Oklahoma has dismissed offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, as the school confirmed.
A Dramatic Freefall in Norman
The numbers paint a bleak picture for a program accustomed to offensive fireworks. Oklahoma currently ranks No. 111 among FBS teams in total offense, managing a meager 336.9 yards per contest. Within the unforgiving environment of the SEC, that output sits second-to-last.
Through eight games this season, the Sooners have limped to an average of 22 points per game. The unit hit rock bottom against elite competition, mustering just 10 points against Michigan and a meager 13 points in losses to both Georgia and Kentucky. Following a 42-25 defeat at the hands of South Carolina, Oklahoma sits at 4-4, staring down a brutal back-half schedule that includes Florida, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and Missouri.
“I have decided to make a change at offensive coordinator,” Sooners head coach Brett Venables said in a statement. “My responsibility is to the whole team and what I believe is best for us right now. We need a change.”
The Unraveled Promise of John Mateer
The offensive woes trace directly to the regression of quarterback John Mateer. The signal-caller followed Arbuckle to Norman from Washington State after a blistering sophomore campaign in 2024, where he threw for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns while rushing for another 851 yards and 15 scores.
Expectations for a Heisman Trophy charge evaporated quickly in the SEC. Mateer has passed for 1,835 yards this season, ranking 39th among FBS quarterbacks, while throwing 13 touchdowns against seven interceptions. That turnover trouble mirrors his final year under Arbuckle at Washington State, where he finished with 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions despite the Cougars’ high-flying team success.
Jason Witten Steps Into the Interim Fire
Former Dallas Cowboys All-Pro tight end Jason Witten will assume interim offensive coordinator and play-calling duties for the remainder of the season.
Witten is currently in his first year on the Sooners’ coaching staff handling tight ends, following a five-year stint as a high school head coach. Witten becomes the fifth coach to hold the offensive coordinator title during Venables’ head-coaching tenure, following Jeff Lebby, Joe Jon Finley, Seth Littrell, and now Arbuckle.
“I believe we still have meaningful opportunities ahead and a responsibility to maximize them,” Venables said. “Our expectations remain high and our commitment to meeting them is unwavering.”
🚨BREAKING: Former Dallas Cowboys star TE and current Oklahoma TE coach Jason Witten will take over as Oklahoma's new offensive play caller, per @SoonerScoop 👀Witten takes over for former OC Ben Arbuckle, who was fired earlier today by the Sooners. pic.twitter.com/UQo9Hpg0fd
The Shifting Landscape of SEC Offenses
Arbuckle arrived in December 2024 after orchestrating a Washington State attack that averaged 36.6 points and 442.8 yards per game, good for sixth and 17th nationally in the FBS.
With the remaining schedule featuring ranked teams, Witten faces an immediate trial by fire to salvage an unraveling season in Oklahoma.
More on Ben Arbuckle
Former NFL star and Oklahoma tight ends coach Jason Witten will take over play-calling duties for the remainder of the season, per multiple reports.The Sooners fired OC Ben Arbuckle after ranking last in the SEC in yards per game and second-to-last in scoring. pic.twitter.com/cH1xR30tyf
