ESPN's Scott Van Pelt commends Brent Venables' significant 2025 progress on the Dari Nowkhah Show, but cautions that fan impatience could overshadow the difficult path to sustained elite status
In a recent appearance on The Dari Nowkhah Show on KREF in Norman, ESPN's renowned SportsCenter anchor Scott Van Pelt offered a thoughtful analysis of the Oklahoma Sooners football program.
Speaking just days after the conclusion of the 2025 college football season, Van Pelt reflected on OU's return to the College Football Playoff, praising their progress while cautioning about the challenges ahead under head coach Brent Venables.
His comments, delivered with the signature blend of insight and realism that has made him a staple in sports media, resonate deeply with Sooner fans eager for a return to national dominance.
The 2025 season marked a significant turnaround for Oklahoma. After a disappointing 6-7 record in 2024—their first year in the SEC—the Sooners bounced back with a 10-3 campaign, securing a spot in the expanded 12-team playoff.
However, their run ended abruptly with a first-round loss to Alabama, extending OU's playoff drought to 0-5 all-time. Van Pelt highlighted how the team operated on razor-thin margins throughout the year.
"I thought that they were right on the fringes of the playoff," he said, noting that key victories, such as those against Missouri and LSU, hinged on crucial big plays from the offense despite a stellar defense. "Missouri game, LSU game... big play against Missouri, big play against LSU," Van Pelt elaborated, emphasizing how quarterback John Mateer delivered when it mattered most.
Van Pelt's praise for the team's resilience was tempered by an acknowledgment of the precarious nature of their success.
"They were living on the margins," he observed, suggesting that while the Sooners earned their playoff berth, sustaining that level of performance would require more consistency.
This sentiment echoes broader discussions in college football about the volatility introduced by the transfer portal, NIL deals, and conference realignments—factors that have made building enduring programs more complex than ever.
Shifting focus to Venables, who is entering his fifth year at the helm in 2026, Van Pelt commended the coach's steady hand.
"Building programs, short of Cignetti in Indiana that just did a 180 in two years, it feels like it takes time," Van Pelt stated, referencing Curt Cignetti's rapid turnaround at Indiana as a rare exception.
He added that "most fan bases aren't real patient these days," a nod to the impatience that has plagued OU supporters amid a 25-year national title drought—the longest since their last championship in 2000 under Bob Stoops.
Van Pelt viewed Venables' 2025 step forward as "significant," affirming that the Sooners "deserved their spot" in the playoff.
To illustrate the difficulty of the next phase, Van Pelt drew an apt analogy from golf, a sport he frequently references in his commentary. "It's kind of like playing golf. I always make this analogy in sports," he explained.
"You can start playing golf and get from being a 100 to 90 and 90 into the 80s if you work at it. But getting that next step to become like scratch single digit, that's the hard part."
Applying this to OU, Van Pelt stressed that "for OU, the next step's the hardest." Making the playoff is one thing, but advancing to the "second weekend, third weekend, title games" is where the true test lies. This progression is what "OU and Sooner fans want," and Van Pelt believes it's achievable: "I think it can happen. You're on the short list of teams it could happen for."
Yet, Van Pelt urged realism. "You gotta be realistic and honest with yourself and recognize that those margins are skinny, man," he concluded, underscoring the fine line between contention and disappointment in elite college football.
This perspective is particularly relevant as Oklahoma prepares for the 2026 season. With key returnees on defense, including standout players like defensive lineman David Stone, and offensive improvements expected under coordinator Ben Arbuckle, the Sooners face a favorable schedule that could position them for another playoff push.
Van Pelt's comments come at a pivotal time for college football, where programs like Oklahoma—historically a powerhouse with seven national titles—must navigate an evolving landscape.
His endorsement places OU among the elite, but it also serves as a reminder that sustained success demands patience, precision, and perhaps a bit of luck to widen those skinny margins.
As the offseason unfolds, Sooner Nation will be watching closely to see if Venables can guide the team to that coveted "single digit" level of excellence.