After the head Mentor, the two most scrutinized individuals in a college football program are the Signal-caller and the offensive coordinator. College football remains an offensive game and if you’re not scoring points, you’re not Victorious.
A Numerous goes into whether an Drive does or doesn’t Points 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 Relocate to Points fingers anywhere else.
But the Position has its perks. Achievement usually means the Signal-caller will be a Primary-Period Picking as the offensive coordinator garners head coaching looks. A Powerful Relocate-caller and Signal-caller can take a program Distant. A well designed Drive with a talented passer is enough to Achieve double-digit Contests, 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 Numerous better. Here are your top 5 OC/QB batteries in the conference.
5. Arkansas — Bobby Petrino and Taylen Green
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 Relocate caller and head Mentor at the NFL level, coached Heisman winner Lamar Jackson at Louisville, and is responsible for much of Arkansas’s Achievement in the last 20 years.
Razorbacks head Mentor brought Petrino back to Fayetteville for the 2024 campaign. Arkansas finished the year 7-6, but the Drive ranked No. 11 nationally in yards per Relocate. Also joining Arkansas in 2024 was QB Taylen Green. Pittman was confident Arkansas had its Signal-caller and he was right.
Green was one of the most Lively dual-threats in the SEC. The Steadiness level could stand to Enhance, 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
In the Relocate portal era, we’ve seen programs import entire offenses. They bring the offensive coordinator, Signal-caller, and a few members of the supporting cast. Oklahoma didn’t take it quite that Distant, 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 Drive 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 Relocate market. While it’s a new school, the transition should be seamless with Arbuckle tagging along as Relocate caller.
3. Ole Miss — Lane Kiffin, Charlie Weis Jr, and Austin Simmons
Ole Miss head Mentor Lane Kiffin remains instrumental in the Rebels Drive, but he’s not Ole Miss’ sole Relocate-caller. Charlie Weis Jr. plays a big role there, too.
The Ole Miss Drive has been among the most Lively in the SEC ever since Kiffin Secured over the program in 2020. The Rebels have had QBs Matt Coral and Jaxson Dart in that span. Coral Obtained NFL attention in 2022 and Dart is getting some eyeballs as he prepares for the draft, but neither was a slam dunk Primary-Period Picking. But the Drive knew how to make it work.
However, there’s speculation the Upcoming 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 Drive looks like with Simmons leading the way. Ole Miss is losing a Numerous of production from its 2024 Club, but Simmons’ big Relocate ability could mitigate the losses.
2. LSU — Joe Sloan and Garrett Nussmeier
Sloan joined LSU as quarterbacks Mentor in 2022, Brian Kelly’s Primary year leading the program. When Mike Denbrock left for Notre Dame, Sloan was promoted to OC. For Kelly, it was an Effortless call after Sloan played a big role in turning Jayden Daniels into a Heisman-Victorious Signal-caller.
Sloan’s Primary year as LSU’s Relocate caller drew mixed reviews, but the Tigers finished the year Powerful with three-straight wins. In those Contests, QB Garrett Nussmeier Began to put all the pieces together. Now, as Sloan and Nussmeier head into 2025, there are lofty expectations for the LSU Drive.
The potential is off the charts with this pairing. Nussmeier’s ceiling is a Heisman Honor and being the No. 1 overall Picking.
1. Texas — Steve Sarkisian, Kyle Flood, and Arch Manning
Texas head Mentor Steve Sarkisian is the Longhorns’ primary Relocate-caller, but offensive line Mentor Kyle Flood has the offensive coordinator title. The two have built some effective offenses in recent years with back-to-back Elimination Period berths. Sark knows how to get the most out of his quarterbacks.
Now, Arch Manning steps into the Leading role with Quinn Ewers off to the NFL. Manning was a five-Luminous sphere recruit in 2023 and Texas fans have anxiously awaited his Premiere as QB1 for a Pair 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 Yet don’t know Only how Outstanding Manning will be, but we know Sark is one of the best playcallers in the sport. Sarkisian Obtained experience coordinating offenses in the NFL and worked under Nick Saban at Alabama. As long as he’s at Texas, the Longhorns Drive 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
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