He thinks they'll turn it around.
Paul Finebaum Warns College Football About 6-7 SEC Team originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Coach Brent Venables heads into his fourth season at Oklahoma with one goal: Prove he’s the right man for the job. The 2025 season gives him a clean slate, and a shot to finally quiet the doubters.
In 2024, Oklahoma's first year in the SEC, the Sooners finished 6-7, which marked the second time in three years that Venables, 54, led the team to a sub-.500 finish. Prior to his arrival in 2022, Oklahoma had not experienced a losing season since 1998.
Paul Finebaum "Bullish" on Oklahoma, Despite "Not Optimistic" Comment
Despite the Sooners' recent struggles, ESPN's Paul Finebaum is optimistic about the team. On "The Paul Finebaum Show," he referenced he is not the only one excited about Oklahoma this year. He mentioned fellow college football expert Phil Steele, who ranked OU at No. 8 in his preseason poll.
"I've been bullish on Oklahoma for some time," Finebaum said. "I was really eager to hear from Phil Steele on what he said. He genuinely thinks Oklahoma is a playoff team."
In late July, Finebaum received a call on his show from a caller predicting Oklahoma would make the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2019. Finebaum responded by saying he is not quite ready to agree.
“I’m not that optimistic,” Finebaum said. “I think Oklahoma has a shot to have a nine-win season. I’m struggling to come up with more than that at this moment.”
But a nine-win season in the SEC is nothing to be ashamed of, especially when you look at the Sooners' 2025 schedule, which features games against Michigan, Texas, Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss and South Carolina. Kyle Wood of Athlon Sports ranked Oklahoma's schedule as the nation's second-hardest this year.
“They have to be better,” Finebaum said in a different July episode. “They have to be significantly better. And that schedule is incredibly difficult."
Elite QB John Mateer Brings Optimism to Norman
There is optimism this season for the Sooners. They added former Washington State quarterback John Mateer and former California running back Jaydn Ott.
Last season, Mateer passed for 3,139 yards, 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He rushed for 826 yards and scored 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.
"I think they’re good enough to have a big-time year," Finebaum previously said. "Mateer is elite. He’s got a lot of compliments around him, and I don’t think anything could have gone more wrong last year with all of the injuries to the line and to the wide receivers.”
The Sooners added former Washington State offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle to replace Seth Littrell, who was terminated during last season. Last year, Oklahoma's offense struggled significantly, ranking No. 113 in total offense, No. 119 in passing offense, No. 76 in rushing offense and No. 97 in scoring offense.
That trio, along with other offensive additions, hopes to help the Sooners rebound in 2025.
Finebaum Said Venables' Job Is on the Line
Last season, Oklahoma finished 2-6 in the SEC, and five of the losses were by double digits. That includes a 34-3 loss to archrival Texas at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. Venables is 1-2 against Texas. The two losses were by a combined 83-3 score.
If Venables struggles to turn the program's results around in 2025, even with a beast of a schedule, Finebaum thinks the end could be near for the former Clemson defensive coordinator.
“Brent Venables knows what’s going on,” Finebaum said. “He knows his job is going to be on the line.”
Key figures from Brent Venables' Oklahoma contract:
- Venables' buyout after the 2025 season is $34.9 million.
- The buyout will decrease by nearly $10 million per year through the remainder of the deal.
- He signed a six-year contract extension after the 2023 season.
- The new deal guarantees an annual salary of over $8.5 million for its full duration.
- His original contract, signed in December 2021, was worth $43.5 million over six years.
- The entire contract is fully guaranteed, meaning Oklahoma is on the hook for the full amount if he's let go.
Oklahoma opens 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 Aug 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
