This could be his last year.
Paul Finebaum Names Prominent College Football Coach Whose Job is on the Line originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
It is not uncommon for college football head coaches to serve as play callers for their respective sides of the ball. This is especially true for offensive coaches.
The Oklahoma Sooners are making changes this year, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Head coach Brent Venables is stepping in as the play caller after defensive coordinator Zac Alley left to take the job as the defensive coordinator for the West Virginia Mountaineers. This change follows Venables' struggles, as he has experienced two 6-7 seasons in the last three years.
On "The Paul Finebaum Show," the SEC Network analyst stated that he typically prefers when someone other than the head coach calls the plays. However, he believes that Venables is among the best defensive minds in the sport and is the strongest coach on the team, so it makes sense for him to take the initiative and make the decisions.
"Brent Venables knows what's going on," Finebaum said. "He knows his job is going to be on the line."
If the Sooners were to part ways with Venables, it would come at a significant cost. Venables’ buyout is currently set at $34.9 million after this season. This speculation arises just one year after Venables signed a substantial contract extension.
After the 2023 season, Venables signed a six-year contract, 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 signed a six-year, $43.5 million contract with the Sooners in December 2021. Venables’ contract is fully guaranteed, and following this season, his buyout will decrease by nearly $10 million each year until the end of the contract.
There is optimism this season for the Sooners, 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 passed for 3,139 yards, 29 touchdowns and only seven interceptions, while also rushing for 826 yards and scoring 15 touchdowns. Although Ott faced injuries during the 2024 season, he delivered a strong performance in 2023, rushing for 1,315 yards and scoring 12 touchdowns.
They aim to lead Venables’ team to a successful season. Oklahoma will open the season at 6 p.m. ET on August 30 against the Illinois State Redbirds.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
