Oklahoma Dismisses Ben Arbuckle After Scoring Struggles Deepen
Jason Witten assumes offensive coordinator duties as the Sooners face a critical decision point in a season defined by low offensive output.
By Alessia Desai ·
Oklahoma’s offense has averaged just 22.0 points per game this season, placing the team at 15th among 16 Southeastern Conference schools. The Sooners fired second-year offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle on Monday in response to the continued production issues.
Coach Brent Venables confirmed that Jason Witten will serve as the interim offensive coordinator and play caller. Witten, 44, previously played for the Dallas Cowboys and joined the Oklahoma staff as tight ends coach before the current season. He had spent the prior year serving as head coach at Liberty Christian School in Argyle, Texas.
Venables stated that the decision prioritized the team’s immediate needs. “My responsibility is to the whole team and what I believe is best for us right now. We need a change,” Venables said. He added that the coaching staff remains committed to maximizing remaining opportunities despite the difficult start.
The dismissal follows a 42-25 loss to South Carolina on Saturday. Oklahoma’s offense generated only three points in the first half, leaving the team trailing 28-10 at the break. The Sooners currently hold a 4-4 overall record and a 2-3 mark in conference play.
Arbuckle, 31, arrived in Norman from Washington State ahead of the 2025 season. He brought quarterback John Mateer with him as a transfer. Mateer threw for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2024. This season, the 20-game mark shows 27 touchdowns against 18 interceptions, a decline from his previous form. Hand injuries limited his availability during the 2025 campaign.
The Sooners entered this season as the No. 8 seed in the College Football Playoff. They advanced on the strength of a defense that ranked sixth nationally in total defense. The team lost a first-round home game against ninth-seeded Alabama. With four losses already on the record, Oklahoma will not return to the Playoff this year.
The program now focuses on securing a bowl berth to avoid a first bowl-less season since 1998. The offense must improve its total yardage average of 336.9 per game to achieve that goal.
Source: KOYY
