Is Brent Venables’ Old-School Practice Philosophy Holding Oklahoma Football Back?

As the Oklahoma Sooners wrap up a second 6-7 season in three years under Brent Venables, the questions swirling around his leadership and methodology have reached a fever pitch. With the 2024 campaign falling well short of the program’s lofty standards, many are scrutinizing Venables’ decisions both on and off the field.

While the offense’s sharp decline and in-game management issues have garnered significant attention, one major concern might be hiding in plain sight: the intensity of Venables’ old-school practice philosophy.

The Toll of Venables’ Practices

Venables’ reputation for fiery, hard-nosed coaching dates back to his days as Oklahoma’s defensive coordinator in the early 2000s. Back then, his defenses were among the most physical and dominant in college football, but his methods also came with a cost. Stories from former Sooners have long hinted at tension between Venables and offensive staff members over his refusal to scale back the physicality in practices, especially in full contact "Good on Good" drills.

Fast-forward to 2024, and it’s clear that Venables’ practices are still demanding — sometimes, players suggest, to a fault. A source close to the program shared insights from players who described the workload as "intense and full of hitting, sometimes brutal."

One former player went so far as to say:

"Every year it has been intense, but slowly getting less intense. It’s almost the complete opposite of (Lincoln Riley’s) practices, which were soft. They got so bad Schmitty (OU strength and conditioning coordinator Jerry Schmidt) had to tell (Venables) to calm the practices down the first year. That’s why we were exhausted six games (into) the first season."

In Year 2, Venables seemed to dial back the intensity, but by Year 3, the coach reportedly defaulted back to working everyone — his coaches included — harder.

The 2024 season saw a noticeable reduction in practice intensity compared to previous years, according to players, but it still took a toll. One player described the evolution this way:

"It was less intense than last year’s fall camp. Still brutal, but that’s more due to the safeties loving to hit and BV pushing intensity. Game weeks were intense, but BV is starting to learn how to load manage (players), so we are not all exhausted by game day."

Lessons from Nick Saban

Even coaching greats have struggled to balance toughness with player recovery. Last week, Alabama head coach Nick Saban reflected on his time at Michigan State during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. Saban revealed that his teams went 0-5 in bowl games during his tenure with the Spartans because he refused to ease up after the Big Ten season ended.

"I just kept working them like we had a game every week leading up to the bowl," Saban said. "And we got our asses kicked every year."

The parallels to Venables’ approach are striking. Both coaches share a belief in building toughness through relentless preparation, but Saban says he later had to adjust his methods to incorporate sports science and recovery principles, resulting in his legendary success at Alabama.

Venables, by comparison, appears to still be finding that balance. Post-South Carolina, the level of panic at OU had reached new levels, with Venables falling back into a habit of trying to grind out any improvement he could to stop OU's on-the-field descent.

The Fallout in 2024

The Sooners were decimated by injuries in 2024, particularly on offense. By season’s end, their top six wide receivers were sidelined, with four of them never making it to Week 1. Starting wideout Jalil Farooq went down on the second play of the season opener, and the offensive line shuffled through eight different starting lineups across 12 games. While some injuries are unavoidable, the sheer volume and frequency of attrition raise questions about the physical demands placed on the team in practice.

Beyond the physical toll, there’s also a psychological cost. The offensive line, already considered one of the least athletic units Oklahoma has fielded in years, reportedly struggled to develop confidence and cohesion due to the relentless intensity of practices during fall camp. Instead of building up their mindset, practices reportedly may have left players feeling demoralized and fatigued.

Too Much "Good on Good"?

Venables has often praised the value of "Good on Good" practices, where starters face off against starters to simulate game speed. While this approach is intended to prepare players for the rigors of SEC competition, it may also be pushing them beyond their limits.

Other programs, including those in the NFL and top-tier college football, have increasingly embraced sports science to optimize player health and performance. This includes reduced-contact practices, targeted workload management, and structured recovery periods. The Sooners’ injury-ridden seasons under Venables suggest that Oklahoma may be behind the curve in adopting these modern principles.

However, with a new NFL-style front office being implemented under longtime Sooners donor and former AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson, and the recent hire of Jake Rosenberg — formerly the Vice President of Football Administration for the Philadelphia Eagles — Oklahoma might be poised to adopt practice habits more aligned with those of the NFL. If Venables can allow himself to embrace this new approach, it could lead to significant progress for the program.

Final Thoughts

Oklahoma’s 2024 season served as a painful reminder that old-school toughness alone won’t win games in today’s college football landscape. The best programs — including Alabama, Georgia, and even Michigan — have shown that a balance of toughness, recovery, and innovation is essential to sustained success.

Venables has proven he can build a dominant defense, but as the head coach of Oklahoma, he is responsible for the program as a whole. If his practice habits are contributing to the team’s inability to stay healthy and finish strong, they must be addressed.

The 2025 season is shaping up to be a pivotal year for Venables, with a mandate to deliver at least eight wins to keep his job. In the end, the question isn’t whether Oklahoma has the talent to contend — it’s whether the Sooners have the preparation and mindset to thrive in the SEC.

For Venables, time is running out to find that balance and unlock his team’s full potential. Will he take the necessary steps to evolve, or will Oklahoma remain mired in mediocrity? The clock is ticking.