Oklahoma Locks Up Head Coach Brent Venables Through 2032

The University of Oklahoma announced that head football coach Brent Venables has agreed to a new six-year contract that adds two years to his previous deal, extending his tenure through January 31, 2032. The agreement, pending approval by the OU Board of Regents, averages $10.5 million per season according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

KOCO News 5

Venables entered his fifth season after guiding the Sooners to their first College Football Playoff (CFP) appearance since 2019, earning the No. 8 seed and hosting a first-round game in the 2025 season. His overall record at Oklahoma stands at 32-20, with two ten-win campaigns (2023 and 2025) bookending losing seasons in 2022 and 2024. The 2025 defense ranked sixth nationally in yards allowed (272.5 yds/game) and seventh in points allowed (15.5 pts/game), also leading the nation in tackles for loss (9.4 TFL/game) and sacks (3.5 sacks/game). The extension follows a period in which Oklahoma transitioned to the SEC and faced a demanding nine-game conference schedule.

Newsweek

The contract’s average annual value of $10.5 million places Venables 10th among all college football head coaches nationwide and 6th within the SEC, as reported by the Oklahoman. The deal adds two years to his original six-year agreement, which began before the 2022 season, and supersedes a one-year extension that previously took the contract through the 2029 season.

USA Today

The Board of Regents is scheduled to consider the contract in a mid-September meeting.

KOCO News 5

Oklahoma opens the 2026 campaign on September 4 against UTEP at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. The Sooners’ schedule includes a road test at Michigan in Week 2 and a clash with third-ranked Georgia on September 26. Analysts project the team to win roughly 7.5 games this season, with the defense expected to remain a cornerstone of Oklahoma’s competitiveness.

Heavy

• “Coach Venables is elite at building culture, not just in the locker room, but throughout the entire program,” — Roger Denny, athletic director

Oklahoma inks Brent Venables to contract extension

• “This opportunity and commitment reflect so many people. None of it would be possible without the tremendous investment, hard work and dedication of our players, coaches and staff. I’m incredibly thankful for each of them and for the belief they have in what we are building together,” — Brent Venables, sign head coach

KOCO News 5

• “My family and I love Oklahoma,” — Brent Venables, sign head coach

The Oklahoman

• “I’m incredibly grateful for the trust, belief and support of President Joe Harroz, Athletics Director Roger Denny, Chair and Special Advisor for OU Athletics Randall Stephenson and our Board of Regents,” — Brent Venables, sign head coach

KWTV-News9

• “One of my top priorities in my first several months as athletic director was to make sure we saw the process through.” — Roger Denny, athletic director

Sports Illustrated

The OU Board of Regents will vote on the extension during its September meeting. Assuming approval, Venables will lead the Sooners through the 2031 season, with the contract automatically extending to the January 31, 2032 termination date. The upcoming SEC schedule and the return of quarterback John Mateer will shape the program’s pursuit of another CFP berth.

USA Today