“If you chase two rabbits, you will catch none.” It’s an old saying, but does it really apply in the high-stakes world of college football? With the 2025 season looming, the pressure is cranked up to max for head coaches across the country. One of the biggest gambles? Oklahoma’s Brent Venables taking on defensive play-calling duties in addition to his head coaching responsibilities. Some might call it risky. Others? A masterstroke.
Now, some skeptics are raising their eyebrows, remembering how Florida’s Billy Napier stubbornly refused to relinquish offensive play-calling duties—and paid the price for it. But Venables? He’s skating by without the same criticism. And why? Well, he has former Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to thank for putting him in this position.
Brent Venables Makes a Power Move Amid Coaching Shakeups
Juggling head coaching and play-calling duties is no easy task. Just ask Billy Napier, who faced relentless scrutiny for clinging to Florida’s offensive strategy despite pressure to delegate. Despite speculation about shaking things up, Napier doubled down, confirming in 2024 that he would continue calling plays in 2025. It’s a bold strategy—and one Venables is about to test himself.
On January 31, Venables made it official, declaring his intent to take over Oklahoma’s defensive play-calling. In his statement, he explained:
“I have reflected on all facets of our program over the past several weeks. Since I was hired as head coach, we have carefully assembled the defensive personnel and scheme that is suited to compete at the highest level…To that end, I will take over defensive play-calling responsibilities for the 2025 season.”
Why the sudden shift? It all ties back to the departure of former defensive assistant Zac Alley, who left to take a job at West Virginia. With a critical role left vacant, Venables saw only one solution—stepping up himself.
While some fans remain skeptical, FOX Sports analyst RJ Young is fully on board. On his podcast, Young made his stance crystal clear:
“I have no doubts about that large reason… Brent Venables is going to do the one thing that we all want Brent Venables to do when in Oklahoma. Call the d- -n defense.”
And Young has a point. Venables wasn’t just a good defensive coordinator at Clemson—he was a legend. Under his leadership, the Tigers won two national championships, and, not so coincidentally, they haven’t won one since his departure. But now, Venables faces a new challenge—a brutal 2025 schedule.
Oklahoma’s upcoming season is stacked with roadblocks. They face Michigan in Week 2, and six of their eight SEC matchups are against teams that finished in the AP Top 25 last season. With expectations sky-high, Venables will need every ounce of his defensive genius to survive.
As Young bluntly put it:
“Brent Venables took his defense and won two national championships at Clemson. He’s got three rings, but he needs one as a head coach at Oklahoma. Because that’s what he was brought in here to do.”
But here’s the kicker—this wasn’t Venables’ original plan. Oklahoma had their sights set on a different defensive mastermind.
Did Jim Knowles’ Snub Actually Benefit Oklahoma?
Make no mistake, Venables didn’t take on play-calling duties because he wanted to—he did it because Oklahoma missed out on their top defensive target.
The Sooners went all-in on recruiting former Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, pulling out every stop to lure him to Norman. And they were willing to break the bank to do it.
As analysts Zach Barnett and John Brice reported:
“Oklahoma has maintained quiet confidence about its chances to hire the architect of the nation’s top total, yards per play, and scoring defense. Industry sources told us the Sooners are prepared to offer up to $3 million a year.”
Three million dollars for a defensive coordinator? That’s NFL money. But despite their best efforts, Oklahoma came up short.
Knowles didn’t just turn them down—he took an even bigger deal. Penn State swooped in, offering him a contract worth “well over” $3.2 million per year. With Notre Dame also showing interest after losing Al Golden to the NFL, Knowles had his pick of the best programs in the country. And in the end, he chose Penn State, making him the highest-paid defensive coordinator in college football history.
For Oklahoma, it was a gut punch. Knowles had led the Buckeyes’ defense to No. 1 in scoring and yards allowed, giving Ohio State a dominant identity. Losing out on him was a massive setback—or was it?
Because here’s the twist—Sooners fans aren’t upset. Instead, they see this as an opportunity for Venables to do what he does best. The belief? If anyone can turn Oklahoma’s defense into a powerhouse, it’s Venables himself.
Oklahoma Doubles Down on Defensive Brilliance
Venables isn’t just taking on play-calling—he’s also surrounding himself with elite defensive minds. The Sooners just made two key hires:
- Nate Dreiling as inside linebackers coach
- Wes Goodwin as assistant/outside linebackers coach
And they aren’t the only ones. With Venables, Dreiling, Goodwin, and Brandon Hall all boasting defensive coordinator experience—plus Todd Bates and Jay Valai serving as co-defensive coordinators—Oklahoma has assembled a war room full of football strategists.
This is no Billy Napier situation. At Florida, Napier’s stubborn grip on play-calling has been a red flag. But at Oklahoma? Venables stepping in feels like a return to his roots, not a desperate last resort.
With one of the toughest schedules in the nation, a defensive-minded head coach calling the shots, and a staff stacked with experience, the Sooners are entering 2025 with a clear mission: prove they belong at the top of the SEC.
Brent Venables just took the wheel—now, it’s time to see where he drives Oklahoma next.
