Oklahoma is making a massive commitment to Brent Venables after the Sooners returned to the national stage last season.
Venables and Oklahoma have agreed to a new six-year contract worth an average of $10.5 million per season, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. That puts the total value of the agreement at approximately $63 million and provides a significant vote of confidence in Venables as he enters his fifth season leading the program.
The decision comes after Oklahoma produced its best season since Venables took over for Lincoln Riley. The Sooners finished 10-3 overall, went 6-2 in SEC play and earned a spot in the College Football Playoff.
After an uneven beginning to his tenure, Venables now has a lucrative new contract and a clear mandate to keep Oklahoma among the nation’s contenders.
Oklahoma Gives Brent Venables Massive New Contract
Yahoo Sports reported the news Thursday, citing Thamel.
“Oklahoma and Brent Venables have agreed to a new six-year contract worth an average of $10.5 million per year,” Yahoo Sports reported on X.
The reported $10.5 million average annual salary represents a considerable increase for Venables, whose previous salary was $8.5 million.
More importantly, the length and value of the deal demonstrate Oklahoma’s confidence that last season’s success was not simply a one-year breakthrough.
Venables is 32-20 through four seasons with the Sooners. His tenure began with a 6-7 finish in 2022 before Oklahoma improved to 10-3 in its final season in the Big 12.
The transition to the SEC presented a much more difficult challenge.
Oklahoma went 6-7 overall and 2-6 in conference play during its first SEC season in 2024. That put significant pressure on Venables entering 2025, and the Sooners responded with the type of season the program needed.
College Football Playoff Appearance Changed Oklahoma’s Trajectory
Oklahoma doubled its SEC win total last season, finishing 6-2 in conference play and earning a College Football Playoff berth.
The Sooners eventually lost to Alabama in the opening round, but simply returning to the playoff represented a major step forward. Oklahoma had not appeared in the CFP since the 2019 season.
Venables also has deep ties to the program that extend far beyond his four seasons as head coach.
He originally joined Oklahoma as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 1999 and helped the Sooners win the national championship following the 2000 season. He remained in Norman through 2011 before leaving for Clemson, where he developed into one of the country’s most respected defensive coordinators.
Oklahoma brought him back as its head coach in December 2021.
The results since then have not always been smooth, but the Sooners’ 2025 turnaround provided evidence that Venables can build a contender in the SEC.
Now Oklahoma is backing that belief with approximately $63 million.
For Venables, the expectations that accompany the new contract will be substantial. After returning Oklahoma to the College Football Playoff, the next challenge is keeping the Sooners there.
