Oklahoma Replaces Ben Arbuckle With Jason Witten
Coach Brent Venables named the former Dallas Cowboys tight end interim offensive coordinator after a loss to South Carolina.
By Jonathan Ramirez ·
Oklahoma fired offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle on Monday, ending his two-year tenure with the Sooners. The change comes after the team dropped a 42-25 decision at South Carolina on Saturday. Coach Brent Venables confirmed that Jason Witten will assume the role of interim offensive coordinator and play caller.
Venables cited the need for a fresh approach to address the team's offensive struggles. He stated, “My responsibility is to the whole team and what I believe is best for us right now. We need a change.” The head coach added that the program still has meaningful opportunities ahead and a responsibility to maximize them. He emphasized that expectations remain high and the commitment to meeting them is unwavering.
The Sooners currently hold a 4-4 record overall and a 2-3 mark in the Southeastern Conference. Their offense ranks 15th out of 16 SEC teams in scoring, averaging 22.0 points per game. They also rank 15th in total offense with 336.9 yards per game. In the loss to South Carolina, the offense managed just three points in the first half, leaving the team in a 28-10 halftime deficit.
Witten, 44, joined the Oklahoma staff as tight ends coach before the start of the season. He previously served as head coach at Liberty Christian School in Argyle, Texas. The former star tight end for the Dallas Cowboys will now be responsible for calling the plays for the Sooners.
Arbuckle, 31, arrived in Norman ahead of the 2025 season from Washington State, where he was viewed as a rising star in coaching circles. He brought quarterback John Mateer to Oklahoma as a transfer. Mateer missed time in 2025 due to a hand injury and has not yet replicated his previous performance when healthy this season.
In 2024 with Washington State, Mateer threw for 3,139 yards, 29 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Through his first 20 games at Oklahoma, he has recorded 27 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. The Sooners earned a No. 8 seed in the College Football Playoff in 2025, a result driven largely by their defense, which ranked sixth nationally in total defense. They lost their first-round home game against ninth-seeded Alabama.
With four losses on the season, Oklahoma will not return to the College Football Playoff. The team now seeks to avoid missing a bowl game for the first time since 1998.
