The Oklahoma Sooners will face arguably their toughest matchup since entering the SEC before the 2024 season. The Sooners will travel to Athens to face the No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs.
Georgia has become the face of the SEC, winning two straight conference titles and three of the last four. Kirby Smart's team is also the last SEC team to win the national championship, going back-to-back in 2021 and 2022. The two have not faced each other since Oklahoma joined the SEC.
Head coach Brent Venables praised Smart and the Bulldogs as the "gold standard" in college football.
"They've been the gold standard on defense," Venables said. "I've got incredible respect and admiration for their entire staff, especially Kirby. What he's been able to do his whole career
- he's a winner... I'm not sure there's anybody that's in front of them in terms of winning tough games. They are the gold standard there as well."
Venables' praise goes beyond Georgia's current roster or its 3-0 start. He pointed to Smart's ability to consistently win difficult games and build a program that can compete at the highest level. Smart shared that respect, speaking highly of Venables ahead of Saturday's matchup. Georgia's head coach called Venables one of the premier defensive coaches in college football and praised the Oklahoma defense for its technique, physicality and fundamentals.
The mutual respect isn't surprising. Venables and Smart have crossed paths throughout their coaching careers, including when Venables was Clemson's defensive coordinator. Now, their teams will meet in the regular season for the first time.
Georgia presents a completely different challenge than what Oklahoma has faced this year. The Bulldogs are averaging 59.3 points and 539 yards per game through three games, while Oklahoma's defense is allowing just 7.7 points and 215.3 yards per game.
That creates a fascinating contrast heading into Saturday. Oklahoma's defense has been the team's most consistent strength, while the offense keeps searching for answers. Against a program Venables considers the "gold standard," the Sooners will find out how far their current formula can take them, and whether they can compete with one of the SEC's established powers on its home field.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Brent Venables praises Georgia as the 'gold standard' ahead of matchup
