Sources: Witten to call plays as Oklahoma fires second-year OC Arbuckle

Oklahoma has fired offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle after less than two seasons, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel on Monday.

Tight ends coach Jason Witten is expected to take over as interim offensive coordinator and play caller, sources said.

The move follows a 42-25 home loss to South Carolina on Saturday that dropped the Sooners to 4-4. Oklahoma's offense ranks next to last in the SEC in yards per game and touchdowns scored.

Arbuckle arrived in Norman after two successful seasons at Washington State, where he was the youngest primary coordinator in the Power 4 at age 27. His quarterback, John Mateer, transferred to Oklahoma the same month Arbuckle was hired. Mateer gained buzz as a Heisman Trophy candidate early last season before a thumb injury sidelined him.

After the South Carolina loss, a frustrated Arbuckle said the team came out 'tentative' and added, 'Didn't look like we were ready to play,' saying he owned the performance '100%.'

Venables said after the game that he believes the offense is fixable: 'But we'll go right back to work,' he said. 'We're a better team than what we played tonight.'

Arbuckle was in the second year of a three-year contract paying him $1.5 million annually.

The Sooners travel to face No. 25 Florida on Saturday, with Witten, the former NFL tight end, calling the plays.