Oklahoma Dominates Florida in Jason Witten’s OC Debut

Oklahoma defeated Florida 23-7 on Saturday night at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, marking a successful debut for interim offensive coordinator Jason Witten. The Sooners controlled the clock and dominated the line of scrimmage, holding the Gators to 203 total yards while moving to 5-4 overall and 3-3 in the Southeastern Conference. The victory, the third meeting all-time between the two programs, was Oklahoma’s first in The Swamp.

A New Offensive Direction in Gainesville

Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables promoted Jason Witten to interim offensive coordinator after firing Ben Arbuckle on Monday. Witten, a former Dallas Cowboys tight end who was coaching high school football a year ago, took control of a unit that had struggled under Arbuckle. The Sooners’ performance was efficient; they did not dazzle with big plays, recording only one gain longer than 20 yards, but they successfully drained the clock and converted critical third downs.

That drive concluded with a 6-yard touchdown pass from quarterback John Mateer to Isaiah Sategna III, extending the lead to 13 points and effectively sealing the victory with 4:56 remaining. Mateer finished the game with 207 passing yards and two touchdowns, providing a steady hand for the new play-caller.

Really complete performance, Venables said of the win. Just really clean football game, with complementary football. Thought we really dominated the line of scrimmage.

Florida’s Offensive Struggles

For Florida, the loss represents a continued downward trend, as the team has dropped four of its last five games after starting the season 4-0. The offense, which averaged 53.5 points in its first four contests, has become a shell of its former self. Quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. struggled to establish a rhythm, completing just 10 of 22 passes for 133 yards and two interceptions. The Gators’ ground game was also contained, as the team finished with only 70 rushing yards.

We got to be good on third down, and we got to stop with the self-inflicted wounds, Sumrall noted. He pointed to holding penalties that derailed offensive momentum, noting, It’s hard to overcome holding penalties that are for ten yards that really put you behind the chains.

The Gators’ defense, while showing moments of brilliance, was exhausted by the offense’s inability to move the ball. Linebacker Myles Graham recorded 15 tackles in the losing effort. There needs to be a better sense of urgency to get off the field, Graham said. That’s on us. It’s not on the offense. It’s not on anybody but us.

Oklahoma Scores Early as Defensive Clock Management Struggles

The game’s tone was set early when Oklahoma scored on its first two possessions, including a 41-yard field goal by Tate Sandell and a 3-yard touchdown catch by former Gators tight end Hayden Hansen. It was the first time since joining the SEC in 2024 that Oklahoma scored on its opening two possessions against a conference opponent.

Sumrall’s frustration was evident regarding the clock management during Oklahoma’s extended drives. They took the air out of the football and they bled it, Sumrall said. I think situationally at times we didn’t do a good enough job defensively of being aware of that.

Teams Chase Bowl Eligibility After Playoff Hopes Fade

The result leaves Florida (5-4, 3-4 SEC) one win shy of bowl eligibility with three games remaining in the regular season. The loss ruined Florida’s chances at the College Football Playoff, with the A to Z Sports College Football Playoff Predictor placing their chances at less than 1%.

Oklahoma (5-4, 3-3 SEC) is now one win away from bowl eligibility for a 28th-straight year. With three chances left to secure that victory, the Sooners are looking to improve their bowl standing and destination for December. While the Sooners are out of the playoff race, they intend to use the final stretch of the season to experiment and prepare for the future. As Venables remarked during his postgame press conference, the team is focused on continuing to play complementary football as they finish the 2026 schedule.

More on Florida: Florida State Fires Head Coach Mike Norvell After Loss to Clemson