Steve Curtis | November 6th, 2026
Jason Witten will call Oklahoma’s offense for the first time Saturday.
Against Florida, his first job is to keep the Sooners out of the long passing downs that repeatedly stalled their drives against South Carolina.
The Sooners went into halftime against the Gamecocks with 71 yards of total offense. John Mateer finished the day with two touchdown passes and no interceptions, but taking care of the football wasn’t enough to keep the offense on the field when the game was still within reach.
Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer (10) attempts a pass against Mississippi State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/James Pugh)
Oklahoma spent too much of the first half asking its quarterback to recover yards the offense had already given away.
Florida has the defensive front to make that an even harder way to move the ball.
Emmanuel Oyebadejo and Jayden Woods each recorded three sacks against Auburn, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). LJ McCray recorded two against Texas, while linebackers Jaden Robinson and Ty Jackson each added one.
The Gators can win off the edge or bring a linebacker through a gap the protection has to account for inside. Giving a tackle help can take away one of those options. It can also leave Mateer with one fewer receiver available when Florida brings pressure from somewhere else.
Oklahoma saw how much the timing of a throw can change when its protection breaks down.
Mateer completed 21 of 27 passes for 190 yards from clean pockets against South Carolina. Under pressure, he completed five of 16. Michael Fasusi was charged with seven pressures, all hurries. The Gamecocks’ defense could affect when Mateer had to throw without putting him on the ground.
That matters against Florida because the Sooners have already seen how quickly a game can turn into one long protection test. Mateer had 51 dropbacks against South Carolina. Every time Oklahoma fell behind the chains, it gave the defense another chance to rush without having to honor much else.
Witten has a way to change that before Mateer drops back.
Lloyd Avant, Jonathan Hatton Jr. and Tory Blaylock combined for 83 yards on 19 carries against South Carolina. None took over the game. All three showed enough to give Oklahoma a reason to keep the handoff available.
Blaylock’s longest run went for 19 yards. Avant’s went for 8, but he still averaged more than four yards per carry. Oklahoma can use what Avant gave it without waiting for Blaylock to break another run. Four yards on first down makes Florida defend more than one thing on second down.
The offensive line has shown where those opportunities can start.
Oklahoma found room to the left behind Fasusi and Noah Best at Mississippi State. Best allowed one pressure against South Carolina even as the protection around him became less dependable. Giving the left side chances to move defenders in the run game can keep it from spending another afternoon retreating into the pocket.
The tight ends can help preserve that balance.
Rocky Beers caught four passes for 54 yards against South Carolina. Jack Van Dorselaer caught both of his targets. Witten can keep a tight end attached to help the tackle on one snap and release him into the space behind a linebacker on the next.
Oklahoma tight end Rocky Beers (81) catches a touchdown pass against Mississippi State during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/James Pugh)
That makes Florida account for a player who could be part of the protection or the answer to its pressure. If Robinson comes inside, Mateer needs an available throw behind him. If Robinson stays back, Oklahoma can still make him defend a tight end or a back in space.
Florida has given up enough there to make that worth testing.
Ole Miss gained 47 yards on two catches in Myles Graham’s coverage, including a 33-yard gain. The opening inside can produce more than a checkdown if the protection gives Mateer time to see it and the receiver gets behind the linebacker.
Isaiah Sategna gives Oklahoma a way to threaten that space from the slot. Hatton can give Mateer an outlet below it. He caught all three of his targets against South Carolina, giving the Sooners somewhere to go when the throw farther downfield wasn’t available.
Those options can help Oklahoma choose when to take a shot outside.
Florida cornerback Cormani McClain intercepted a pass against Auburn and allowed only one catch for 3 yards against Texas. Ben Hanks III held receivers to 20 yards in his coverage against South Carolina. The Gators have shown they can make an outside matchup difficult without shutting down the entire passing game.
South Carolina still got four touchdown passes from LaNorris Sellers. Florida can win at one corner and give up enough elsewhere for a quarterback to find the next throw.
Oklahoma has shown it can make plays outside when the opportunity is there. Ivan Carreon caught five passes for 88 yards and both offensive touchdowns against South Carolina, giving Mateer a way to finish drives once the Sooners got them moving.
Manny Choice has given Mateer another option. He caught a 14-yard touchdown against Georgia and had two catches for 10 yards against Texas before breaking through for five catches and 98 yards against Kentucky.
Oklahoma wide receiver Manny Choice (0) runs a route during the second half of an NCAA football game against Georgia in Athens, Ga., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
Carreon and Choice give Oklahoma two ways to attack outside. Witten can build toward those throws by giving Mateer completions underneath early in a drive, then taking the shot when the protection holds and the matchup is there.
That requires the offense to handle the part of the game a new play caller can only do so much about.
A false start can take the run out of a down before Witten gets to use it. A missed block can turn an available throw into a hurried one. Oklahoma can build a plan around its backs, tight ends and receivers, but those players have to get enough clean snaps for the plan to carry from one down to the next.
Florida’s rush has been capable of ending drives. It hasn’t controlled every game. Woods had a sack against Ole Miss, but it was his only pressure. Oklahoma can live with losing a block if the rest of the possession gives it a way to recover.
That’s what was missing against South Carolina. The Sooners found completions and eventually found touchdowns, but too many early possessions were already working backward before Mateer had a chance to build one.
Give the backs useful carries. Make Florida’s linebackers defend the middle of the field. Take the shot outside when the protection and matchup give Mateer time to get there.
Witten gets his first chance to put those pieces together Saturday. Oklahoma has to give him a second down he can still call either way.