Oklahoma football tight end Brent Venables with huge extension amid SEC move

Oklahoma football is entering a new era on several fronts. Not only are the Sooners moving to the SEC, but head coach Brent Venables is locked in long-term.

The 53-year-old signed an extension with Oklahoma on Friday, via ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

“Sources: Oklahoma agrees to new six-year contract for coach Brent Venables,” Thamel tweeted. “The new six-year deal includes significant growth for Venables and there has been an increase in the overall commitment of the program as OU moves toward the SEC.”

Details of the contract emerged after the deal was officially approved by the university’s board of trustees, via ESPN’s Eli Lederman.

“This deal has been approved by the OU Board of Regents,” Lederman tweeted. “Venables is contracted to Norman until 2029 on a new deal worth just over $46 million. Venables will earn $7.225 million in 2024 before his salary rises to $7.625 million in 2025, eventually reaching $7.925 million in 2029.”

The contract extends Venables by two years in addition to increasing compensation.

Will the former Kansas State linebacker be able to effectively steer the ship in a competitive SEC over the next few years?

Oklahoma football has the recruiting talent to keep up with elite programs

While Venables can be blocked for now, the SEC’s move increases the pressure on him and the performance program, via On3’s Sam Gillenwater.

“The question now is how Venables helps Oklahoma adjust to the Southeastern Conference,” Gillenwater said. “They have long been dominant in various variations of the Big 12 throughout recent history. Any slippage to that standard, regardless of the increased competition after their realignment, for a team that has won double-digit games more often than not, especially of late, will be seen as a cause for concern in Norman.”

The good news for the Sooners is that they have the recruits and transfers coming in to help the team get on their feet as they adjust to the best conference in the country. They have the eighth-best recruiting class of 2024 and the 20th-best transfer class, per 247 Sports’ composite rankings.

“However, this contract exemplifies a commitment to what Venables can continue to do in the next era of Oklahoma football,” Gillenwater continued. “Now, pending board approval, it’s about him making it through the rest of the 2020s.”

Now that the deal has been approved, it’s time for Venables to help show that Oklahoma belongs in the same field with heavyweights like Alabama and Georgia. The Sooners are coming off second place in the Big 12 (10-3, 7-2), but lost in the Alamo Bowl to Arizona. After this new contract, Oklahomans would definitely prefer to see a Playoff berth rather than a loss in the non-CFP bowl game.