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Oklahoma Sooners HC Brent Venables let it all out and didn't hold back during a self assessment of his 2024 season

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Justin Churchill | Last updated Jul 30, 2025 6:30 PM ET

Last season, the Oklahoma Sooners started the season hot, winning their first four non-conference games. But when SEC play hit, things instantly got dark. The Sooners, without an elite defense, would have been one of the worst teams in the country.

It's a good thing Brent Venables is a mastermind when it comes to that.

But the offensive side of the ball -- it's clear he made a mistake in hiring former OC Seth Littrell last offseason. He was fired during the season, and now the Sooners are set to enter the 2025 season with Ben Arbuckle as their OC.

So, yes, Venables can certainly be better as a head coach. He has made mistakes, and he knows that, because if there is anyone who knows it, it's him. And, he's very real about the fact that he has to be better.

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Brent Venables admits he could be better

"I can probably get better at everything. I'd say that if we went 16-0," You look at everything in your program, you evaluate it, all your internal programming you, and how you can get better. This is a new season, you learn and grow from everything, good and bad, and we feel like we have," Venables told reporters on Wednesday before starting fall camp.

#Sooners HC Brent Venables: "I can probably get better at everything. I'd say that if we went 16-0. You look at everything in your program, you evaluate it, all your internal programming you, and how you can get better. This is a new season, you learn and grow from everything,…
— Justin Churchill (@ChurchillAtoZ) July 30, 2025

Last year, everyone thought the Sooners would be bad in their first year in the SEC, and they were right. This year, everyone seems to think the Sooners will actually be pretty good in their second season in the SEC. And, sure, this year's roster is much better, but it all depends on coaching.

Venables can not go out there and make the same mistakes that he made last year. And, he has to really trust his OC to make all of the right calls. Plus, Venables will have the defensive load on his plate, where last season, Zac Alley handled a ton of that work, too.

Venables and the Sooners have the ability to make a lot of people who are doubting them look really silly.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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