The Oklahoma Sooners are hoping to end a new three-decade national championship drought. The Sooners last won a national championship in 2000. The 25-year gap is the longest in program history since winning their first national championship in 1950.
Oklahoma has had some close calls during that time frame. The Sooners played for a national championship in 2003, 2004 and 2008, losing all three. They have also made the College Football Playoff five times but have yet to win a game in the playoff.
That's what head coach Brent Venables is hoping to change this upcoming season. He told News 9's Toby Rowland that Oklahoma has what it takes to win a national championship.
"Yeah, absolutely," Venables said via 'Oklahoma's Own.' "Without question. There's
probably, whatever it is, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15 teams, give or take, that can win it all from a roster standpoint, a coaching standpoint. Now, you've got to put it all together. We've got a great schedule that's set up. That will be a worthy schedule when it's all said and done... But you don't play them all at once. You play them one at a time."
The biggest obstacle may be the schedule. Oklahoma faces the Michigan Wolverines, Georgia Bulldogs, Texas Longhorns, Florida Gators and Missouri Tigers away from home, giving the Sooners one of the most challenging slates in college football.
But Venables' point is important: Oklahoma doesn't have to beat every opponent on the schedule on the same day. The Sooners simply have to continue finding ways to win each week and put themselves in position for the postseason.
After five CFP appearances without a win, the standard in Norman is no longer simply making the playoff. Oklahoma wants to win it. If Venables is right about this team's roster and coaching staff, the Sooners may finally have the opportunity to end the longest championship drought in program history.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on X @jaronspor.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Brent Venables believes OU can end three-decade national title drought
