Oklahoma football is entering a new era on multiple fronts. Not only are the Sooners transferring to the SEC, but head coach Brent Venables is locked in for the long run.
The 53-year old signed an extension with Oklahoma on Friday, via ESPN's Pete Thamel.
“Sources: Oklahoma has agreed to a new six-year contract for coach Brent Venables,” Thamel tweeted. “The new six-year deal includes a significant raise for Venables, and there’s been an uptick in overall program commitment as OU heads to the SEC.”
The contract details came out after the deal got officially approved by the university's board, via ESPN's Eli Lederman.
“This deal has been approved by the OU Board of Regents,” Lederman tweeted. “Venables is contracted in Norman through 2029 on a new deal worth just over $46 million. Venables will earn $7.225M in 2024 before his salary climbs to $7.625M million in 2025, eventually topping out at $7.925M in 2029.”
The contract extends Venables by two years, in addition to the compensation increase.
Will the former Kansas State linebacker be able to steer the ship effectively in a competitive SEC over the next few years?
Oklahoma football has the recruiting talent to keep up with elite programs
While Venables may be locked in for now, the SEC move increases the pressure on him and the program to perform, via On3's Sam Gillenwater.
“The question now is how Venables helps Oklahoma to adjust to the Southeastern Conference,” Gillenwater said. “They had long dominated in different variations of the Big 12 throughout recent history. Any slip of that standard, regardless of the step up in competition following their realignment, for a team that has won double-digit games more often than not, especially as of late, will be seen as reason to concern in Norman.”
The good news for the Sooners is that they have the recruits and incoming transfers to help the team tread water as it adjusts to playing in the country's best conference. They have the eighth-best 2024 recruiting class and 20th-best transfer class, via 247 Sports' composite rankings.
“Still, this contract exemplifies a commitment to what Venables can continue to do in this next era of Oklahoma Football,” Gillenwater continued. “It’s now, pending board approval, about him making good on that throughout the rest of the 2020s.”
Now that the deal has been approved, it's time for Venables to help show that Oklahoma belongs on the same field as heavyweights like Alabama and Georgia. The Sooners are coming off a second-placed finish in the Big 12 (10-3, 7-2), but they lost in the Alamo Bowl to Arizona. After this new contract, the Oklahoma brass would certainly rather see a Playoff berth rather than a non-CFP bowl game loss.
Follow Us
Subscribe
