By Adeniyi Precious 
In a recent update on “The Paul Finebaum Show,” ESPN’s Paul Finebaum highlighted a major challenge for Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables. Oklahoma’s first season in the SEC was rough, with the team finishing 6-7, including just 2-6 in conference play. This marks the second straight losing season under Venables, something the Sooners haven’t seen since 1998. Finebaum thinks 2025 could be a make-or-break year for Venables, stating that if the team doesn’t turn things around, Venables could be out.
While Venables has been improving the defense, which ranked 19th overall this season, Oklahoma’s offense has suffered, dropping to 113th in total yards. The firing of offensive coordinator Seth Littrell and the hiring of Ben Arbuckle from Washington State is a key move, with hopes that quarterback John Mateer, a transfer from Washington State, can help boost the offense. Finebaum believes that if this new strategy clicks, Oklahoma could have a much better 2025 season.