No excuses for Venables, as OU launches 2025 season against Illinois State
Oklahoma football in the SEC…take two.
Season one was for lack of a better term, awful. It resulted in the second losing season in the past three years for the Sooners. And that would also be the second losing season out of three total for head coach Brent Venables.
Fourth time is the charm? Brent had better hope it is. With the amount of money involved in college football these days, championships are expected at a program like Oklahoma.
Don’t get me wrong, I think he is a great person and great defensive coordinator. But he has yet to consistently show that he can be a head coach worthy of leading the Sooners. A head coach that is expected to win titles and eventually have a statue at the south side of the stadium when his career is done.
Venables will get little sympathy if Sooners lay another egg this year
To be fair, Venables was dealt a lousy hand when he took over. Maybe worse than we were led to believe. During his press conference this week, Brent made comments that highlighted how bad it really was. No culture. A bunch of individuals out for themselves rather than a team. A recruiting system in shambles that ignored positional needs.
And maybe most concerning of all, multiple failed drug tests.
Being someone who takes the high road, he stopped short of saying who was to blame for all this. But of course, we all know who it was. (Hey USC…how is that working out for ya? Hope you’re getting your money’s worth. Because you sure opened the check book for that one.)
When you add to all those problems the fact college football is in the middle of the biggest change it has seen in, maybe ever with NIL, Brent was behind the eight ball from jump street.
But again, he will get little sympathy if the Sooners go out and lay another egg this year.
There are signs that Oklahoma should have a very good season though. Maybe even a College Football Playoff season.
The defense should be stout. There are people who are saying that the Sooners will have the best defensive line in the SEC this year. And if you need anything to compete in the SEC, it’s a good defensive line.
On the other side of the ball, a proven quarterback and offensive coordinator should go a long way in the offense recovering from a disaster of a campaign in 2024. Quarterback John Mateer and Offensive Coordinator Ben Arbuckle bring a wide-open spread offense that should see success if players can stay healthy.
The injury bug has already taken a bite out of 2025. Big name players like Eli Bowen at cornerback and Kendel Dolby at the all-important “cheetah” position are still recovering from injuries and will not play Saturday.
On the offensive side, receivers Jayden Gibson and Javonnie Gibson look like they will also not be available for the opener.
Not that the Sooners should need them when Illinois State comes to town to kick off the 2025 season at Owen Field. The Redbirds went 10-4 last year and were one of 24 teams to make the FCS playoffs in 2024, winning their opening game before being taken out by UC Davis in the second round.
They have a quarterback who threw for over 3000 yards last year and a running back with over 1000 yards rushing in each of the last two years.
But none of that should matter. Oklahoma should be able to name the score, and I would be disappointed if the Sooners don’t cover the 35.5 point spread. Real season kicks off next weekend. Big Blue looms.
But first thing’s first. This week’s Worry Meter is chilling at 5%. College football is back. Is there a better time of year? With all that being said….BOOMER!!! — Dave
Follow
