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Every season in college football, coaches find themselves on the hot seat as the year begins. These coaches face intense pressure because if their teams do not improve significantly, they risk losing their jobs.
The upcoming season is no exception. One coach who may find himself without a position in 2026 is Brent Venables, the head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners. His tenure in Norman has been rocky so far. Over the past three years, Venables has had two 6-7 seasons. His first 6-7 season in 2022 marked Oklahoma’s first losing record since 1998.
He rebounded with a strong 10-3 season, but in Oklahoma's first year in the SEC in 2024, the Sooners finished again with a 6-7 record. ESPN’s Paul Finebaum believes Oklahoma and Venables are entering a critical season. On his show, "The Paul Finebaum Show," he stated that the beginning of the year could be crucial for how the rest of the season unfolds.
A Sooners recruit target shared how close he is to choosing the team.© BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
"I think to navigate the schedule, he has to win those first games," Finebaum said. "He has to beat Michigan. He has to deal with Temple on the road and beat Auburn. Because otherwise it becomes overwhelming and he doesn't need a collapse down the stretch with already a couple of losses."
Athlon Sports has ranked Oklahoma as having the second-toughest schedule in college football for the 2025 season. Some notable matchups include home games against Michigan, Auburn, Ole Miss, Missouri and LSU. Additionally, the Sooners will face Texas in a neutral-site game and also have road games against South Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama.
Oklahoma's first five games are against Illinois State, Michigan, Temple, Auburn and Kent State before it plays Texas. Finebaum considers these early games critical for the Sooners' success, as their toughest matchups are scheduled toward the end of the season.
If Oklahoma accumulates losses during these initial five games, it could lead to a challenging conclusion to their season and could also jeopardize Venables’ position.
Continue reading...
The upcoming season is no exception. One coach who may find himself without a position in 2026 is Brent Venables, the head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners. His tenure in Norman has been rocky so far. Over the past three years, Venables has had two 6-7 seasons. His first 6-7 season in 2022 marked Oklahoma’s first losing record since 1998.
He rebounded with a strong 10-3 season, but in Oklahoma's first year in the SEC in 2024, the Sooners finished again with a 6-7 record. ESPN’s Paul Finebaum believes Oklahoma and Venables are entering a critical season. On his show, "The Paul Finebaum Show," he stated that the beginning of the year could be crucial for how the rest of the season unfolds.
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A Sooners recruit target shared how close he is to choosing the team.© BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
"I think to navigate the schedule, he has to win those first games," Finebaum said. "He has to beat Michigan. He has to deal with Temple on the road and beat Auburn. Because otherwise it becomes overwhelming and he doesn't need a collapse down the stretch with already a couple of losses."
Athlon Sports has ranked Oklahoma as having the second-toughest schedule in college football for the 2025 season. Some notable matchups include home games against Michigan, Auburn, Ole Miss, Missouri and LSU. Additionally, the Sooners will face Texas in a neutral-site game and also have road games against South Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama.
Oklahoma's first five games are against Illinois State, Michigan, Temple, Auburn and Kent State before it plays Texas. Finebaum considers these early games critical for the Sooners' success, as their toughest matchups are scheduled toward the end of the season.
If Oklahoma accumulates losses during these initial five games, it could lead to a challenging conclusion to their season and could also jeopardize Venables’ position.
Continue reading...
