Sources: OU, Venables reach new 6-year contract
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- University of Oklahoma announced Thursday that it agreed with Brent Venables on a new six-year contract through the 2031 season, adding two years and pending Board of Regents approval.
- Venables is expected to average more than $10.5 million per season under the deal, which remains pending approval by the OU Board of Regents.
- Oklahoma went 10-3 and reached the College Football Playoff in 2025, its first appearance since 2019, before losing to Alabama in the CFP.
- Venables led the Sooners to a 6-2 SEC regular-season record after Oklahoma went 2-6 in league play in 2024.
- Venables took over defensive play-calling last season, when Oklahoma led the nation in tackles for loss (9.4 per game) and sacks (3.5) and finished in the top 10 in scoring defense (15.5) and yards (272.5).
- John Mateer’s arrival and a general roster upgrade helped fuel the turnaround, though the quarterback was hobbled by a thumb injury for much of the season.
Why it matters: The extension gives Oklahoma a stated stability mechanism through 2031 after a sharp reversal from 2-6 SEC play in 2024 to 6-2 in 2025, while carrying an expected average value above $10.5 million per season. For players, the deal is a concrete continuity message from athletic director Roger Denny, who explicitly framed it around stability amid college-sports disruption.
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