Oklahoma Fires Ben Arbuckle and Names Jason Witten Play Caller

Oklahoma has dismissed offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and appointed tight ends coach Jason Witten to lead the offense as interim coordinator and play caller. Head coach Brent Venables announced the decision Monday after the Sooners suffered a 42-25 home defeat against South Carolina, falling to a 4-4 record amid persistent offensive struggles.

According to the school's announcement, the coaching change comes as Oklahoma ranks next to last in the Southeastern Conference in both total yards per game and touchdowns scored. The move marks another significant midseason adjustment under Venables.

Venables explained that the decision reflected his responsibility to the entire team and the need to improve its current direction.

"My responsibility is to the whole team and what I believe is best for us right now. We need a change. I believe we still have meaningful opportunities ahead and a responsibility to maximize them. Our expectations remain high and our commitment to meeting them is unwavering," Venables said in a statement.

Witten, who previously worked as Oklahoma's tight ends coach, will immediately assume responsibility for coordinating the offense and calling plays. His appointment follows Arbuckle's departure after less than two seasons with the program.

Arbuckle joined Oklahoma after two successful seasons at Washington State, where he became the youngest primary coordinator in Power 4 football at the time, aged 27. Quarterback John Mateer followed him to Norman after transferring from Washington State in the same month Arbuckle was hired.

Mateer initially attracted attention as a Heisman Trophy contender early last season. However, a thumb injury disrupted his campaign and continued to affect his performances. Since the injury, he has recorded 21 touchdown passes and 15 interceptions.

The defeat against South Carolina also exposed Oklahoma's difficulties in offensive preparation and execution. Following the game, Arbuckle acknowledged that the team had failed to meet expectations and accepted responsibility for its performance.

"Didn't look like we were ready to play. And I own that 100%. It's my job to have these guys, by the time that ball is kicking off, they're ready to roll, they're ready to play. And we weren't that tonight," Arbuckle said.

Venables had previously expressed confidence that Oklahoma could correct its offensive problems despite the disappointing result. However, he acknowledged that the team's performance gave supporters legitimate reasons to question his assessment.

"We're a better team than what we played tonight," Venables said after the loss.

He also acknowledged the frustration surrounding the offense while maintaining that improvements remained possible. The coaching staff now faces the task of addressing those shortcomings under Witten's leadership.

The dismissal represents the second time Venables has removed an offensive coordinator during the season. He previously fired Seth Littrell seven games into the 2024 campaign.

Arbuckle was in the second year of a three-year contract with Oklahoma that paid him $1.5 million annually.