In July of last year, conference realignment took a significant turn when Texas and Oklahoma ascended to the esteemed SEC rank. Since 2021, they have been strategically and logically preparing to join the conference. When they officially inked the deal, it looked like a match: they knew the geography, the passion, the culture, the smack talk, and everything in between to slide a smooth rise. The question that came with it was how they both would ship into the toughest SEC schedule in the year 2024. The answer we got after the end of the season was nothing but a visible disparity between the two newcomers in terms of schedules, and it’s not going to get any better for Brent Venables and the Sooners going forward.
”What we forecasted to be a scheduling imbalance, did that actually prove out in 2024, and does that project again for an imbalance in 2025 between Texas and Oklahoma? Yes, in fact, Oklahoma played teams in the SEC in 2024 that went 40 and 24 in the conference; they won 62.5% of their games, even if you take away the games played against Oklahoma, which, of course, the Sooners only went two and six in the conference. Those teams went 34 and 22 against everyone else; they won over 60% of their games against everyone else,” Mark Roger spilled out a concerning reality for the Sooners during today’s episode of “The Voice of College Football” podcast.
After a lackluster 6-6 season, Brent Venables’ team had a 14-0 lead over Navy and seemed to be in total control of their fate, but then the wheel turned upside down, and they walked away with another loss. The 6-6 regular season in the first year of the SEC can be considered a respectable attempt, but they must overcome their past setbacks and prepare for an even more challenging race.
If they can’t cope with the ice bag, blame it on the SEC. They actually do the Sooners dirty. Looking at the 2025 lined-up matches, they will start with Kansas State, and then the trajectory looks pretty banged up with back-to-back games against the A-listers like Texas, South Carolina, Ole Miss, and Tennessee, and it doesn’t get any easier.
On the other hand, Steve Sarkisian doesn’t have to worry much about their scheduling except for the two early matches against Ohio State and Georgia. ”Texas is going to be playing teams that won 37.5% of their games in the SEC, Oklahoma 62.5, and there’s another way to slice this. Let’s look at the opponents that each team has to play from most difficult to easiest within the SEC. For Texas, they got to play Georgia, and of course, they lost two games to Georgia in 2024, including the championship game. Georgia at 6 and 2 last year, and Texas A&M at 5 and 3. Those are just two teams that Texas has to play that finished over 500 in the conference,” Roger added. Also, the Aggies come into the final stretch of the season, so until then, they don’t have to be on the edge.
While it might look like a plain bias from the outside, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey revealed that it wasn’t on purpose but rather a lot of factors, including the last few years’ records, the history they share, and how much more has worked while deciding the schedules. So, deep down, it’s more balanced than people think. While he’s not wrong, Brent Venables has too much of a chip on his shoulder to be convinced.
Brent Venables tottering chair might be under big threat in 2025
Brent Venables could be in huge trouble next season. Following their second consecutive losing season in Norman, the Sooners’ 2025 schedule presents a formidable challenge. Save for a home matchup with Michigan, the nonconference schedule is not that challenging, though. But kicking off with the Red River Rivalry, the rest of OU’s schedule is bait.
Paul Finebaum flagged the ultimatum, saying Venables badly needs a rebound in 2025. He cannot afford to endure three consecutive poor seasons. Before the dust gets settled, another one is brewing up. OU fans are not just blaming the SEC; they are questioning the point of Brent Venables’ job as the HC.
Well, if the Sooners have to get rid of the third-year head coach after another wasted season, they need to hand out a whopping $44.8 million as the buyout. But if we switch off our negative instinct, not everything about Brent Venables seems bad. He has significantly developed the defense. A more serious portal move and a bit of care to the offense might get the job done for the Sooners; who knows?
The post Concerns Rise for Brent Venables & Oklahoma as Unfair SEC Bias Threatens Sooners HC’s $44.8M Safety Net appeared first on EssentiallySports.
