Brent Venables on Oklahoma-Missouri matchup: 'It's not spicy for me'

Oklahoma travels to Columbia for the first time since 2010 to take on Missouri in the 97th all-time meeting between the two programs.

Even though the two teams stopped playing after 2011 when the Tigers joined the SEC, the rivalry has continued in other aspects of the game such as on the recruiting trail and in the transfer portal. That’s appeared to keep the rivalry “spicy” since their last matchup.

“It’s not spicy for me,” Sooners head coach Brent Venables told reporters. “Recruiting is incredibly competitive. Winning is incredibly hard. And we’re programs that certainly there’s a familiarity. But, you know, I don’t think Eli [Drinkwitz] was on the staff, part of any of the past Oklahoma-Missouri meetings. And what happens in the past doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with what happens in the future, good or bad.

“That doesn’t mean it has to change either. But, you know, I believe in what’s in front of you right now. And so, spicy maybe for the media or the fans. But staff-wise, it hasn’t.”

Over the last couple of seasons, there has been some roster overlap between the two former Big 12 Conference. JJ Hester, who committed to Missouri out of high school, is a regular fixture in the Sooners’ offense this season after logged one catch for OU in 2023.

Meanwhile, both offensive lineman Cayden Green and wide receiver Theo Wease have transferred from Oklahoma to Missouri. Wease spent four seasons with the Sooners from 2019-2022 before coming to Columvia in 2023. He’s one of their top receivers while Green came to Mizzou this past offseason.

Given that the two states slightly border one another, the recruiting grounds are similar so it’s not unheard of that athletes in that region have offers from both schools. That trend appears to be continuing in the transfer portal, too.

Kickoff between the Sooners and Tigers is set for Saturday evening at 7:45 p.m. ET and will air live on the SEC Network.