If there is one positive in the Brent Venables era, it's the team's improvement in several areas. When Venables took over, the defense was one of the worst in college football.
The Oklahoma Sooners ranked No. 122 in total defense, improved to No. 80 in Year 2, No. 19 in Year 3 and then No. 6 in Year 4. Venables' Oklahoma teams have also made great strides in special teams. The Sooners were No. 72 in special teams efficiency in 2022, No. 127 in 2023, No. 41 in 2024 and No. 10 in 2025.
Now Venables is tasked with fixing the offense. Oklahoma was No. 13 in total offense in 2022, No. 3 in 2023, No. 113 in 2024 and No. 92 in 2025. Due to the progress he's been able to make in those other key areas, On3's J.D. PicKell isn't worried that he will figure
out how to improve the offense.
"Brent Venables is a fixer," PicKell said on 'The Hard Count.' "From one year to the next, it is very rare to see Oklahoma have the same struggles in a specific department of their football team carry over year-over-year."
If the offense can make the same type of leap the defense and special teams have made under Venables, Oklahoma could emerge as one of the nation's most complete teams. The Sooners already have a championship-caliber defense. Whether they can contend for an SEC title and a national championship in 2026 may ultimately depend on whether the offense finally catches up.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Brent Venables labeled a 'fixer' ahead of 2026 season
