Interim Coordinator Jason Witten Leads Oklahoma Past Florida
The Sooners relied on a methodical 89-yard drive and a tight defensive performance to snap a 48-game home streak in Gainesville.
By Riya Zhao ·
College football in the Southeastern Conference is currently defined by a shift in power dynamics that favors defensive efficiency over raw passing volume.
Oklahoma defeated No. 25 Florida 23-7 on Saturday night in Gainesville, a result that ended the Gators' 48-game home winning streak against first-time visitors.
The Sooners had fired offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle before the season. Jason Witten, a former tight end for the Dallas Cowboys who coached high school football in Texas last year, assumed the role on an interim basis.
Witten’s first game in charge produced an offense that prioritized time of possession over explosive plays. Oklahoma recorded only one play longer than 20 yards. They controlled the clock through a 20-play, 89-yard scoring drive that consumed 12 minutes and 45 seconds.
The drive concluded with quarterback John Mateer throwing a 3-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Sategna III. That score put Florida in a difficult position late in the fourth quarter when the Gators had struggled to score all game.
Florida’s offense under quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. managed only 203 total yards. The Gators’ longest play from scrimmage was a 33-yard pass to Duke Clark. Their longest play in the first half was actually a 31-yard punt return by Bailey Stockton.
Coach Jon Sumrall made a bold call on fourth-and-3 from the 17-yard line with 6:27 left in the third quarter. Oklahoma was leading 13-7 at the time. Jones threw across the field to an open Eric Courtland Jr., but Courtland Guillory intercepted the pass in the end zone.
Following that turnover, Florida went four-and-out. Jones was sacked on fourth down for the third time in the game. The crowd at the Swamp, which had been a loud presence, grew quiet as the Sooners extended their lead.
Oklahoma scored on its first two possessions. Mateer completed a 41-yard pass to tight end Rocky Beers to set up a field goal. On the next drive, the Sooners converted a fourth-and-one from the Florida 46. Mateer faked a handoff and a reverse before throwing a 3-yard touchdown pass to Hayden Hansen to make it 10-0.
Florida’s only score came on a 15-yard touchdown run by Jayden Baugh following Stockton’s punt return. The play was initially ruled out of bounds but was upheld after review. Baugh stretched for the pylon to secure the score.
Mateer finished 21 of 33 passes for 214 yards and added 56 yards on the ground. The Oklahoma defense held Florida to 133 passing yards by Jones, who completed 10 of 22 attempts. Thirty-four of those yards came on the final drive when Oklahoma allowed Jones more space.
This victory extends Oklahoma’s record to 5-4, with a 3-3 mark in conference play. Florida’s record stands at 5-4 overall and 3-4 in the Southeastern Conference. The Gators appeared in the College Football Playoff rankings for the first time since 2020, but this loss threatens their standing in that group.
