Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables has signed a two-year contract extension, which will keep him with the Sooners through January 2032. Venables took over the program following Lincoln Riley's departure for USC.
Under Venables, the Sooners have compiled a 32-20 overall record and made one College Football Playoff appearance. The team navigated its first season in the SEC, finishing with a 6-7 overall record and a 2-6 conference record in 2024. The program concluded the most recent season with a 10-3 overall record and a 6-2 record in conference play, marking the first double-digit winning season under Venables.
Oklahoma Athletic Director Roger Denny cited Venables' ability to build culture and connect with student-athletes as key reasons for the extension. "Coach Venables is elite at building culture — not just in the locker room, but throughout the entire program," Denny stated. "Our players are drawn to him. They trust him, they believe in him and he has a unique ability to connect with young men and bring out the best in them."
The extension comes at a critical time for the Sooners as they continue to establish themselves in the SEC and prepare for future College Football Playoff formats. Venables' background as a defensive coordinator has aided in recruiting top defensive talent, and the team has also secured transfers such as quarterback John Mateer, who passed for 2,885 yards and 22 touchdowns in his first season. The team also added defensive players including safeties Prince Ijioma and Dakoda Fields, and defensive lineman Patrick Payton. Payton recorded 10.5 sacks last season with LSU.
The Sooners are scheduled to open their 2026 season at home against UTEP on September 4.