Oklahoma is hoping a coordinator change can spark its offense.
According to Rivals’ OUInsider.com and other reports, the Sooners (4-3) have fired offensive coordinator and quarterbacks Seth Littrell after OU was blown out for a second straight week on Saturday. Oklahoma lost 32-9 to South Carolina after the Gamecocks took a 21-0 lead early in the first quarter when Oklahoma turned the ball over on each of its first three possessions. Running back Rocket Sanders scored South Carolina’s first touchdown, and the Gamecocks then got a fumble return for a TD and a pick-6.
Oklahoma has been searching for offensive answers all season. Freshman Michael Hawkins started the game vs. South Carolina after taking over at QB in the Sooners’ 25-15 loss to Tennessee. He replaced Jackson Arnold in that UT game, and Arnold took over for Hawkins on Saturday.
The offensive stats are ugly for OU so far in 2024. The offense is averaging just 4.1 yards a play as the run game can’t get going. Hawkins and Arnold are a combined 124-of-210 passing for 1,239 yards and have thrown nine TDs and five interceptions.
Just two teams — Stanford and FBS-level newcomer Kennesaw State — are averaging fewer yards per play than Oklahoma per TeamRankings.com.
To be fair to Littrell and the Sooners offense, injuries have been a major, major factor so far this season. Oklahoma has been playing much of the season without its top five wide receivers. Leading receiver Deion Burks has played in just four games so far this season. He has 26 catches for 201 yards and three scores. Just one other player — Brenan Thompson — has caught more than one TD pass.
Littrell was in his first season as Oklahoma’s play-caller after offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby became the head coach at Mississippi State. The former North Texas coach and Oklahoma native served as an offensive assistant in 2023 after he was fired by UNT at the end of the 2022 season. In seven seasons with the Mean Green, Littrell was 44-44.
