Oklahoma fires offensive coordinator Seth Littrell, releases statement

Oklahoma fired offensive coordinator Seth Littrell on Sunday night, a day after the Sooners scored only nine points in a blowout loss to South Carolina, according to On3’s Sooner Scoop. The former North Texas head coach was promoted from an analyst role last offseason by Brent Venables after former offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby took the Mississippi State job.

The Sooners’ offense struggled for much of the season. Quarterback Jackson Arnold started the first four games of the season, before being benched for Michael Hawkins. The true freshman made starts against Auburn, Texas before throwing two interceptions and fumbling the ball on Oklahoma’s first three possessions against South Carolina.

Co-offensive coordinator Joe Jon Finley will take over primary playcalling duties on an interim basis. Current senior offensive analyst Kevin Johns is being elevated to co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

“Seth is an all-time great Sooner,” Venables said in a statement Sunday night. “He has a deep love for this university and football program, and has poured his heart and soul into both. Despite that, our performance as an offense this season has not at all lived up to the OU standard and I felt a change was necessary now.

“The leadership role Joe Jon plays on our team is critical. He has the confidence of our locker room and coaching staff, and I’m thankful to him for taking on this expanded role in the middle of the season. Kevin joined our staff last spring as an offensive analyst after serving as an offensive coordinator for over a decade. He has a wealth of experience coordinating offenses and coaching quarterbacks, and I’m looking forward to the fresh approach he’ll bring and the bigger role he’ll play in offensive game-planning. I’m confident Joe Jon, Kevin and the rest of the offensive staff will work tirelessly to put our players in positions to succeed and make us more effective on that side of the ball.”

Littrell was a team captain on the 2000 national championship Oklahoma team.

The Sooners totaled only 291 yards and turned the ball over four times on Saturday. The offensive line has struggled to protect the quarterback all season, allowing 29 sacks in seven games. Oklahoma’s running game has been nonexistent as the wide receiver position has been decimated by injuries.

Oklahoma ranks No. 128 in the nation in total offense, averaging 288.1 yards per game. The passing offense ranks No. 116, with only 176.0 yards per game. The Sooners have a third-down conversion percentage of .277. They also rank second-to-last in the SEC with 22.1 points per game.

“We got to be better,” Seth Littrell said after the South Carolina loss. “I got to grow. I got to continue to mature. Listen, I’m a fighter. I always have been. I’m going to continue to fight. I love this place. I hate it. It’s unacceptable. But I love where I’m at. I’m going to keep fighting. I know who I am as a person, I know who I am as a coach. I believe in our guys. That won’t change. I love our guys. That won’t change.”

A year ago with Lebby and Dillon Gabriel, the Sooners were one of only three in the country to rank inside the top six nationally in total offense, scoring offense and passing offense.

Seth Littrell was fired from North Texas in December 2022 after going 44–44 in seven seasons.