OU relieves offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle; Jason Witten named interim play-caller
Change comes four days before the Sooners visit No. 25 Florida
NORMAN - University of Oklahoma football coach Brent Venables relieved offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle of his duties Monday, according to a release from OU Athletics. Tight ends coach Jason Witten will serve as interim offensive coordinator and call plays for the rest of the season, the release says.
"We need a change," Venables said in a statement released by the university. He thanked Arbuckle for his two years with the program.
Witten joined the OU staff in January after five seasons as head coach at Liberty Christian School in Argyle, Texas, where his teams won private-school state titles in 2023 and 2024, the release says. He played 17 NFL seasons at tight end. This season, OU tight ends have caught five touchdown passes through eight games, compared with one in 2025, according to the release.
The release did not disclose the terms of Arbuckle's departure, including any buyout.
The Sooners (4-4, 2-3 SEC) play at No. 25 Florida (5-3, 3-3) at 6:45 p.m. CT Saturday on SEC Network.
Source: OU Athletics, "Venables Announces Offensive Staff Change," Nov. 2, 2026