The Oklahoma Sooners rewarded coach Brent Venables with a new contract on Thursday, but the move had many observers wondering what the point was.
Venables and the Sooners agreed to a new six-year contract that adds two years onto his current deal, per Pete Thamel of ESPN. The new deal will pay Venables an average of $10.5 million per year.
The contract was met with skepticism on social media. Many questioned why Oklahoma felt the need to give Venables a new deal right now in light of his lack of proven success with the Sooners.
I am an OU believer this season.
— Jesse Simonton (@JesseReSimonton) August 20, 2026
I don't understand handing out another extension before seeing if Venables can replicate its 2025 success.
OU was not in danger of losing its head coach. Now it's just on the hook for more $$$ if Venables is not the right guy in 2026 or 2027. https://t.co/M2yukikHu3
Brent Venables getting a raise + extension before going 8-4 this season is absolute genius work.
— Brad Crawford (@BCrawford247) August 20, 2026
For what possible reason? Was he going to leave in October? https://t.co/9famRxld47
— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) August 20, 2026
Love BV but this feels a bit premature.. https://t.co/oMHSUTyqvP
— Boomer Beamer (@ImDerBatman) August 20, 2026
Venables was already locked up through 2029 on his previous deal, which he only signed two years ago. He did lead the Sooners to the College Football Playoff last season for the first time, and Oklahoma clearly wanted to reward him for that.
The biggest concern about Venables is his lack of consistent success at Oklahoma. He has a pair of 10-win seasons and a pair of six-win seasons to his name, and while he broke into the top 10 with Oklahoma last season, he has yet to prove he can keep them there for several seasons at a time. He will certainly be paid like the sort of coach who could, though.
Oklahoma was ranked No. 10 in the preseason AP poll that came out earlier this week.
