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Coming off a loss to Ole Miss in Week 9, Oklahoma has a must-win contest upcoming on Saturday when they travel to play No. 14 Tennessee. More News: Oklahoma’s Brent Venables Sent Serious Job Warning Before Tennessee Game The Sooners are ranked No. 18 with a 6-2 record. OU will likely need to win out against the Volunteers, No. 4 Alabama, No. 19 Missouri and LSU to make the College Football Playoff. Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables entered his fourth season in Norman on the hot seat. With losses to Texas and the Rebels, Seth Emerson of The Athletic suggested Venables could be on the hot seat if the Sooners struggle to win games in November. DALLAS, TEXAS – OCTOBER 11: Head coach Brent Venables of the Oklahoma Sooners looks on during the first half of the game against the Texas Longhorns at Cotton Bowl Stadium on October 11, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) More News: Two College Football Programs Reached Out to Marcus Freeman: Report During his news conference on Tuesday, Venables was asked about the numerous firings that have taken place at elite programs already this season. Venables said it’s an anxious time for coaches in college football. “Obviously I’m not privy to the details of those individual cases, but this is an anxious time,” Venables said, via On3. “An exciting time, but an anxious time, in college football. There’s never been as much disruption as there is today. Every university, fanbase, administration and leadership have their own set of standards and priorities. “From a fan’s perspective, everybody is wanting a piece of that action. I get it.” Venables and Oklahoma started the season 5-0 and were ranked as high as No. 5 on Oct. 4. However, the Sooners have lost two of their last three games. Venables is 28-19 overall and 14-16 in conference play at Oklahoma, but just 4-8 in the SEC. Venables believes so many programs are quick to fire coaches because of the mounting pressure from fans to have quick turnarounds. “You see too many programs that have been able to have success immediately, and there have been a lot of programs disrupted because they had been used to a level of consistency that maybe they’re not experiencing right now,” Venables said. “Just an anxious time. Lots of emotion in the moment and college football has never lacked emotion of passion.” Money doesn’t appear to be an obstacle for many programs, as the buyout number for fired coaches has reached nearly $170 million before November. Venables’ best season in Norman came in 2023, his second season with the program, when OU finished 10-3. He finished 6-7 in 2022 and went 6-7 in 2024. He’s 0-3 in bowl games with Oklahoma. It’ll be interesting to see how Oklahoma finishes the regular season against strong SEC programs and if the program provides more patience with Venables than LSU did with Brian Kelly or Florida did with Billy Napier. For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.
