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Head Coach Brent Venables agrees to 2 year extension taking him thru 2031
Posted on 8/20/26 at 4:43 pm
Posted on 8/20/26 at 4:43 pm
Good to see. As long as he’s here we’ll have a great defense. And once offense sorts out he’ll be in playoff hunt every year.
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If tweet fails to load, click here.Posted on 8/20/26 at 4:53 pm to OU Guy
Mason Young
@Mason_Young_0
Local media just spent more than an hour talking with #Sooners AD Roger Denny at the Sam Viersen Center. (Shout out to him for the time). Here’s a quick thread of key points from the chat:
-OU athletics has no interest in becoming an LLC, wants to stay very connected to the university
-Contract extension for BV is betting Venables’ character and culture will continue to be an edge in recruiting
-Palace Project ain’t goin anywhere but OU is listening to fan feedback and adjusting. Timeline still pretty much the same though
-Infrastructure work continues on new basketball arena; OU wants the teams to be really good so in 2 years they have something to sell to a venue owner. Soon to have an agreement done with a facility operator.
-Denny shouted out men’s hoops GM Lucas McKay for saving some roster spots and money to capitalize on the 5-for-5 lawsuits
-OU is waiting on the right partner and value for a jersey patch sponsorship
Posted on 8/20/26 at 5:01 pm to OU Guy
Posted on 8/20/26 at 5:06 pm to OU Guy
Well stated:
Chad P. Smith
@ChadPSmith_
A lot of chatter on Venables Extension:
Here’s how I see it: Whether this is good or bad is unfalsifiable. I believe, truly, Oklahoma will be SEC and National title contenders, and tying up Venables at $10M a year is actually great value compared to other top coaches. But the inverse is also true. If 2026 is a bust, this is a fairly large mistake from a buyout perspective.
Here's why I think Denny made the right bet anyway. Look at the four years in context, not just the cumulative record. 2022 was a roster rebuild, he was just trying to fill a roster after taking over mid-cycle. 2024 had (approx.) 9 starters out for the season (I made this argument at the time to a lot of Sooner fans' annoyance, but it's just true.) Strip those two years out and you're left with 2023, a healthy roster, 10 wins, and 2025, 10 wins, and a home playoff game (even with an injured Mateer). Those are the two seasons where Venables actually had the players available to him, and both were double digit win years, the later with a defense that finished top 10 nationally in multiple categories.
To be fair, that's a thin sample to project a title window onto. But it's the data we've got, and it points the same direction both times.
To me, the question is whether 2026 looks more like 2023/2025 or more like 2022/2024. That comes down to health and continuity, and right now I don't see the same structural problems that wrecked those years. That's the actual bet being made here, in my opinion
Separate from all that, there's the roster and staff stability piece. In the current portal and NIL environment, recruits, transfers, and assistants all weigh (to different extents) whether a coaching staff is secure before they commit. That's a good asset on its own.
Chad P. Smith
@ChadPSmith_
A lot of chatter on Venables Extension:
Here’s how I see it: Whether this is good or bad is unfalsifiable. I believe, truly, Oklahoma will be SEC and National title contenders, and tying up Venables at $10M a year is actually great value compared to other top coaches. But the inverse is also true. If 2026 is a bust, this is a fairly large mistake from a buyout perspective.
Here's why I think Denny made the right bet anyway. Look at the four years in context, not just the cumulative record. 2022 was a roster rebuild, he was just trying to fill a roster after taking over mid-cycle. 2024 had (approx.) 9 starters out for the season (I made this argument at the time to a lot of Sooner fans' annoyance, but it's just true.) Strip those two years out and you're left with 2023, a healthy roster, 10 wins, and 2025, 10 wins, and a home playoff game (even with an injured Mateer). Those are the two seasons where Venables actually had the players available to him, and both were double digit win years, the later with a defense that finished top 10 nationally in multiple categories.
To be fair, that's a thin sample to project a title window onto. But it's the data we've got, and it points the same direction both times.
To me, the question is whether 2026 looks more like 2023/2025 or more like 2022/2024. That comes down to health and continuity, and right now I don't see the same structural problems that wrecked those years. That's the actual bet being made here, in my opinion
Separate from all that, there's the roster and staff stability piece. In the current portal and NIL environment, recruits, transfers, and assistants all weigh (to different extents) whether a coaching staff is secure before they commit. That's a good asset on its own.
Posted on 8/20/26 at 5:56 pm to OU Guy
Okay - you know me OU Guy, I will offer a dissenting opinion if I feel it could be warranted. I started to, but first I checked coaches salaries..
1. Kirby Smart – Georgia – $13.3M
2. Curt Cignetti – Indiana – $13.2M
3. Lane Kiffin – LSU – $13M
4. Ryan Day – Ohio State – $12.6M
5. Kalen DeBoer – Alabama – $12.5M
6. Lincoln Riley – USC – $11.5M
7. Dabo Swinney – Clemson – $11.4M
8. Steve Sarkisian – Texas – $11.1M
9. Mike Elko – Texas A&M – $10.8M
10. Brent Venables – OU – $10.5M
Woah, Nellie! Kiffin, DeBoer, Riley, Dabo, Sark, Elko.. those universities are getting bent over. Especially USC. And for what? Seeing this makes me feel better about Brent's raise.
I will say this: Brent would only go to another team if he was fired from OU. He will be a Sooner for life as long as we are regularly in the hunt. I honestly don't believe he is a "keeping up with the Joneses" guy, so we don't need to extend + raise his contract every other year. Some of those guys ahead of him are simply way overpaid. And truth be told, as long as we have this shared GM responsibility (Nagy) + Brent who's seemed to have found his sweet spot in his HC role, we are more than good
1. Kirby Smart – Georgia – $13.3M
2. Curt Cignetti – Indiana – $13.2M
3. Lane Kiffin – LSU – $13M
4. Ryan Day – Ohio State – $12.6M
5. Kalen DeBoer – Alabama – $12.5M
6. Lincoln Riley – USC – $11.5M
7. Dabo Swinney – Clemson – $11.4M
8. Steve Sarkisian – Texas – $11.1M
9. Mike Elko – Texas A&M – $10.8M
10. Brent Venables – OU – $10.5M
Woah, Nellie! Kiffin, DeBoer, Riley, Dabo, Sark, Elko.. those universities are getting bent over. Especially USC. And for what? Seeing this makes me feel better about Brent's raise.
I will say this: Brent would only go to another team if he was fired from OU. He will be a Sooner for life as long as we are regularly in the hunt. I honestly don't believe he is a "keeping up with the Joneses" guy, so we don't need to extend + raise his contract every other year. Some of those guys ahead of him are simply way overpaid. And truth be told, as long as we have this shared GM responsibility (Nagy) + Brent who's seemed to have found his sweet spot in his HC role, we are more than good
Posted on 8/20/26 at 6:05 pm to Naked Bootleg
Yes he’s great value. It can’t be overstated the dumpster fire LR left the program in. And he missed out on recruit cycle coming in so late. And has had to find coaches to hire as he built program. Some failed but he seems to have gotten better at it. And health has to be factored in.
I think we go far this year. And I really am glad they did this. He was never going anywhere so in that regard it wasn’t needed. But it shows trust and faith and rewarding his loyalty. That helps with assistants and recruits/portals.
I think we go far this year. And I really am glad they did this. He was never going anywhere so in that regard it wasn’t needed. But it shows trust and faith and rewarding his loyalty. That helps with assistants and recruits/portals.
Posted on 8/20/26 at 7:11 pm to OU Guy
Defense - Check
Special Teams - Check
Offense ?
Recruiting - Check
Culture and having no players getting in trouble - Check
2022 - Complete rebuild after the LIAR mess.
2023 - Was a decent second year during a rebuild.
2024 - Lost the entire Offense including Lebby and all five lineman 4 declared to the NFL and 1 Transfer plus a retarded QB, INJURES and moving to a new conference. It was the perfect shite storm even Saban wouldn't have been able to save that season.
2025 - Playoff run with the Defense and Special teams
BV is fine and deserves the extension look how Clemson has fallen since BV took the job at OU anyone crying about it can frick Off.
Special Teams - Check
Offense ?
Recruiting - Check
Culture and having no players getting in trouble - Check
2022 - Complete rebuild after the LIAR mess.
2023 - Was a decent second year during a rebuild.
2024 - Lost the entire Offense including Lebby and all five lineman 4 declared to the NFL and 1 Transfer plus a retarded QB, INJURES and moving to a new conference. It was the perfect shite storm even Saban wouldn't have been able to save that season.
2025 - Playoff run with the Defense and Special teams
BV is fine and deserves the extension look how Clemson has fallen since BV took the job at OU anyone crying about it can frick Off.
This post was edited on 8/20/26 at 7:12 pm
Posted on 8/20/26 at 7:16 pm to Yukons Worst
The Brent Venables era has been a slow squeeze on opposing offenses.
2022 — 30.0 PPG (#99 in the nation)
2023 — 23.5
2024 — 21.5
2025 — 15.5 (#7)
2022 — 30.0 PPG (#99 in the nation)
2023 — 23.5
2024 — 21.5
2025 — 15.5 (#7)
Posted on 8/30/26 at 10:07 am to OU Guy
Recruits do notice and is why coaches get extensions. Very few coaches get to and of contract these days.
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If tweet fails to load, click here.Posted on 9/15/26 at 10:23 pm to OU Guy
OU Board of Regents approves new contract for Brent Venables
George Stoia III
@GeorgeStoia
OU President Joe Harroz on his belief in Brent Venables:
"We're in this moment of incredible turbulence. It's going to find a level somewhere, and there's nobody I'd rather have at the helm of that leading our team than Brent Venables, right now — his steady hand, his unbelievable energy, best defensive mind in the country, a head coach that is growing in remarkable ways. I think we've all seen his growth… we're at a moment where I'm really proud and confident, and I think it's a moment where stability and strength and all of that matters more than it ever will… He's our head coach."
George Stoia III
@GeorgeStoia
OU President Joe Harroz on his belief in Brent Venables:
"We're in this moment of incredible turbulence. It's going to find a level somewhere, and there's nobody I'd rather have at the helm of that leading our team than Brent Venables, right now — his steady hand, his unbelievable energy, best defensive mind in the country, a head coach that is growing in remarkable ways. I think we've all seen his growth… we're at a moment where I'm really proud and confident, and I think it's a moment where stability and strength and all of that matters more than it ever will… He's our head coach."
Posted on 9/16/26 at 6:39 am to OU Guy
That's great. Should come with a clause or incentive holding Brent accountable for the other side of the ball. 
Posted on 9/16/26 at 7:50 am to Naked Bootleg
Moser kept. Brent officially extended by BOD last night. New AD pushed his chips all in.
George Stoia III
@GeorgeStoia
Roger Denny on the Venables extension and the disappointing loss to Michigan: "I'm as disappointed as everyone, as disappointed as every one of our fans, as disappointed as every one of our players, as disappointed as every one of our coaches, including Brent Venables. But that doesn't change how I feel about the long-term future of our program."
George Stoia III
@GeorgeStoia
Roger Denny on the Venables extension and the disappointing loss to Michigan: "I'm as disappointed as everyone, as disappointed as every one of our fans, as disappointed as every one of our players, as disappointed as every one of our coaches, including Brent Venables. But that doesn't change how I feel about the long-term future of our program."
Posted on 9/16/26 at 10:34 am to OU Guy
Wasn't Arbuckle hired before Denny became AD? Because I could see Denny / Nagy having improvement targets for Arbuckle and if he doesn't reach them, he gets replaced. If we could just have a competent OC and some depth on the OL...
Posted on 9/16/26 at 12:49 pm to OU Guy
Hope their gamble is right. I don't understand why they had to do that this year.
Hopefully it means all of the regents are also digging in their own pockets throwing BIG money at NIL to help reinforce their commitment to Brent.
Hopefully it means all of the regents are also digging in their own pockets throwing BIG money at NIL to help reinforce their commitment to Brent.
Posted on 9/16/26 at 4:11 pm to Naked Bootleg
quote:
Wasn't Arbuckle hired before Denny became AD? Because I could see Denny / Nagy having improvement targets for Arbuckle and if he doesn't reach them, he gets replaced. If we could just have a competent OC and some depth on the OL...
Yes. And if we lose Arbuckle there is no doubt Nagy will have a key say in it regardless what they will say.
But the problem I have with Arbuckle is - we again have a title ready defense being wasted by shitty offense. Just like last year. It just kills me. There is no promise we’ll always have a great D. With BV our odds are high, but no promise.
We have a great class coming in but will lose some big D players for second year in a row. Our D will take a hit next year.
We can’t wait and its likely already too late. We’ll get a win this week and all is honky dorey. Then id we lose to GA/tx we’ll be 2-3 and season over.
We have zero margin and can’t wait til mid season to make OC or QB move its too late then.
We can still go win both, we have talent. But not the coaching it appears. Hope I’m wrong.
This post was edited on 9/16/26 at 4:13 pm
Posted on 10/16/26 at 10:27 am to OU Guy
Just in case things were to go south they would likely keep him at least a few more years.
On the other hand Brent is OU thru and thru so if they wanted to make a change my guess is he’d work with them on an amicable buyout. He’s not the type to go scorched earth and anything like that would be handled in private and publicly he likely would resign with grace.
Hoping we turned the corner with Mateer.
On the other hand Brent is OU thru and thru so if they wanted to make a change my guess is he’d work with them on an amicable buyout. He’s not the type to go scorched earth and anything like that would be handled in private and publicly he likely would resign with grace.
Hoping we turned the corner with Mateer.
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If tweet fails to load, click here.Posted on 10/16/26 at 10:37 am to OU Guy
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