Brent Venables addresses being first opponent after Nebraska coaching change

No. 6 Oklahoma will be the first team to deal with something usually reserved for later in the season: Facing a team that just canned its coach. A Nebraska coaching change came Sunday after the Huskers fired fifth-year coach Scott Frost when his team dropped its second game of the season, this time to Georgia Southern.

New Oklahoma coach Brent Venables is expecting to face a fired up fanbase and team.

“I think people will be on edge and I think there will be a lot of emotion in the stadium,” Venables said Tuesday. “I know this: When I’ve had my back against the wall in this profession I feel like I’ve always responded and the pressure has brought out the best in me. That, to me, is what you’ll see from a Nebraska team.”

Frost was unceremoniously dumped in a move that was hardly surprising to the college football world, other than perhaps for the timing. Nebraska will owe Frost $15 million, rather than the $7.5 million it would have owed him had it waited until Oct. 1 to fire him, due to a clause regarding the buyout in his contract.

Of course, the financial aspect won’t matter at all come Saturday in Lincoln.

“I think they’ve had 13 one-score games in the last year,” Venables said. “They’ve done a nice job recruiting good players. They’ve got good schemes. First couple of games this year they’ve had some tough moments right at the end of the game. It happens.”

Nebraska coaching change could present unpredictability

Venables tipped his cap to the Huskers for what they’ve schemed up under Frost, but the reality is he can’t quite know fully what to expect Saturday in that regard.

Often when programs go through coaching changes and install interim coaches — Nebraska tabbed assistant Mickey Joseph to serve in that role — those interims put their own spin on things. And Venables doesn’t think Joseph will have any lack of talent to go to work with.

“This is a team that’s incredibly capable, talented, tough,” he said. “Again, good schemes put them in good position. They’ve got quality players on both sides of the ball that can play with anybody.”

Oklahoma struggled early on in a 33-3 win against Kent State at home last week. The Sooners led just 7-3 at halftime.

Playing on the road against a conference opponent, the first-year head coach is hoping his players know they’ll need to bring their ‘A’ game.

“We expect their best, expect great atmosphere, one where they’ve circled the wagons and galvanized and play inspired, all of those things,” Venables said. “That’s what we expect.”