Oklahoma coach Brent Venables locks arms with his team, including Dillon Gabriel (8) and placekicker Gavin Marshall (46) before the Red River Rivalry college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the University of Texas (UT) Longhorns at the Cotton Bowl. BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

Brent Venables is proud of Oklahoma, but Sooners can't rest after win over Texas

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated 10/9/23

It was a huge win for Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables and his Sooners program. In fact, it was the biggest win in the Venables era thus far. Last season's 52-42 win over No. 19 Kansas in Norman pales in comparison.

Facing the No. 3 Texas Longhorns at the Cotton Bowl in the last Big-12 rendition of the Red River Rivalry, Venables' team came away with a last-minute 34-30 victory. Down 30-27 after a Texas field goal with 1:17 to go, quarterback Dillon Gabriel didn't just lead the Sooners down the field to play for overtime.

Oklahoma played for keeps.

Here’s Dillon Gabriel’s dagger to Nic Anderson from about as close to the action as you can get. pic.twitter.com/m1f8uj1gRp
— Parker Thune (@ParkerThune) October 7, 2023

That was a statement win for the Sooners, who are now firmly in the College Football Playoff conversation, but Oklahoma can't rest on its laurels after such a big win. That was something Venables talked about immediately after the contest.

“They celebrate hard, [but] don’t celebrate long. We’ve got to get back to work," Venables said (h/t On3). "Really, just proud of all the people that have been a part of that.”

Now ranked No. 5 in the nation, the Sooners will have the target placed on their backs. They still have several big games upcoming, including a clash at No. 23 Kansas in a few weeks as well as potentially the final edition of the "Bedlam" rivalry between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State (in Stillwater) on Nov. 4.

Still, for just a little bit, it has to feel great for Oklahoma to get this win — especially after last season's 49-0 blowout.

“Players. Their commitment, their work. It was really, really — you know, thankful for them. Happy for them. That moment. They get a chance to get their pride back," Venables continued. "That was a tough moment a year ago. Just really happy for them, that they could have a moment like that because they deserve it. They’ve worked for it. Just a moment."

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