Paul Finebaum Warns One Top SEC Coach Could Be Out in 2025

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jaron Spor | Last updated May 14, 2025 11:00 AM ET

The pressure is mounting for several college football programs and coaches as they head into the 2025 season. After disappointing performances in 2024, many are eager to turn things around.

The Oklahoma Sooners are among those looking to improve, especially after finishing with a 6-7 record for the second time in three seasons under head coach Brent Venables. In Venables' first season, he also led the team to a 6-7 record, marking Oklahoma's first losing season in nearly 25 years. While he had a successful bounce-back season in 2023, going 10-3, the Sooners struggled in their first year in the SEC, again ending the season with a 6-7 record.

On "The Paul Finebaum Show," SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum was asked about Venables' job security if the team were to only achieve six wins again in 2025. Finebaum expressed his expectation that Venables would no longer be the coach in Norman if that scenario were to unfold.

"Yes," Finebaum said. "I don't think you can have three bad seasons out of four and survive at a major football power like that."

There was some discussion about Venables being on the hot seat last season after the team struggled. However, his buyout amount was set at $44.8 million. Now, that buyout has decreased to $34.9 million. This speculation about it possibly being his final year comes just a year after Venables signed a significant contract extension.

Venables signed a new six-year deal following the 2023 season. This contract, approved by the Oklahoma Board of Regents in June 2024, guarantees Venables an average salary of over $8.5 million annually throughout the term. He initially signed a six-year, $43.5 million contract with the Sooners in December 2021 when he was hired. Venables' contract is fully guaranteed, and after this season, his buyout will decrease by nearly $10 million each year until the contract expires.

Oklahoma and Venables hope to have a successful season, so they won't need to worry about a buyout or finding a new head coach.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: