Oklahoma Fires Offensive Coordinator Ben Arbuckle and Hands Play-Calling to Jason Witten

By The Arena Staff

NORMAN, Okla., Nov. 2, 2026 — Brent Venables has seen enough of his offense. Oklahoma has fired offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, and the man now calling the plays is a first-year college assistant better known for catching passes than drawing them up.

The Sooners moved on from Arbuckle on Monday, according to multiple reports cited by The Oklahoman, two days after a 42-25 home loss to South Carolina dropped them to 4-4. The offense managed just 118 yards and three points through three quarters of that game. Tight ends coach Jason Witten will take over play-calling for the final four games, SoonerScoop reported.

The numbers left little room for patience. Oklahoma ranks 111th nationally in total offense and 108th in scoring, according to The Oklahoman, and On3 reports the Sooners are last in the SEC in yards per game at about 321. The run game is averaging 2.93 yards per carry, and quarterback John Mateer, who followed Arbuckle from Washington State, has thrown four interceptions and fumbled twice this season. He turned the ball over three times against the Gamecocks.

It is a fast fall for a pairing that helped carry Oklahoma to the College Football Playoff in its first season together, On3 noted. Arbuckle was earning $1.5 million a year on a contract that ran through the 2027 season. He is the second offensive coordinator Venables has fired, after Seth Littrell in 2024.

Witten brings a famous name, if not a long play-calling resume. He played 17 NFL seasons, mostly with the Dallas Cowboys, and retired with 1,228 receptions for 13,046 yards and 74 touchdowns, fourth all-time in NFL catches, according to On3. He was an 11-time Pro Bowler. Before joining Venables' staff this year, he coached Liberty Christian School in Argyle, Texas, to back-to-back private-school state championships in 2023 and 2024.

His first test will not be gentle. Oklahoma visits Florida on Saturday at 7:45 p.m. ET on SEC Network, the first of four games left for an offense that has to find answers in a hurry.

Sources: The Oklahoman and On3.