What were the reasons behind Seth Littrell’s firing? An explanation of Oklahoma’s choice to dismiss the offensive coordinator, along with Brent Venables’ statement regarding Littrell’s termination.

Oklahoma football dismissed offensive coordinator Seth Littrell on Sunday following back-to-back games in which the team scored only one combined touchdown, as confirmed by the university.

Littrell’s tenure as play caller lasted just seven games, during which he oversaw one of the least productive offenses in Oklahoma’s recent history. The Sooners experienced a 35-9 home defeat against South Carolina on Saturday, where starting quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. committed three turnovers in the first five minutes, with two of them resulting in touchdowns for the opposing team.

Before becoming offensive coordinator, Littrell, who previously coached North Texas, worked as an offensive analyst at Oklahoma during the 2023 season. He was promoted after Jeff Lebby, the former offensive coordinator, accepted the head coaching position at Mississippi State. Littrell, a former fullback for the Sooners from 1997 to 2000, won a national championship during his senior year.

Joe Jon Finley, the Sooners’ co-offensive coordinator, will take over play-calling duties for the remainder of the season following Seth Littrell’s dismissal. Kevin Johns, an offensive analyst who served as Duke’s offensive coordinator last season, will be promoted to quarterbacks coach.

NORMAN, OKLAHOMA – SEPTEMBER 14: Offensive coordinator Seth Littrell watches quarterback Jackson Arnold #11 of the Oklahoma Sooners toss the ball before a game against the Tulane Green Wave at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 14, 2024 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma won 34-19. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

Reasons for Littrell’s firing include Oklahoma’s offensive struggles this season. The Sooners have ranked among the worst offenses in the Power Four and across all of FBS. After the loss to South Carolina, Oklahoma stood at 128th out of 133 FBS teams in total offense, averaging just 288.1 yards per game. They have managed only 12 points over their last two games, scoring one touchdown against South Carolina after being limited to three points in a 34-3 loss to Texas in the Red River Rivalry.

This year’s struggles come on the heels of a strong 2023 season, during which the Sooners averaged 41.69 points and 507 yards per game. Contributing factors to the current issues include the loss of veteran quarterback Dillon Gabriel to Oregon and nearly the entire starting offensive line from last season. Oklahoma quarterbacks Hawkins Jr. and former five-star recruit Jackson Arnold have each faced difficulties this year. Additionally, the receiving corps has been hit hard by injuries, with Nic Anderson, Andrel Anthony, Jayden Gibson, Deion Burks, and Jalil Farooq all missing significant playing time this season.

Oklahoma is struggling this season, ranking last in several SEC offensive categories, including yards per carry (3.1), rushing yards per game (112.1), yards per completion (9.8), total first-down conversions (120), and first-down conversions per game (17.14). The Sooners currently hold a 4-3 record and are 1-3 in SEC play, coming off significant losses to Texas (34-3) and South Carolina (35-9). Notably, Saturday’s game marked the first time this season that Oklahoma surpassed 200 passing yards in a single game.

With these challenges, the Sooners are turning to Finley, who sat in the press box alongside Littrell during the game against South Carolina. Finley will assume play-calling responsibilities for the remainder of the season, while Johns will take over as quarterbacks coach.

Regarding Littrell’s dismissal, Oklahoma released a statement from head coach Brent Venables. He expressed his respect for Littrell, calling him an “all-time great Sooner” with a deep passion for the university and its football program. However, Venables noted that the offense’s performance this season has not met Oklahoma’s standards, prompting the need for a change.

Venables highlighted the crucial leadership role Finley plays on the team, stating that he has the confidence of both the players and coaching staff. He also acknowledged Johns’ experience, having joined the staff as an offensive analyst after serving over a decade as an offensive coordinator. Venables looks forward to the fresh perspectives both Finley and Johns will bring to offensive game-planning and is confident that the coaching staff will work diligently to enhance the team’s effectiveness on offense.

Seth Littrell had a three-year contract worth $1.1 million annually when he was promoted to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in the offseason, prior to his firing on Sunday.

The contract included a $50,000 salary increase each year, with a base salary of $285,000 and an additional $815,000 in outside income.