and 360.7 ypg), thirty sixth with its 147.2 passing effectivity score (up from 71st and 132.3 determine) and thirty seventh in scoring offense at 31.7 ppg (up from 79th and 26.1 ppg).
Quarterback Cam Ward ranked third within the nation in 2023 in completions per recreation (26.9), fourth in passing offense (311.3 ypg) and sixth in whole offense (323.3 ypg). The Cougars posted 400-plus yards of whole offense in seven video games, together with a season-high 718 in a win over Northern Colorado and 528 in a victory over No. 14 Oregon State. Against the Beavers, Ward accomplished 29 of 35 passes for 422 yards and 4 touchdowns en path to being named nationwide participant of the week. He and huge receiver Lincoln Victor have been named 2023 All-Pac-12 performers.
Combined over Arbuckle’s two seasons at Washington State, the Cougars rank tenth nationally in passing yards per recreation (302.7) and in passing touchdowns (57), twelfth in landing/interception ratio (3.56), thirteenth in passing effectivity score (154.5), twentieth in scoring offense (34.2 ppg) and twenty second in touchdowns from scrimmage (101).
“Ben is an especially passionate and revolutionary coach who does a fantastic job of discovering methods to maximise his personnel,” stated Venables. “He has developed dynamic quarterbacks in his younger teaching profession and sees the QB recreation via a singular perspective and lens, as he performed the place himself. He’s obtained an infectious vitality and mindset, and is a improbable instructor of the sport with an impeccable work ethic. He relates nicely to younger folks, and his beliefs, values and concern for student-athletes on their journey align with our values and philosophy right here at OU.
“Thanks to his distinctive mix of expertise, Ben does an unbelievable job using a number of personnel teams and placing great stress — each vertical and systematic — on defenses. He’s overseen quarterback-friendly, big-play offenses and thrives at placing gamers in place to achieve success. That monitor document will appeal to a number of the most dynamic and explosive gamers within the nation.
“I’m extremely excited to see our offense attain new heights beneath Ben’s steerage and management, working alongside the remainder of our offensive employees of Coach (Joe Jon) Finley, Coach (Bill) Bedenbaugh, Coach (DeMarco) Murray and Coach (Emmett) Jones.”
The 29-year-old Arbuckle has rapidly ascended the teaching ranks. He started his teaching profession in a top quality management function at Houston Baptist University for 2 years (2018-19), working primarily with the offensive line his first season and the quarterbacks his second.
After spending the 2020 season as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Seminole High School in Seminole, Texas, Arbuckle landed at Western Kentucky University as an offensive high quality management staffer and contributed to a 2021 offense that led the nation in passing (433.7 ypg) and ranked second in whole offense (536.2 ypg) and scoring (44.2 ppg). He helped mentor quarterback Bailey Zappe, who broke single-season FBS data for passing yards (5,967) and passing touchdowns (62).
Arbuckle, who’s from the small city of Canadian within the Texas panhandle, was promoted to co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for WKU’s 2022 season. In his first yr as a full-time coach, he served as major play-caller and promptly helped the Hilltoppers end second nationally in passing yards (339.0 ypg), seventh in whole offense (497.1 ypg) and fifteenth in scoring offense (36.4 ppg), and guided quarterback Austin Reed to a nation-leading 4,746 passing yards and respective No. 3 and 4 rankings in passing touchdowns (40) and whole offense (355.0 ypg). The season culminated with a 44-23 win over South Alabama within the New Orleans Bowl, leading to a 9-5 total document. In that recreation, WKU racked up 677 yards of whole offense, together with a New Orleans Bowl-record 522 passing yards. Arbuckle was named to 247Sports’ 30-Under-30 listing of rising school soccer teaching stars that season.
“Right off the bat, my first dialog with Coach Venables obtained me actually excited,” stated Arbuckle. “Hearing his imaginative and prescient for this system and the OU offense, I used to be in whole alignment and able to roll. To have this chance to affix the University of Oklahoma soccer program, with its longstanding custom of excellence, was so attractive to me and I wished to be part of it greater than something. It’s an honor and a privilege to be on this scenario and I’m able to hit the bottom working and get this factor going.
“We’re going to run an attacking-style offense. I need to take the combat to the protection. I need to put our guys in place to achieve success always, and in the end go on the market and be explosive and put a product on the sphere that Sooner Nation is pleased with. I’m excited to get to Norman and get to work.”
When requested extra about his most well-liked type of offense, Arbuckle stated it will probably range from yr to yr.
“I’ve all the time performed to the energy of my personnel. The personnel drives the scheme,” he defined. “There have been years the place one of the best factor for the workforce to achieve success was throwing the ball rather a lot, and there have been years the place one of the best factor for the workforce was to determine the road of scrimmage and get rolling. That’s how I’ll all the time method it. What will get us in one of the best place to achieve success is what we will do. My mentors come from a bunch of various bushes, whether or not that is the ‘Air Raid’ tree, the ‘West Coast’ tree, the ‘Pro Style’ tree. I’ve mentors from all totally different backgrounds, and so they’ve all helped mildew me into what you see on the sphere now.”
Arbuckle added, “I’ve been lucky to have nice males on this career belief me and provides me the chance to steer their offenses. That is a duty I’ve by no means taken frivolously and am grateful for the idea from all of these males.”
Arbuckle attended Canadian High School earlier than taking part in quarterback at West Texas A&M University. He graduated in 2018 with a twin diploma in finance and economics. He and his spouse, Lauren, have a son named Hudson.
Oklahoma (6-6 total) will be taught its bowl vacation spot on Sunday. The Sooners personal the nation’s second-longest lively bowl streak at 26 years.
