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OU announces 'Crimson Combine' details for next Saturday

Bob Przybyloby:Bob Przybylo•04/03/25•

BPrzybylo

Syndication: The Oklahoman
Oklahoma coach Brent Venables locks arms with his team before a University of Oklahoma (OU) Sooners spring football game at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, April 20, 2024.

We’re just over a week away from the Crimson Combine at OU, and we’ve answered the biggest question.

Well, what is it? What’s it going to look like? Details about what the two-hour event next Saturday will entail were released by OU on Thursday afternoon.

From the press release:

The University of Oklahoma Athletics Department is excited to reveal details about its debut fan-centric spring football Crimson Combine, which will be held Saturday, April 12, beginning at 1 p.m. at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

Presented by OG&E, the Crimson Combine is a unique opportunity for Sooners fans to preview the 2025 team and interact with coaches and players.

Crimson Combine

Gates open to the public at noon and Sooner Kids Club members have an opportunity to participate in combine-style drills on Owen Field (see the “Sooner Kids Club” section below for more information).

The OU football team will take the field at 1 p.m. Position groups consisting of offensive/defensive linemen, linebackers/defensive backs and quarterbacks/running backs/wide receivers/tight ends will complete a series of drills designed for each group.

 Upon drills completion at approximately 2 p.m., the north end of Owen Field will open to fans for “Party in the Palace,” while players sign autographs on the south end of the field for fans in the stands. Interactive inflatables, a Jordan Brand shoe box retail shop and beer garden will offer activities for fans of all ages. Additionally, the Sooner Schooner, Big Red Rocket and select trophies will be on display for fan photos.

The event will conclude at 3 p.m.

Head coach Brent Venables tried to prepare fans in his spring introductory press conference. The spring game has always been something people have looked forward to happening.

But things change. Anybody who follows college football knows this. The landscape has changed. OU had no choice but to adapt along with it.

“The new roster structure in college football across the board, if I said one thing in the healthy space when you get it healthy you say what’s different outside of this year’s numbers? What I see is because of the landscape and opening free agency you don’t have as much competitive depth,” said Venables last month. “That’s real. What we’ve been afforded in the last few years, it’s different now. Guys aren’t willing to be as patient. So whether that’s a financial opportunity, like hey man I don’t care where I go I just want to be the starter. Now I can leave at any point in time. That’s real as well. So don’t have the same competitive depth.

“You’ve got 20-plus million dollars now roughly invested in a roster now on top of the scholarships. And then you have an opportunity to have a normal practice that day and good situational work. Good whistles. Keeping people off the ground. 

“We don’t have the roster to divide up teams and we just don’t have those numbers. But fan engagement has always been incredibly important to me. I think it’s a great time of the year to be able to do that. And so I think administratively that we’ve come up with some really unique ways to still get a chance to see the guys compete and some of their talents and keep them out of harm’s way. Things of that nature. So excited about what that will look like.”

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