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After the head coach, the two most scrutinized individuals in a college football program are the quarterback and the offensive coordinator. College football remains an offensive game and if you're not scoring points, you're not winning.
A lot goes into whether an offense does or doesn't score touchdowns, but the credit or the blame will usually be passed on to the QB and OC. The casual fan doesn't know enough about offensive line or wide receiver play to point fingers anywhere else.
But the job has its perks. Success usually means the quarterback will be a first-round pick as the offensive coordinator garners head coaching looks. A strong play-caller and quarterback can take a program far. A well designed offense with a talented passer is enough to win double-digit games, even if the rest of the unit is subpar.
Today, we'll take a look at the best OC/QB duos in the SEC for the upcoming 2025 college football season. It was a relatively down year for quarterbacks in the SEC in 2024, but 2025 projects to be a lot better. Here are your top 5 OC/QB batteries in the conference.
Bobby Petrino needs no introduction. He's carried a reputation as one of the game's top offensive minds for nearly the entire 21st century. He was a play caller and head coach at the NFL level, coached Heisman winner Lamar Jackson at Louisville, and is responsible for much of Arkansas's success in the last 20 years.
Razorbacks head coach brought Petrino back to Fayetteville for the 2024 campaign. Arkansas finished the year 7-6, but the offense ranked No. 11 nationally in yards per play. Also joining Arkansas in 2024 was QB Taylen Green. Pittman was confident Arkansas had its quarterback and he was right.
Green was one of the most dynamic dual-threats in the SEC. The consistency level could stand to improve, but Green has a big arm and can make things happen. Petrino and Green should take another step with it being their second year working together.
In the transfer portal era, we've seen programs import entire offenses. They bring the offensive coordinator, quarterback, and a few members of the supporting cast. Oklahoma didn't take it quite that far, but the Sooners added a OC and QB who were together in 2024.
After a successful campaign at Washington State, Ben Arbuckle and John Mateer are looking to right the ship in Norman. Oklahoma's offense struggled last year with a revolving door between Jackson Arnold and Michael Hawkins at QB. Neither was the answer.
Mateer, who threw for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns at Wazzu last fall, was one of the most sought-after players on the transfer market. While it's a new school, the transition should be seamless with Arbuckle tagging along as play caller.
Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin remains instrumental in the Rebels offense, but he's not Ole Miss' sole play-caller. Charlie Weis Jr. plays a big role there, too.
The Ole Miss offense has been among the most dynamic in the SEC ever since Kiffin took over the program in 2020. The Rebels have had QBs Matt Coral and Jaxson Dart in that span. Coral got NFL attention in 2022 and Dart is getting some eyeballs as he prepares for the draft, but neither was a slam dunk first-round pick. But the offense knew how to make it work.
However, there's speculation the next man up in Oxford may be Kiffin's most talented Ole Miss QB yet. Austin Simmons' talent is off the charts, and those around the Ole Miss program are ready to see what the offense looks like with Simmons leading the way. Ole Miss is losing a lot of production from its 2024 squad, but Simmons' big play ability could mitigate the losses.
Sloan joined LSU as quarterbacks coach in 2022, Brian Kelly's first year leading the program. When Mike Denbrock left for Notre Dame, Sloan was promoted to OC. For Kelly, it was an easy call after Sloan played a big role in turning Jayden Daniels into a Heisman-winning quarterback.
Sloan's first year as LSU's play caller drew mixed reviews, but the Tigers finished the year strong with three-straight wins. In those games, QB Garrett Nussmeier started to put all the pieces together. Now, as Sloan and Nussmeier head into 2025, there are lofty expectations for the LSU offense.
The potential is off the charts with this pairing. Nussmeier's ceiling is a Heisman trophy and being the No. 1 overall pick.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian is the Longhorns' primary play-caller, but offensive line coach Kyle Flood has the offensive coordinator title. The two have built some effective offenses in recent years with back-to-back playoff berths. Sark knows how to get the most out of his quarterbacks.
Now, Arch Manning steps into the starting role with Quinn Ewers off to the NFL. Manning was a five-star recruit in 2023 and Texas fans have anxiously awaited his debut as QB1 for a couple of seasons. Manning saw action in spurts last year, but now the role is his.
Sark and Manning getting the No. 1 spot has less to do with Manning and more to do with Sark. We still don't know just how good Manning will be, but we know Sark is one of the best playcallers in the sport. Sarkisian got experience coordinating offenses in the NFL and worked under Nick Saban at Alabama. As long as he's at Texas, the Longhorns offense will be one of the best in the conference.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Top 5 SEC OC/QB duos for 2025: Texas, LSU lead the way
Continue reading...
A lot goes into whether an offense does or doesn't score touchdowns, but the credit or the blame will usually be passed on to the QB and OC. The casual fan doesn't know enough about offensive line or wide receiver play to point fingers anywhere else.
But the job has its perks. Success usually means the quarterback will be a first-round pick as the offensive coordinator garners head coaching looks. A strong play-caller and quarterback can take a program far. A well designed offense with a talented passer is enough to win double-digit games, even if the rest of the unit is subpar.
Today, we'll take a look at the best OC/QB duos in the SEC for the upcoming 2025 college football season. It was a relatively down year for quarterbacks in the SEC in 2024, but 2025 projects to be a lot better. Here are your top 5 OC/QB batteries in the conference.
5. Arkansas -- Bobby Petrino and Taylen Green
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Bobby Petrino needs no introduction. He's carried a reputation as one of the game's top offensive minds for nearly the entire 21st century. He was a play caller and head coach at the NFL level, coached Heisman winner Lamar Jackson at Louisville, and is responsible for much of Arkansas's success in the last 20 years.
Razorbacks head coach brought Petrino back to Fayetteville for the 2024 campaign. Arkansas finished the year 7-6, but the offense ranked No. 11 nationally in yards per play. Also joining Arkansas in 2024 was QB Taylen Green. Pittman was confident Arkansas had its quarterback and he was right.
Green was one of the most dynamic dual-threats in the SEC. The consistency level could stand to improve, but Green has a big arm and can make things happen. Petrino and Green should take another step with it being their second year working together.
4. Oklahoma -- Ben Arbuckle and John Mateer
You must be registered for see images attach
In the transfer portal era, we've seen programs import entire offenses. They bring the offensive coordinator, quarterback, and a few members of the supporting cast. Oklahoma didn't take it quite that far, but the Sooners added a OC and QB who were together in 2024.
After a successful campaign at Washington State, Ben Arbuckle and John Mateer are looking to right the ship in Norman. Oklahoma's offense struggled last year with a revolving door between Jackson Arnold and Michael Hawkins at QB. Neither was the answer.
Mateer, who threw for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns at Wazzu last fall, was one of the most sought-after players on the transfer market. While it's a new school, the transition should be seamless with Arbuckle tagging along as play caller.
3. Ole Miss -- Lane Kiffin, Charlie Weis Jr, and Austin Simmons
You must be registered for see images attach
Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin remains instrumental in the Rebels offense, but he's not Ole Miss' sole play-caller. Charlie Weis Jr. plays a big role there, too.
The Ole Miss offense has been among the most dynamic in the SEC ever since Kiffin took over the program in 2020. The Rebels have had QBs Matt Coral and Jaxson Dart in that span. Coral got NFL attention in 2022 and Dart is getting some eyeballs as he prepares for the draft, but neither was a slam dunk first-round pick. But the offense knew how to make it work.
However, there's speculation the next man up in Oxford may be Kiffin's most talented Ole Miss QB yet. Austin Simmons' talent is off the charts, and those around the Ole Miss program are ready to see what the offense looks like with Simmons leading the way. Ole Miss is losing a lot of production from its 2024 squad, but Simmons' big play ability could mitigate the losses.
2. LSU -- Joe Sloan and Garrett Nussmeier
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Sloan joined LSU as quarterbacks coach in 2022, Brian Kelly's first year leading the program. When Mike Denbrock left for Notre Dame, Sloan was promoted to OC. For Kelly, it was an easy call after Sloan played a big role in turning Jayden Daniels into a Heisman-winning quarterback.
Sloan's first year as LSU's play caller drew mixed reviews, but the Tigers finished the year strong with three-straight wins. In those games, QB Garrett Nussmeier started to put all the pieces together. Now, as Sloan and Nussmeier head into 2025, there are lofty expectations for the LSU offense.
The potential is off the charts with this pairing. Nussmeier's ceiling is a Heisman trophy and being the No. 1 overall pick.
1. Texas -- Steve Sarkisian, Kyle Flood, and Arch Manning
You must be registered for see images attach
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian is the Longhorns' primary play-caller, but offensive line coach Kyle Flood has the offensive coordinator title. The two have built some effective offenses in recent years with back-to-back playoff berths. Sark knows how to get the most out of his quarterbacks.
Now, Arch Manning steps into the starting role with Quinn Ewers off to the NFL. Manning was a five-star recruit in 2023 and Texas fans have anxiously awaited his debut as QB1 for a couple of seasons. Manning saw action in spurts last year, but now the role is his.
Sark and Manning getting the No. 1 spot has less to do with Manning and more to do with Sark. We still don't know just how good Manning will be, but we know Sark is one of the best playcallers in the sport. Sarkisian got experience coordinating offenses in the NFL and worked under Nick Saban at Alabama. As long as he's at Texas, the Longhorns offense will be one of the best in the conference.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Top 5 SEC OC/QB duos for 2025: Texas, LSU lead the way
Continue reading...
