Oklahoma’s interim offensive coordinator Jason Witten took over playcalling duties at halftime and immediately shifted the game’s momentum against No. 19 Ole Miss by focusing on ball control. The Sooners opened the second half with six run plays, interrupted only by a short 3-yard screen pass, setting a tone of grinding possession that left the Rebels unable to gain traction.
Quarterback John Mateer threw a 20-yard screen pass to running back Lloyd Avant on second-and-9, marking his longest completion of the game, but the bulk of the offense remained on the ground. Oklahoma’s 12-play touchdown drive consumed almost half of the third quarter, with the team converting both a third down and a fourth down in the process. The methodical approach drained the clock and kept Ole Miss’s offense off the field.
Sooners coach Brent Venables made the unexpected choice to hand playcalling duties to Witten, a future Hall of Famer whose only prior coaching experience was at the high school level. Witten’s game plan helped Oklahoma secure a 24-17 upset over the Rebels, marking their second consecutive win of the season. Despite modest offensive numbers, the strategy gave Oklahoma’s defense much-needed rest and positioned the team to control the game’s tempo.
Oklahoma’s offense totaled fewer than 300 yards, and seven of their 24 points came from a punt return touchdown by Isaiah Sategna III. The offense did not rely on explosive plays or high efficiency, averaging just 4.46 yards per play and ranking in the 55th percentile for success rate. However, Witten’s reliance on the running game allowed the Sooners to dominate time of possession, holding the ball for nearly 37 minutes for the second straight week against high-powered offenses.
Witten distributed carries among three rushers, each getting at least nine attempts. Oklahoma attempted only 19 passes on 68 plays, with most throws kept close to the line of scrimmage. The commitment to the run was exemplified by a 5-yard touchdown run by Jonathan Hatton early in the third quarter, where Oklahoma employed three tight ends and an extra offensive lineman. When Hatton encountered traffic, additional blockers pushed him into the end zone, revealing a physical style rarely seen since the Lincoln Riley era.
Venables initially tried to build an offense with former coordinator Ben Arbuckle but faced challenges due to a roster lacking top-tier wide receivers and offensive linemen, limiting downfield passing options. Mateer also struggled with decision-making, which factored into Witten’s simplified approach that minimized passing attempts in favor of controlled runs and short passes. Mateer threw just five passes in the first half, most within a few yards of the line of scrimmage.
Even when the running game faltered, the Sooners stuck with it, finishing with 49 carries for 188 yards and two rushing touchdowns. This approach mirrored the one used against Florida the previous week, where Oklahoma also leaned heavily on the ground game to maintain possession and rest the defense.
The comparison between Oklahoma’s recent performance and past seasons is striking. Eight years ago, Kyler Murray’s Sooners struggled against Army despite averaging 8.9 yards per play, largely because Army limited them to just 40 plays. Against Ole Miss, Oklahoma allowed 59 plays, but 17 of those occurred late as the Rebels tried to rally. The Sooners limited Ole Miss to only three possessions in the first 27 minutes of the second half.
Oklahoma’s current offense is still far from championship level. General manager Jim Nagy’s transfer portal acquisitions have not significantly upgraded the team’s offensive talent. Still, after flirting with a 4-4 record and a potential bowl game miss, the possibility of reaching eight wins injects optimism.
Witten’s work as a playcaller is just beginning. Venables faces a decision this offseason about whether to pursue a new offensive coordinator, but Witten’s role in the Sooners’ recent turnaround makes it clear he will be part of the conversation.
According to CBS.
