Brent Venables Shares Honest Thoughts Ahead of First Matchup with Former Oklahoma OC Seth Littrell

The calendar has a very funny way of creating awkward reunions in college football. When No. 18 Oklahoma takes the field at Neyland Stadium on Saturday night to face No. 14 Tennessee, head coach Brent Venables will see a familiar face in an unfamiliar place.

Seth Littrell, who was the offensive coordinator Venables fired midway through last season after a disastrous seven-game stretch, he currently serves as a senior offensive analyst for the Volunteers.

After Jeff Lebby departed to become Mississippi State’s head coach following the 2023 season, Venables promoted Littrell to offensive coordinator. The results weren’t as expected; it was catastrophic.

Oklahoma’s offense averaged just 288.1 yards per game under Littrell’s direction, with 176 yards through the air and 112.1 on the ground. Venables pulled the plug seven games into the season.

Littrell was out of work until his former teammate Josh Heupel brought him to Knoxville. He and Heupel both played on Oklahoma’s 2000 national championship team, with Littrell serving as a fullback and team captain while Venables coordinated the defense.

When asked about facing his former coordinator during his weekly press conference, Venables addressed the situation directly without much emotion attached.

The Oklahoma head coach seemed more interested in talking about Tennessee’s offense than rehashing old relationships or past failures. That makes sense when you consider what the Volunteers have accomplished this season.

Venables Deflects Personal Angle, Focuses on Team Preparation

Venables spent just enough time Tuesday discussing the Littrell situation to make it clear he won’t be dwelling on it come Saturday night. The coach acknowledged his former coordinator’s new role but quickly pivoted to the bigger picture facing his team.