Is Brent Venables THE GUY? What He Needs To Prove In 2026...

Brent Venables isn’t on the hot seat heading into 2026, but the big question still lingers — is he THE guy?

By “the guy,” I mean can he be the one who leads Oklahoma back to consistently competing for national championships like the program has done for decades?

There’s plenty of reason to be optimistic. The Sooners are coming off a 10-win season and their first College Football Playoff appearance under Venables. They’re projected to have their best roster from top to bottom since he arrived, and the 2027 recruiting class looks like one of the best in program history.

Venables’ tenure has included two 10-3 campaigns and two 6-7 seasons. While things look good now, we’ve seen him struggle in Norman as well. But the worst should be behind him.

Even though the Sooners have one of the most difficult schedules in the country with matchups against Michigan, Texas, and Georgia just to name a few, on paper they have the talent to reach the playoff again.

If the Sooners can get 10 wins and make the CFP, then you have to go all-in and believe that this Venables era is here to stay. Anything less and that’s when question marks start to creep in.

When Oklahoma first entered the SEC, the doubters said they were going to turn into Nebraska, the same way they failed to compete in the Big Ten. OU is well past that, however, just being good isn’t good enough.

This season, Venables needs to show that their consistency is here to stay. That the Sooners aren’t going anywhere and can take the next steps forward to being a national championship contender.

No one is saying Oklahoma needs to win national championships every year. That just isn’t possible in today’s modern world of college football. What Venables needs to do year in and year out though is be part of the conversation and 2026 can be a big first step in that.

In order for the OU chain of history to be Bud, Barry, Bob and Brent, Brent has to take the next step. Don’t be a Gary Gibbs, that’s not going to work.

The Sooners have the pieces in place. John Mateer is back healthy with better weapons around him. The defense should be elite again. The offensive line is improving. If everything comes together, this could be a special year.

Venables has shown he can get the program to the playoff. Now it’s about consistency and winning the games that matter most. The schedule is tough, but that’s the SEC. If he can navigate it and get 10 wins again, the belief will grow.

This feels like a pivotal year. The expectations are high, but the talent is there. Venables has the respect of his players and the administration. Now it’s time to show the rest of the country what this program is capable of.

I’m optimistic about 2026. The foundation is solid. The pieces are in place. If Venables can lead this team to another 10-win season and a deep playoff run, he’ll silence a lot of the remaining doubters.

The Sooners have to prove that they aren't going anywhere. This is a program with championship DNA, and it is a critical year for Venables to show that he is the right coach to carry on that legacy.