After two successful seasons at Oklahoma, head coach Brent Venables has reached an agreement with the Sooners on a new contract that will keep him in Norman for the remainder of the decade. According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, the six-year deal includes a significant raise for Venables, demonstrating the program's dedication to him and their ambitions as they prepare to join the Southeastern Conference (SEC) this fall.

Thamel took to Twitter to share the news, stating, "Sources: Oklahoma has agreed to a new six-year contract for coach Brent Venables. The new six-year deal includes a significant raise for Venables, and there's been an uptick in overall program commitment as OU heads to the SEC." However, it should be noted that the contract is still pending board approval, as clarified by Thamel in a follow-up tweet.

With a impressive coaching career that spans over 25 years, including successful stints at Kansas State and Clemson, Venables has made a notable impact since returning to Oklahoma as head coach. In just two seasons, he has compiled a 16-10 overall record with a clear improvement from year one to year two. The Sooners went from a 6-7 debut season to finishing with a 10-3 record in 2023, demonstrating remarkable development on both sides of the ball.

Offensively, Oklahoma elevated their scoring output from 32.8 points per game (33rd) to an impressive 41.7 points per game (4th). Similarly, their defensive performance also improved significantly, allowing only 23.5 points per game (49th) compared to 30 points per game (90th) the previous season.

In 2022, the Sooners experienced a decline in performance, finishing 3-7 in the Big 12 and in the Cheez-It Bowl. Despite their final four losses being by a slim three-point margin each, they also suffered a heavy defeat against TCU and a 49-0 blowout loss to Texas in the Red River Rivalry. However, under Venables' leadership, 2023 brought a marked improvement. Starting with a perfect 7-0 record, including a victory over Texas, they climbed as high as sixth in the nation in the AP Poll. Although a couple of subsequent losses dashed their national title hopes, they finished the regular season at an impressive 10-2 before losing to Arizona in the Alamo Bowl.

Venables' recruiting prowess has also been apparent, consistently bringing in highly ranked classes. All three classes credited to him so far have been ranked in the Top-10 of On3's Football Team Recruiting Rankings, with the 2023 class reaching as high as sixth. The 2025 class is currently on pace to continue that trend, currently sitting at No. 10.

The upcoming challenge for Venables will be guiding the Sooners through the transition to the SEC, after years of dominance in various versions of the Big 12. Any slip in their performance, regardless of the increased competition, will be closely scrutinized in Norman, as the program has been accustomed to consistently achieving double-digit win seasons.

However, the extension of Venables' contract reflects the university's belief in his ability to usher in a successful era for Oklahoma football. Pending board approval, it signifies a commitment to his leadership and the potential he has to continue to elevate the program throughout the next decade.