Lincoln Riley won 55 games at Oklahoma but he might best be remembered for his inability to cook brisket on Easter. The Sooners’ current offensive coordinator, Ben Arbuckle, decided to show him up!
The 29-year-old took a veiled shot at his program’s former head coach whether he intended to do so or not. (There is no way he did not intend to do so!)
Riley, a household name in college football, got his first opportunity as a head coach in 2017. He spent five years in Norman and made three appearances in the College Football Playoff with two Heisman Trophy winners. His accomplishments cannot be understated. However, his infamous brisket will haunt him for the rest of his career.
He posted a photo of his Easter brisket to social media on April 4, 2021. It went extremely viral for all of the wrong reasons. The meat was severely overcooked.
To make matters worse, Lincoln Riley defended his brisket upon arrival to USC. He tried to say that it was his photography skills that made the meat look so unappetizing, not his shortcomings on the grill.
Sure! Okay!
If that was not bad enough, Riley was gifted a beautiful piece of tuna by wide receivers coach Dennis Simmons in 2023. He overcooked the tuna just like he overcooked the brisket. Or maybe it was his camera again. Who knows.
Fast forward to this past Sunday. Easter Sunday.
Ben Arbuckle was hired as the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma in December. The 29-year-old made a brisket for the holy holiday and posted it to social media like the head coach that came before him. Bold move!
Great weekend with family and friends. Happy Easter! pic.twitter.com/NYscdCzlXz
— Ben Arbuckle (@arbuckle_ben) April 20, 2025
Although it is not the most impressive piece of meat I have ever seen, it blows Riley out of the water. The bar was on the floor so that does not say much.
Nevertheless, Oklahoma fans were thrilled. Not only did they love the subtle jab at the man they consider to be a traitor, they love that their current coach’s brisket was much closer to a proper cook. There is no way that Arbuckle did not know what he was doing. Shots fired.