Oklahoma is keeping Brent Venables in place for the long haul.
The school announced Thursday that it has signed its head coach to a two-year extension, a move that runs through the 2031 season. According to sources who spoke to ESPN's Pete Thamel, the new deal carries an average annual salary of $10.5 million.
That kind of commitment lines up with how the program views Venables behind the scenes. In a statement, Oklahoma athletic director Roger Denny praised the coach’s influence across the entire operation.
"Coach Venables is elite at building culture - not just in the locker room, but throughout the entire program," Oklahoma athletic director Roger Denny said in a statement.
Denny also framed the extension as a message to the roster about where the program is headed.
"What I hope this extension says to our players is that in an environment that changes every day, we're investing in stability for our program. Amidst the disruption of college sports, Oklahoma will be a place where student-athletes will find consistency."
Venables has gone 32-20 in four seasons at Oklahoma, a run that has already included both turbulence and a rebound. After the Sooners stumbled to a 6-7 record in 2024, they answered by earning a spot in the College Football Playoff last year before falling to Alabama in the first round.
The defensive side of the ball has been a calling card. Oklahoma finished sixth in the nation in points per game allowed last season, a strong marker for a coach who built his reputation over 10 seasons as Clemson's defensive coordinator before arriving in Norman in December 2021.
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