NORMAN — Oklahoma is turning to Jason Witten to lead its offense. The future NFL Hall of Fame tight end has yet to really have play calling experience at the college level, but he brings a ton of knowledge and understanding of the game that could very well help the offense in the end.
The Sooners have named their tight ends coach interim offensive coordinator following the dismissal of Ben Arbuckle, putting Witten in charge of helping an inconsistent offense find answers entering the final month of the season.
CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz first reported the move to part ways with Arbuckle on Monday following Oklahoma’s 42–25 loss to South Carolina. The defeat dropped the Sooners to 4–4.
Witten joined Brent Venables’ staff in January after five seasons as the head coach at Liberty Christian School in Argyle, Texas. He led the program to consecutive state championships in 2023 and 2024 following a 17-season NFL playing career. Now, his first season coaching at the collegiate level includes a substantially larger assignment.
The immediate challenge is getting Oklahoma to produce meaningful offense before games get away from it.
Against South Carolina, the Sooners finished with 359 total yards, but 241 came in the fourth quarter. That left just 118 yards through the first three quarters. Both of John Mateer’s touchdown passes came in the final period, with Ivan Carreon catching scoring throws of 34 and 10 yards.
Oklahoma won the turnover battle 3–0 and still lost by 17.
Those numbers help explain why a coaching change became necessary. The Sooners have shown stretches of offensive progress, but they have struggled to carry that production from week to week or consistently turn opportunities into touchdowns.
One week earlier, Oklahoma produced a season-high 467 yards in its 23–15 win at Mississippi State. Mateer completed 22 of 29 passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, while the Sooners rushed for 184 yards.
That performance offered something to build on. The South Carolina game brought another setback.
Witten’s position group has supplied some of Oklahoma’s more dependable production. Rocky Beers caught four passes for 51 yards against the Gamecocks, marking his fifth consecutive game with at least three receptions. Through the Mississippi State game, OU’s tight ends had already combined for five receiving touchdowns, compared with one all of last season.
The broader assignment now extends well beyond that room.
Witten inherits an offense that needs more consistency, better finishes to drives and a way to sustain production despite the personnel disruptions it has faced. His appointment alone does not resolve those issues, but it changes who is responsible for directing the response.
Oklahoma has made its move. The remaining games will show how much the offense can change with Witten in the interim role.
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