Oklahoma's Turnaround: A Billionaire's Bet Pays Off

Brent Venables stepped into his role at Oklahoma with a lot on his plate. He had a strong background in defense, but taking over as head coach was new for him. Tim Headington, a big-time donor, believed in him from the start. Now, with the team making it to the college playoffs after five years, Headington is thrilled.

"Culture takes time, and Venables has built something special, " Headington said. "I knew they made the right choice a long time ago. But winning 10 games feels great. "

A Rocky Start

Oklahoma had a rough start under Venables. Injuries and a quarterback breaking his hand made things tough. But the team pulled through, ending with a 10-2 record. They lost to Texas and Ole Miss, but still secured the No. 8 seed in the playoffs, facing Alabama.

Changes in College Football

Four years ago, college football changed a lot. Players could now earn money, and the transfer portal shook things up. Meanwhile, Oklahoma was switching to the SEC and dealing with Lincoln Riley leaving for USC. Riley had been a successful coach, but his exit left the team in chaos. Many players, including Heisman finalist Caleb Williams, followed Riley to USC.

Rebuilding the Team

Venables had to rebuild the team from scratch. His first two seasons were tough, with losing records and a bowl loss to Army. But things turned around in 2025 when quarterback John Mateer joined. Mateer had a strong season, throwing for 2, 578 yards and 12 touchdowns. Now, the team is ready for the playoffs.

The Playoff Run

Venables is gearing up for his first College Football Playoff run. He faced Alabama before and won, but repeating that victory won't be easy. The offense needs to improve, especially with Mateer's 10 interceptions this season.

"We need to get back to our early-season rhythm, " Venables said.

The Crucial Matchup

The upcoming matchup is crucial. ESPN gives Alabama a slight edge, but anything can happen in the playoffs. Venables and his team have shown resilience, and this could be their moment to shine.