Brent Venables explains how Oklahoma program has grown despite 2024 struggles

Brent Venables wants to make clear that, despite the record for Oklahoma, there are areas where it has improved this season. The Sooners are in the midst of a three-game losing streak as they lost to Ole Miss by a score of 26-14 on Saturday.

The offensive struggles have been well-documented, with two quarterback changes and the firing of offensive coordinator Seth Littrell so far. However, Venables noted that both defensively and on special teams, OU has actually made strides in each year since he took over.

“What do we measure the progress? From a year ago?” the coach asked in his Tuesday press conference. “If that’s where we’re measuring it, we’re much better on defense and certainly made great improvement in our kicking game. Just look at all the efficiencies a year ago. We were one of the worst in college football special teams and now we’re a top 20 special teams unit.

“Once Luke Elzinga took over a year ago punting the ball and then we’ve got a bunch of good young players that are in year two and year three in our special teams unit that are playing fast, physical and violent and they understand the value of special teams and the efficiency and the detail of it as well and that shows.”

The Sooners rank 14th in the country with 46.0 yards per punt. They have also converted 83.3% of their field goal attempts on the season.

Defensively, OU is tied for 22nd in turnovers forced per game with 1.9 and has consistently put the team in position to win games. Several times the Sooners have forced a turnover on defense and put themselves in scoring position only to give the ball right back with a miscue of their own.

The offense has rightfully received much of the blame for the current record and looks to be the worst since Brent Venables took over in 2022.

“We were a really good offense, not perfect, our first two years,” the coach said. “We made a tremendous jump in all of the efficiency spaces. …For lots of obvious reasons, which y’all have probably been reporting on the last several weeks, there’s been a drop off in our offensive production. A dramatic drop off.

“But I believe in the young talent that we have recruited and the guys that are coming in the future and our ability to help in recruiting in making our roster better. We have recruited really well going on our fourth class.”

Venables’ contract keeps him with the team until the 2029 season, but of course OU could opt to fire him if it isn’t happy with the results. The buyout for firing Venables at the end of this season would cost the Sooners $44.8 million.

Brent Venables has compiled a 20-14 overall record since taking over the program in 2022. Although there have been some rumblings about his job security, the coach also said Tuesday that he still has the support of athletic director Joe Castiglione.

That in mind, he is focused on doing what he can to deliver better results, having gone back to Jackson Arnold at quarterback.

“I don’t sit here and think about all those things that you said, but I know I see what I see every single day,” Venables said. “Our guys believe in what we do. There’s a formula for success and winning that I’ve had a long time and have mature through the years. I believe in work and believe in improvement and developments. It’s a developmental game. Then I believe in finding ways to put your guys in position to be successful.

“I wanted to give a body of work that would show whether or not we — is that youth? Is it injuries or do we need to do a better job of helping them? Had to make a tough decision two weeks ago to help us get better. I believe it did, but time will tell.”