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Brent Venables Strives to Earn Full Faith as Oklahoma Prepares for SEC
© BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

Brent Venables Strives to Earn Full Faith as Oklahoma Prepares for SEC

Originally posted on Mike Farrell Sports
By Rock Westfall  |  Last updated 4/19/24

By Rock Westfall

Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables stepped into a crisis upon his hiring following the departure of Lincoln Riley to USC. Although Venables stemmed the tide and has made progress, he has yet to clinch the full faith of fans. Now preparing for his third season, Venables faces the added challenge of moving to the SEC.

Oklahoma Failure to Finish is an Indictment on Venables' Program

Following a 6-7 record in his rookie campaign in 2022, head coach Brent Venables led the Oklahoma Sooners to a 10-3 season in 2023. Both campaigns saw incredible peaks and valleys.

In 2022, Venables started off looking like a college football version of The Natural with a 3-0 start and a national ranking of 6th. However, a three-game losing streak knocked Oklahoma out of the polls and into a free fall. But Venables was forgiven after he inherited a decimated roster that had deserted OU.

In 2023, Oklahoma leaped to a 7-0 record and an AP ranking of 6th. But three losses in its final six games served as a buzz kill. Especially grating was a defeat in what could prove to be the final Bedlam, 27-24 at Oklahoma State. That followed a 38-33 loss at Kansas. And while Oklahoma State and Kansas were improved-quality teams, the rule in Norman, OK, is that the Sooners NEVER are to lose to such programs.

The final game of the 2023 campaign was cause for frustration and despair. After leading the Arizona Wildcats 24-13 midway through the 3rd quarter of the Alamo Bowl, the Sooners were rendered helpless in a 38-24 loss. The bowl game was symbolic of fast starts followed by epic collapses at the end.

Indeed, Brent Venables stepped into a tornado and has made the program better than he found it. But at Oklahoma, it's all about championships. Venables now confronts the historic demands of fans in the toughest league of them all. 

Oklahoma Springs Into Rebuild and SEC Membership

Initially, when Oklahoma announced it was leaving the Big 12 for the SEC there was pandemonium. Most Oklahoma fans grew tired of the Big 12 and believed it was a second-class league. Oklahoma won the Big 12 championship in four of its final seven seasons, but not since 2020.

Now that the Sooners are preparing for their first season in the SEC, reality is setting in. Not only will the conference transition be difficult, but it may slam on the breaks for Oklahoma’s self-image of being a perennial national championship contender.

An over/under win total of 7.5 is a gut punch to the program’s expectations for 2024. The win total exemplifies a gambling public that is weary of the loss of QB Dillon Gabriel, who headlined a list of key departed players, the weak finishes of the past two years, and the upgrade in SEC competition.  

Offsetting that are two impressive recruiting classes under Venables that ranked 6th in 2023 and 9th in 2024. Thus, there is the belief that the worst is over internally. The big question is how it will translate in the SEC.

Reasons For Optimism and Skepticism 

Although Dillon Gabriel was a prolific QB for Oklahoma, he still opted to transfer out for 2024. Venables said the transfer was expected and implied it was part of his agenda. Venables wants to get moving with former 5-start recruit and Gatorade National Player of the Year Jackson Arnold.

Arnold will have a talented stable of receivers surrounding him. Also, Oklahoma hired former Duke offensive coordinator Kevin Johns as an analyst to help with the transition.

Johns will fit right in with offensive coordinator Seth Littrell, who worked with Johns previously at Indiana. Littrell has never specifically coached QBs, and Johns will be an asset after his impressive work with standout QB Riley Leonard at Duke which produced two Bowl seasons.

Johns also had an impressive stint as offensive coordinator and QB coach at Memphis, where he masterminded one of the best offenses in the country. He was equally impressive in his lone season as OC of Texas Tech, where his offense ranked 4th in the nation.

So far in Venables’ tenure, the biggest disappointment has been a defense that has not been close to dominant. Ironically, Venables made his bones as one of the best defensive coordinators in the game both at Oklahoma and then at Clemson.

This year, Venables will enjoy the most experienced defensive unit since his arrival. Alto, to supplement the strong recruiting classes, the Sooners rank a respectable 23rd on the transfer portal team rankings for 2024.

Overall, Oklahoma remains a powerful brand that will have a talented roster. Venables and the Sooners stand a strong chance of exceeding the 7.5-win total. And if the new players develop quickly, a shot at the expanded College Football Playoff is not out of the question.

Oklahoma remains Oklahoma until proven otherwise. Boomer Sooner is never to be underestimated, even in the SEC. 

But the fact remains that Brent Venables is on the clock.

This article first appeared on Mike Farrell Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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