A 9-3 finish would not light up the trophy case in Norman, but it would change the conversation around Brent Venables in a meaningful way.
That kind of season would not erase Oklahoma’s offensive issues, and it would not turn the year into a triumph story. Even so, after the position the Sooners put themselves in by late September, getting to nine wins would pull the program back from the edge of what once looked like a lost season.
For Venables, it would also break a pattern that has followed him in Norman: a six-win season, then a 10-win jump. He has done that twice already, and it could happen again if Oklahoma stops beating itself.
The path is there, at least on paper. If OU handles South Carolina on Saturday - Venables called the Gamecocks one of “the hottest teams in the country” Tuesday - the Sooners can start to see daylight after what had seemed like a deep hole.
The offense remains, at best, a work in progress, and eight weeks in that is a problem for Venables and his staff. But that’s a separate discussion.
What matters now is the schedule in front of them. According to ESPN’s SP+ metric, Oklahoma will see only one defense the rest of the way that ranks in the top 30: Missouri at No.
- That stands in sharp contrast to what the Sooners have already dealt with, after facing the No.
3, No. 4 and No. 7-rated defenses earlier in the season.
The last two weeks hinted at what this stretch could look like. Oklahoma put up 346 yards against Kentucky, which ranks No. 38 defensively, and then rolled for 467 yards against Mississippi State.
In both games, the Sooners outgained the opponent. Having the No. 6-rated defense on their side made that possible.
If Oklahoma wins out, the season would still have a disappointing feel in some respects, because the offense has not developed the way it should have. But the bigger picture would shift. Venables would have shown he can steer a team through trouble and finish strong, even in a year that could still be viewed as disastrous no matter how it ends.
“Strong” is not the same as “elite,” and at Oklahoma that distinction matters. The standard is championships.
Still, a 9-3 run would say something about Venables as a leader, especially when compared with what coaches hired in his cycle, like Dan Lanning and even Lincoln Riley, are dealing with now. It would point to a coach who can get his team to respond week after week.
That kind of respect may not satisfy a fan base that expects titles and wants an offense that does not collapse in key moments. But it would matter within the program.
Bob Stoops had some of his best coaching work in 8-4 seasons in 2005 and 2009, when injuries or graduation had left the roster battered and he still pulled the team back from disaster. Stoops had already proven himself at the highest level, while Venables is still trying to get there. Even so, the comparison shows how a coach can be judged not just by the shiny years, but by how he handles the rough ones.
There is also a more ambitious route. A 9-3 finish could even put Oklahoma in position for the SEC Championship game and a shot at the College Football Playoff, though that would require the Sooners to win out and get help elsewhere.
Even without that kind of finish, though, nine wins would mean something for Venables. It would give the University of Oklahoma a result better than the alternatives, and it would make the administration’s faith in him easier to defend. It could also push his standing back toward where it was this past offseason, when the team was coming off a College Football Playoff appearance.
The roster and the staff would still need changes. That much would not disappear. But a 9-3 season would at least leave Venables with proof that he can win in the SEC.
In Other News...
Oklahoma May Need Caleb Nitta Sooner Than Anyone Expected
Oklahomas injury situation has quickly turned the lead-up to South Carolina into a test of depth, especially up front. The availability report lists 15 Sooners, and with Ryan Fodje and Eddy Pierre-Louis ruled out while Heath Ozaeta is expected back, the attention has shifted to the center spot, where Jake Maikkula is questionable after getting hurt.
If Maikkula cant go, Caleb Nitta could be called on earlier than the Sooners would like, and the staff seems comfortable with what they have behind him. Offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle has praised Nittas preparation and intelligence, the sort of trust that matters most when the offensive line is being reshuffled on short notice. For a team already juggling injuries, the biggest concern now is whether Oklahoma can keep the middle of the line steady enough to avoid forcing even more adjustments. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma Heads Into South Carolina With Key Spots Still In Flux
Oklahomas depth chart still has a few moving parts heading into Saturdays 3:15 p.m. matchup with South Carolina, with three starters listed as questionable on the latest SEC availability report. Jake Maikkula, Peyton Bowen and Eli Bowen all remain in flux, leaving the Sooners with some uncertainty in the lineup as they prepare for a conference road test on SEC Network.
The report also showed several other Oklahoma players spread across the out, doubtful and probable categories, adding another layer of uncertainty for a team trying to get settled before kickoff. With key spots still up in the air, the Sooners will be watching the availability list closely right up until game time. [Read more 🡒]
Bixby Gets Its Biggest Test Yet With District Title On The Line
Undefeated Bixby and undefeated Broken Arrow are set to meet Friday in a showdown that should feel like more than just a district game. The winner takes the District 6AI-1 title, and with both teams sitting inside the top three of the High School On SI Oklahoma Top 25, the matchup has the kind of weight that usually comes with playoff football in November, not a regular-season finale.
Broken Arrow brings a dangerous offense led by quarterback Shamar Banner, a University of Tulsa commit, while Bixby answers with a roster that includes several Division I commitments of its own. For the Spartans, this is a chance to protect their No. 1 spot and add another statement win to a season that has rolled along without a blemish, but Broken Arrow has every reason to believe it belongs on the same stage. [Read more 🡒]