Oklahoma will be under the microscope — along with Texas — as the Sooners enter the SEC and face one of the tougher schedules in the country this fall. But at least one SEC analyst is bullish on head coach Brent Venables having the Sooners in a good position.
Speaking with reporters at the Oklahoma celebration of joining the league on July 1, Dusty Dvoracek explained his confidence in Venables and this Sooners team going into the 2024 season. From strong recruiting so far to a retooled defense, Dvoracek thinks Oklahoma will at least be holding serve.
“I think that Year 3 Brent Venables, you look at their recruiting rankings,” Dvoracek said. “I think they’re in a good spot. I think the longer he’s here, the better they’re going to get. I love the way he’s built the defense. I think the defense has a chance to be much improved. All three levels you’ve got legit dudes. I’m excite about the wide receiver core. I’m excited about the young, talented quarterback.”
The Sooners will be tested though, playing one of the tougher schedules in 2024.
Oklahoma will host the likes of Tennessee, South Carolina and Alabama in Norman and make trips to Auburn, Ole Miss, Missouri and LSU. This is all on top of the annual neutral-site showdown with Texas.
“Look, the schedule is daunting. Let’s be honest: It’s a tough schedule,” Dvoracek said. “There are no off weeks. You’re going to have to bring it every single week. So, look, I think Oklahoma’s in a good spot. And 10 wins a year ago and the fact that you lose the two game you lose by possessions late, I think you saw a huge jump in Year 2 and I think the program, as reflected by the extension coach Venables just received, is in a really good spot. But there’s no doubt you’re taking a jump up in competition but from my perspective, everything is trending in the right direction. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun to see exactly where Oklahoma’s at, the litmus test will be interesting, especially that first game against Tennessee.”
Dvoracek laid out a reasonable expectation for the Sooners
Dvoracek believes Oklahoma fans could be in for a bit of an adjustment with the team joining the SEC. The Sooners are not used to much less than 10 wins, having failed to reach that mark only five times since 2000.
One of those times was during the 2020 season, which was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Another was in 2022 during the inaugural season for Venables that saw OU playing with a depleted roster after several players transferred. The team finished 6-7, which was it’s first losing record since 1998.
The move to the SEC brings with it a much more difficult schedule, however. Oklahoma isn’t likely to pull off six straight conference championships like it did in the Big 12 from 2015-20. In fact, the Sooners will have to come to grips with the fact that 9-3 would be an above average season.
“9-3’s OK and that’s gonna be hard,” Dvoracek said. “Because anything short of 10 wins for an Oklahoma fan is a bad year. Even sometimes 10-2’s a bad year. This year and this schedule, if they go 9-3 this year to me I’d be feeling really good if I’m an Oklahoma fan.”
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