On July 1st, the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners officially joined the SEC, marking a significant shift in college football dynamics. Texas enters the SEC fresh off a Big 12 title win last season, while Oklahoma comes off a solid 10-win campaign in 2023.
Paul Finebaum, speaking on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning, expressed optimism about Oklahoma’s resurgence under head coach Brent Venables. Finebaum noted that Venables is steering the program back to prominence after a transitional period following Lincoln Riley’s departure to USC. Riley had led Oklahoma to success with star quarterbacks like Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray, both Heisman winners.
“Venables has proven he can recruit,” Finebaum highlighted, pointing to consecutive top-10 recruiting classes in 2023 and 2024 according to On3 Industry Rankings. He acknowledged the challenges the program faced post-Riley but emphasized growing confidence in Norman.
“They had to reprogram the entire place, reboot it,” Finebaum explained. “From a vibes standpoint, I think this year if they can land somewhere between 8-4 and 9-3 they’ll be OK, considering their schedule. But I don’t have any doubt Oklahoma is clearly on the way back.”
With high expectations and a bolstered recruiting effort under Venables, Oklahoma aims to reclaim its status as a powerhouse in college football, poised to compete strongly in the SEC.
Under Venables’ leadership, Oklahoma has made appearances in two bowl games in as many seasons, accumulating an overall record of 26-16. With these accomplishments under their belt, Sooners fans are hopeful for continued growth and success in the upcoming year.