Paul Finebaum was pretty honest about Oklahoma’s contract extension for Brent Venables: it was necessary.
Venables signed a six-year, $46.05 million extension through the 2029 season. However, he was just entering Year 3 of his tenure as head coach of the Sooners.
But this is the cost of doing business if you’re Oklahoma and Venables. That’s how Finebaum broke it down.
“If we were sitting at the Wharton School of finance doing cost analysis, we probably would find fault with the decision,” Finebaum said on McElroy and Cubelic. “But everything about college athletics right now is perception and recruiting and momentum. And I think the people at Oklahoma decided, ‘well, if we’re wrong, we’ll take the hit on the back end. But right now we have to go all in.’
“And for that I admire it but this is how you get into the Jimbo Fisher conversations. When the day after Fisher gets fired people from around the country go ‘How did that happen?’ Well, this is how it happens. But there’s also a valid reason why Oklahoma has decided to go and they trust Brent Venables. He looks like he is in command. And you know, why put off spending money tomorrow when you can do it today?”
Could it all blow up? Sure it could. But Venables’ track record is improving amid a steady process as Oklahoma heads to the SEC this season.
Recruiting wins, portal wins and overall good vibes in Norman likely led to this decision.
Through a pair of seasons back at OU as head coach, Venables has posted a record of 16-10 overall. The improvement from year one to year two, though, was clear as the Sooners went from 6-7 in his debut season to 10-3. Development on both sides of the ball were obvious for Oklahoma in 2023. They went from 32.8 ppg. (33rd) to 41.7 ppg. (4th) on offense while also going from allowing 30 ppg. (90th) to 23.5 (49th) on defense.
Venables has a highly successful resumé through his career as a coach, specifically at his last two stops. After starting at Kansas State, he has spent the past quarter century at both Oklahoma and Clemson.
Venables has also been recruiting at a national level for the program. All three of his classes that he is credited with so far have been in the Top-10 of On3’s Football Team Recruiting Rankings, including at as high as No. 6 in 2023. 2025 is on pace to do the same as it currently sits at No. 10.
Andrew Graham contributed to this story
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