Report: Oklahoma’s Brent Venables agrees to new six-year contract extension, significant raise

JD Pickell Top 25 – 17. Oklahoma

After two seasons at OklahomaBrent Venables would remain in Norman for the rest of the decade.

Per ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Venables and the Sooners have agreed to a new contract for the next six years. With that deal comes a major raise that represents a dedication to him and the program as they head into their new conference this fall.

“Sources: Oklahoma agrees to new six-year contract for coach Brent Venables,” Thamel said on Twitter. “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.”

However, this contract is not yet official, according to Thamel. As he added in a reply to his original tweet, Venables’ contract “still requires board approval”.

Venables has a very successful CV throughout his coaching career, particularly at his last two stops. After starting at Kansas Statespent the last quarter of a century in both Oklahoma and Clemson.

After a few seasons back at OU as head coach, Venables posted a 16-10 record overall. The improvement from year one to year two was clear, however, as the Sooners went from 6-7 in his debut season to 10-3. The development on both sides of the ball was evident for Oklahoma in 2023. They went from 32.8 points per game. (33) to 41.7 ppg. (4th) in the offense, passing and allowing 30 ppg. (90) to 23.5 (49) in defense.

After starting 3-0 in 2022, Oklahoma finished 3-7 in the Big 12 and in the Cheez-It Bowl. Although they lost their final four by just three points each, they also suffered a 31-point loss TCU and a 49-0 burst and a shutout at Texas in the Red River Rivalry.

Again though, 2023 was much better under Venables. The Sooners are off to a 7-0 start, including a win over the Longhorns this time. That allowed them to rank sixth in the nation in the AP poll. A pair of losses then took them out of the national race there, but they still finished the regular season 10-2 before a season-ending loss to Arizona in the Alamo Bowl.

Venables also recruited nationally for the program. All three of his classes to his credit so far have been in the Top-10 of On3’s football recruiting rankings, including No. 6 in 2023. 2025 is on track to do the same as it currently is. no. 10.

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

Still, this contract exemplifies a commitment to what Venables can continue to do in the next era of Oklahoma football. Now, pending board approval, it’s up to him to make it through the rest of the 2020s.