Oklahoma Sooners OC Ben Arbuckle Sounds Alarm Over NIL Challenges: “We Are Losing Recruits in the Portal to Schools That Are Just Flat Outbidding Us”

Oklahoma Sooners OC Ben Arbuckle Sounds Alarm Over NIL Challenges: “We Are Losing Recruits in the Portal to Schools That Are Just Flat Outbidding Us”

Oklahoma Sooners offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle has voiced his concerns about the impact of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals on the current state of college football recruiting. Speaking candidly in a recent interview, Arbuckle shed light on how NIL opportunities are altering the dynamics of player recruitment, particularly in the transfer portal.

“We are losing recruits in the portal to schools that are just flat outbidding us,” Arbuckle said. “It’s no longer about the relationships we’ve built, the culture we’ve established, or the tradition of Oklahoma football. For a lot of these players, it comes down to who’s offering the most money.”

The Sooners, one of college football’s most storied programs, are now facing stiff competition in the NIL-driven landscape. While Oklahoma has long been a powerhouse in recruiting, Arbuckle’s comments underline the growing challenges of competing with programs that have access to significantly larger NIL war chests.

Arbuckle explained that while Oklahoma is making strides to keep up with these changes, the rapid evolution of NIL is creating an uneven playing field. “We’ve got a tremendous program here with great facilities, coaches, and a supportive fan base,” Arbuckle said. “But there’s a limit to what we can do when some schools are throwing around numbers that are hard to match.”

As Oklahoma prepares for its upcoming move to the SEC, these challenges could prove even more critical. Head coach Brent Venables and Arbuckle have been focused on building a competitive roster, but NIL has added another layer of complexity to the recruiting process. Arbuckle emphasized that the Sooners remain committed to developing players and showcasing what makes the program unique, but he also called for more regulation and oversight in the NIL space.

“This isn’t just an Oklahoma issue—it’s a college football issue,” Arbuckle said. “We need a system that ensures NIL benefits don’t overshadow the sport itself. Right now, it’s starting to feel like the highest bidder wins, and that’s not what college football is supposed to be about.”

Despite the challenges, Arbuckle remains optimistic about Oklahoma’s future, pointing to the program’s history of resilience and adaptability. Still, his comments serve as a wake-up call for programs across the country grappling with the unintended consequences of the NIL era.

As the Sooners gear up for their next chapter in the SEC, Arbuckle’s message is clear: the playing field needs to be leveled for the integrity of college football to be preserved.