Oklahoma’s Brent Venables reportedly agrees to new contract before SEC move

Brent Venables and Oklahoma have agreed to a new long-term contract extension, according to a report.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel was the first to share the news Friday morning. Venables’ new deal runs for 6 seasons and includes “significant” growth, according to Thamel’s report. It also includes an “increase in overall program engagement,” according to the report.

Sources: Oklahoma has agreed to a new six-year contract for coach Brent Venables. The new six-year deal includes a significant raise for Venables, and there has been an increase in overall program commitment as OU heads to the SEC. pic.twitter.com/Poq859eg40

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) June 21, 2024

Venables would have entered year 3 of his original contract with Oklahoma. His original deal also lasted for 6 seasons and was fully guaranteed for $43.5 million.

According to Mason Young of the Tulsa World, Venables’ raise doesn’t kick in until the 2025 season. His salary for this deal peaks in 2029 at $7.925 million:

Brent Venables is extended through 2029. He will make $7.2 million this year, with raises starting in 2025.

2025 salary: $7.625 million
2026: $7.725 million
2027: no increase
2028: $7.825 million
2029: $7.925 million#Early

— Mason Young (@Mason_Young_0) June 21, 2024

It is unclear whether Venables’ new contract will also be fully guaranteed. If it is, it gives him an extra job entering the SEC in 2024. The Sooners are set to face one of the nation’s toughest programs next season – a list that includes Texas, Alabama, Tennessee, LSU, Ole Miss and Missouri. , among others.

Venables had a rough first season at Oklahoma as the Sooners went just 6-6 during the regular season before losing the bowl game to Florida State. It was the first time OU went 6-6 or worse in a single campaign since 1998 — the year before Bob Stoops took over in Norman.

Oklahoma bounced back nicely in 2023, winning 10 regular season games. The Sooners were atop the Big 12 by year’s end and just missed a New Year’s Six Bowl appearance.

Looking into 2024, Oklahoma returns a lot of production on the defensive side of the ball, but has some major question marks on offense. Oklahoma lost all 5 starters on its offensive line and will turn to redshirt freshman Jackson Arnold at quarterback after the departure of Dillon Gabriel.

Oklahoma’s win total for the 2024 season is currently set at 7.5, according to the latest odds from FanDuel. The same book has Oklahoma at +4200 to win the SEC in 2024.