The Oklahoma Sooners wasted no time getting their guy locked in, extending head coach Brent Venables through the 2031 season. This guy has two 10-win seasons already and just led them to a College Football Playoff appearance, so you know the momentum is real heading into 2026. Still, Venables is the kind of coach who always feels like he has something to prove, and he is absolutely going to need that fire with the season about to kick off.
Defense: Rock Solid, No Doubt
Former coach Rick Neuheisel, who’s been around the block coaching Colorado, Washington, and UCLA, is fully backing Venables on the defensive side of the ball. Neuheisel pointed out, “Before coming to the SEC, they won five straight Big 12 titles. They are a championship-pedigreed team, and Brent Venables is certainly a championship-pedigreed coach, having been the defensive coordinator at Clemson for a couple of national titles.” Yeah, Venables has been a part of three national championship teams as a defensive coordinator, plus even more conference titles. The man knows defense. Neuheisel put it plain: “I don’t worry about the defense. Venables has put himself back in charge. That will be rock solid.” With new quarterbacks like Gunnar Stockton, Marcel Reed, Austin Simmons, Kenny Minchey, and Kamario Taylor on the schedule, Oklahoma’s defense will need to be stout. Good thing they’re expected to have one of the best defenses in college football, with talent at all three levels to shut down even top offenses.
Offense: Time to Get Tricky
But here’s the rub, and Neuheisel didn’t pull any punches: “What you worry about is the offense.” He’s talking about John Mateer, who got dinged up last year. Mateer “has got to be healthy.” We all saw how they dropped over 400 yards on Michigan in that big win in Norman, but they didn’t even crack 400 yards in any game once they hit the SEC. That has to change, plain and simple. Offensive Coordinator Ben Arbuckle “has got to learn a couple new tricks,” and we’re going to find out real fast if he has, with an early trip to Ann Arbor in Week 2. The good news is Mateer is healthy, and the offense overall is getting a boost with an improved offensive line, wide receiver and tight end corps, and what should be a better running game.
Despite making the College Football Playoff, that offense ranked No. 79 in scoring, No. 92 in total offense, and No. 113 in rushing offense. They won 10 games with *that* offense. So, with those early road trips to Ann Arbor and Athens in the first four weeks, plus the Red River Showdown in Week 6, this improved offense better be ready for a true test. This team is “championship pedigree,” and now the offense needs to live up to that.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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