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All eyes on Brent Venables and Oklahoma in 2024

Oklahoma definitely supports Brent Venables as the Sooners enter the Southeastern Conference.

Earlier this month, OU’s athletic director said Joe Castiglione rewarded Venables with a two-year contract extension and a pay raise after the Sooners went from 6-7 in 2022 to 10-3 in 2023.

The rapid improvement was largely due to the steps taken defensively.

OU finished 99th in the nation in scoring defense in 2022 and jumped to 48th in scoring defense last year. Venables’ defense improved from 106th in rushing defense to 44th in rushing defense, moving it much closer to a unit that allows yards in the middle of the field but bends on the goal line.

No play had a greater impact than the defense that stopped Texas four times from inside the Dallas 5-yard line, allowing OU to avenge the Longhorns’ 49-0 embarrassment of 2022 with Dillon Gabriels heroic game-winning touchdown drive last October.

If the Sooners want to replicate last year’s success against a tough SEC schedule in 2024, defense will have to be the heartbeat of the team again.

Venables and his staff successfully recruited linebackers Danny Stutsmandefensive backs Billy Bowman And Woodi Washington as well as defensive lineman Da’Jon Terry back for another year, giving OU an experienced base to build on defensively in 2024.

But there are a lot of changes coming in the attack.

Gabriel joined the club after the regular season ended, kicking off the competition Jackson Arnold era.

The freshman quarterback showed confidence in Provo and helped Oklahoma beat BYU, but his performance was inconsistent in the Alamo Bowl against Arizona. That gave little indication of what awaits him as a regular starter in 2024.

Arnold completed 26 of 45 passes in his first game under the new offensive coordinator Seth Littrellthrew for 361 yards and two touchdowns and also threw three interceptions.

The sophomore will have an impressive arsenal of weapons between running back Gavin Sawchuk and wide receivers Nick Anderson, Jalil Farooq, Jayden Gibson and Purdue transfer Deion Burksbut it’s unclear how well the Sooners will be able to protect their signal caller.

Attrition due to graduation and players leaving for the NFL Draft decimated OU’s offensive line, and the shock transfer of Cayden Green to Missouri created a major headache for OU offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh.

Oklahoma worked hard over the winter to rebuild its numbers, adding potential starters in transfers to North Texas Febechi Nwaiwu and former Florida and USC offensive tackle Michael Tarquin as well as the addition of the SMU Center Branson Hickman after the transfer portal opened in the spring.

How OU’s offense comes together under Littrell and the further strides the defense takes under new defensive coordinator Zac Alley will be crucial to shaping the Sooners’ first few years in the SEC.

Oklahoma faces road trips to Auburn, Missouri, Ole Miss and LSU this year, while the Sooners will host Tennessee, South Carolina and Alabama on top of the annual war with Texas.

The Sooners’ facilities are in good condition and Venables has done an excellent job recruiting.

OU’s first full recruiting cycle under Venables resulted in the No. 5 class by the 247Sports Team Rankings, a rating that surpassed every class Lincoln Riley Signed in Normandy.

It was followed last year by the 8th best class, and OU’s 2025 recruiting class currently ranks fifth.

Crucially, the Sooners have their quarterback in the class of 2025 Kevin Sperry and have a verbal commitment from 2026 4-star quarterback Jaden O’Nealleaving the Sooners to play a pivotal role in recruiting new players in the coming year.

If Venables can make it to his first SEC schedule, there’s no reason recruiting should slow down as Oklahoma will play in the best conference in the country and become increasingly remembered by recruits.

The introduction of the 12-team playoffs will likely pave the way for each SEC team to win nine regular-season games, which will benefit recruiting.

But if things don’t go well, legitimate questions arise about Venables’ qualities as a head coach.

Oklahoma finished 0-5 in one-score games in 2022 and finished 3-2 in one-score games last year.

With two new coordinators in place in 2024, the pressure is on Venables to lead the Sooners forward in the SEC battle.

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