Phil Steele encouraged by Oklahoma’s trajectory under Brent Venables

Oklahoma has spent the offseason recovering from the beatdown they suffered throughout the 2022 season. After revamping their defense and returning offensive production — the Sooners are expected to make waves in the Big 12 Conference this coming season.

College football expert Phil Steele has high hopes for second-year head coach Brent Venables in their final season before jumping alongside rival Texas to the SEC.

“Venables has remade the roster as 56 of the 71 players that participated in the Alamo Bowl in 2021
are no longer with the team. This year he has brought in 18 transfers alone,” Steele wrote. “The Sooners do avoid both Kansas St and Baylor in Big 12 play and they also make my Going Up box with an easier schedule this year.

“This team is improved on both Offense and Defense and I like the direction Venables has them pointed. They are my #2 Most Improved Team, my #8 Surprise Team, and a legitimate Big 12 title contender.”

Finishing 2022 6-7 overall, it was only the second time in seven years that the Sooners failed to win at least 10 games. The other instance saw them finish the 11-game 2020 season 9-2 overall.

When On3’s JD PicKell decidede to run down Oklahoma’s 2023 season, he predicted the Sooners to win 10 games — good enough to put themselves in the Big 12 Championship game once again. He chose for the Sooners’ two losses to be against Texas in Dallas and on the road against BYU during the second to last game of the season.

A heartbreaking defeat at that point of the season would most likely ruin the Sooners’ chances at another College Football Playoff run — but that’s likely the best case scenario. Should fans expect Oklahoma to return to their elite status in 2023? Or will it take a few seasons for Venables’ defensive-minded vision for this program to take off?

Oklahoma has a multitude of opportunities to prove their worth, especially with the Big 12 Conference expansion going on around them. Games at Cincinnati, a neutral site game against Texas, at home against UCF, at BYU and against TCU highlight the Sooners’ final Big 12 schedule. Winning at least three of those games would be ideal — which coincides with PicKell’s prediction.

Venables’ Sooners will begin their season at home against Arkansas State, where they have opened as 33-point favorites. Their first challenge will come the following week against SMU, a program that is always capable of producing some fireworks.

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