Paul Finebaum Hints At Premier College Football Coach Being Fired with Poor Season

Paul Finebaum Hints At Premier College Football Coach Being Fired with Poor Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The 2025 college football season presents significant pressure for top coaches. Another disappointing season could result in them seeking new jobs.

One of the coaches in question is Brent Venables, the head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners, who is entering his fourth season. However, in two of his first three seasons, Venables' team ended up with a losing record, a situation that hadn’t occurred for more than 20 years before he took over.

The Sooners are coming off a 6-7 season last year; however, there is some optimism for this season as they have added former Washington State Cougars quarterback John Mateer and former California Golden Bears running back Jaydn Ott to their roster.

Last season, Mateer threw for 3,139 yards, 29 touchdowns and only seven interceptions, while also rushing for 826 yards and scoring 15 touchdowns. Although Ott faced challenges with injuries during the 2024 season, he had an impressive performance in 2023, rushing for 1,315 yards and scoring 12 touchdowns.

On "The Paul Finebaum Show," SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum stated that the Sooners need to start the season with a 5-0 record before facing Texas in the Cotton Bowl. Following that game, he believes they are likely to lose to Texas and will then need to secure a 4-2 record to finish the year. If they don't, he could be looking for a new job.

"If they can win all but maybe two of those games, I think that Brent Venables may have a great record and will likely be around for a while," Finebaum said. "Otherwise, I think you know the answer to the question."

If the Sooners decide to part ways with Venables, it would come with a hefty price tag. Venables' buyout is $34.9 million following this season. This speculation from Finebaum arises just one year after Venables agreed to a significant contract extension.

Venables signed a six-year contract after the 2023 season, which the Oklahoma Board of Regents approved in June 2024. The deal guarantees him an annual salary of over $8.5 million for its entire duration.

He originally signed a six-year, $43.5 million contract with the Sooners in December 2021. Venables' contract is fully guaranteed, and after this season, his buyout will decrease by nearly $10 million each year until the end of the contract.

The Sooners are hopeful that Venables’ team can bounce back this season and avoid the need to search for a new coach in the upcoming offseason. Oklahoma is scheduled to open the season at 6 p.m. ET on Aug. 30 against the Illinois State Redbirds.

Related: Paul Finebaum Names Prominent College Football Coach Running Out of Time

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 30, 2025, where it first appeared.