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Oklahoma coach Brent Venables is back on the defensive.
He seems most comfortable that way.
This season's wave of outside doubt started as the Sooners' offense fell apart in an exasperating loss at Michigan. As fate would have it, regents approved Venables' six-year, $63 million extension days later. Fans already unsure about the defensive guru's deal didn't feel any better about it after the Sooners squeaked out a 14-6 win over New Mexico last Saturday.
Now, the Sooners visit Georgia on Saturday, then play Texas in Dallas two weeks later. Those are the No. 2 and No. 1 teams in the Associated Press poll, respectively.
The circumstances appear perilous at best for Venables. But if you look at his track record, he may be right where he needs to be.
Venables has spent significant time at Oklahoma against the ropes. He went 6-7 in his first year, and the warm welcome he got after replacing Lincoln Riley quickly vanished.
He responded with a 10-3 season that temporarily calmed the nerves of the Sooner faithful.
Things were rough again in his third year. Just as things looked their worst, Venables unleashed a stunner -- a 24-3 win over Alabama that made the Sooners bowl eligible and might have saved his job. The final record was 6-7 again, but at least there was another bowl game, and at least the Sooners beat Alabama.
Then came last season.
The Sooners started off hot, claiming a big home win against Michigan before quarterback John Mateer fractured the thumb on his right throwing hand against Auburn. He missed a game, then came back and wasn't the same. Texas dominated the Sooners in the Red River Rivalry game, and fans got restless.
Mateer improved physically, but two weeks later, the Sooners dropped a winnable game at home against Ole Miss. Suddenly, the Sooners had lost their margin for error with a rugged November schedule ahead.
The Sooners responded by winning at Tennessee and Alabama and at home against Missouri and LSU to earn a home playoff game, just a month after they had seemingly become an afterthought.
Expectations were high coming into the season, but now, Oklahoma limps to Georgia coming off two sub-standard performances.
Venables is back to feeling slighted and, as a result, being occasionally snarky with the media. Whether he realizes it or not, that is exactly his element. During his playing days at Kansas State, Venables was an undersized, tough linebacker with a chip on his shoulder.
The full quote from Brent Venables on David Stone’s injury. pic.twitter.com/DWnT42ikJe
— The REF (@KREFsports) September 22, 2026He hasn't changed. He's still got the chip on his shoulder, and he's still most dangerous when doubted. He'll stubbornly stick to his principles, and if the Sooners beat Georgia, Texas or both, he'll be the least surprised person in the college football world.
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And it's not like he has a horrible team. He has one of the nation's best defenses and an offense that has potential but gets in its own way. The Sooners are minus-5 in turnover margin the past two games and could have won both. If they clean up their mistakes, they can beat anybody.
If history is an indicator, it might not be wise to write Venables or the Sooners off just yet.
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