Oklahoma HC Brent Venables press conference (Florida Week) - 11/3/2026

[0:00] Going to play a really good Florida football team, [0:02] five and three, top 25 team. [0:05] Playing really well, particularly on offense all year. [0:09] Beat two top 10 teams. [0:10] And Texas and Ole Miss put 50 plus points on several teams [0:15] four times this year. [0:17] And they've scored a whole bunch of points. [0:20] They're running the ball really, really well. [0:22] They've got a really good offensive line, excellent backs. [0:25] Jaden Ball is a Sunday player. [0:28] They've got a fantastic skill, has good of skills [0:31] we've seen on one squad all year. [0:34] And a really talented roster on defense [0:37] that's just getting better and better. [0:38] So looking forward to that matchup. [0:41] And they've got great coaching staff. [0:43] And Coach Sumrall's done a really good job [0:46] starting things off for them. [0:47] So it'll be a first time for Oklahoma going to Gainesville. [0:52] And looking forward to this opportunity. [0:54] Yeah, Brent, obviously the change in offensive coordinator, [1:00] you'll be hiring your fourth OC here in six years. [1:04] Just how critical is it? [1:05] Full-time OC or interns included? [1:08] Full-time with Levy. [1:11] Well, I'm just saying that starting with Levy and Seth [1:13] and then Harbuckle and now whoever is next. [1:15] But just how critical is it to get this right? [1:18] And what did you maybe learn about previous? [1:20] Yeah, Jeff was fantastic. [1:21] Jeff did a great job for two years, top 10 in the country [1:25] both years that he was offensive coordinator and took a head coaching job. [1:29] And obviously, it didn't work out great in 24. [1:34] Ben made us better in 25. [1:35] Went to the playoffs and some great things. [1:39] There's a regression. [1:40] That's why we've made a change. [1:42] And yeah, obviously, you want to get it right every time. [1:44] Every coach, every personnel, staff member, every player you bring in, [1:48] you want to get all of it right. [1:49] There's not a different standard for any of those positions. [1:53] They're all critical. [1:55] Every role that we have on our football team, [1:59] both our staff and our locker room are incredibly important. [2:02] So yeah, it's a very attractive position. [2:07] We'll see where all of that goes. [2:08] And my focus with y'all today is really about what we got to do this week to win [2:15] and then what that looks like here over the next four weeks. [2:17] That's really where our focus is going to be. [2:19] But incredibly important that we get someone to come in here and [2:23] help us score touchdowns. [2:24] I don't care how fast it happens. [2:27] I don't care how much time's off the clock. [2:30] I'm not into that. [2:31] I like to put pressure on people, be explosive, have balance, [2:35] run the ball when we have to, throw the ball when we have to, [2:38] be efficient in all the efficiency spaces, lead the world. [2:41] And turnover margin is incredibly important to me. [2:44] That's what wins for you is the turnover margin being on the plus side of it. [2:48] And so at some point in time, we'll see where we are at after the season when it comes to that. [2:57] Colton. [2:58] Yeah Brent, I heard you say last night that your guys still believe in John at quarterback. [3:02] You've obviously made quarterback changes in the past. [3:04] I was curious what you learned from that experience and what John has showed you to believe in him continuing forward. [3:09] Yeah, I mean, everybody has a fresh start, a fresh slate with the change. [3:14] And so we'll see where all of that goes. [3:16] But players do believe in John. [3:18] We've got a couple of good young quarterbacks in Whit and Bo. [3:24] But we'll see where all that goes from here. [3:28] Hey, Sam. [3:29] Brent, you talked a lot last night about the decision to make Jason the interim OC. [3:33] He's obviously got the acumen from his NFL career as well as some play calling experience at the high school level. [3:39] From what you observed of what you've seen out of him as a play caller in his brief coaching career, [3:44] what did you like? [3:45] And are there things that are kind of transferable to this situation? [3:48] So all the same stuff that I've said about Jason, he's over exceeded our expectations just from a leadership, a cohesion, [3:58] the improvement that he's helped us make at the tight end position. [4:03] He's got an incredible wealth of knowledge. [4:06] His communication skills are elite. [4:10] He's built trust in real relationships with our entire staff, but also the players. [4:18] which is important. [4:19] They're going to follow people that they believe in. [4:22] But he makes people better just with both his passion, his energy, his details, his readiness, his toughness, all of those things. [4:30] So he's elevated several parts of our program in a very short amount of time. [4:37] And so, yeah, he's been fantastic. [4:41] Yeah, Brent, sticking on Jason, is there any sort of expectations from what you want to see the next four weeks, [4:47] or is it kind of just an open book for him? [4:49] We want to win. [4:50] I mean, number one, we want to win. [4:52] And that takes everybody. [4:55] It takes everybody. [4:56] So that expectation hadn't changed whatsoever. [5:00] And we want to win this week, and then we want to win the next week, and we want to win the week after, and so forth. [5:05] So what comes with that? [5:07] You would expect that you've got to play well. [5:09] You've got to take care of the football. [5:11] You've got to score touchdowns, play complimentary football. [5:14] And so that's what we're focused on. [5:19] Yeah, Brent, the way you guys have played defense over the last three or four years, guys want to come here. [5:24] They want to be a part of that successful defense. [5:26] They want to play for you, all those things. [5:28] Conversely, it seems like maybe the opposite is true on offense. [5:31] It's harder to recruit offense when you're not having success on offense. [5:35] How difficult is it being? [5:36] I don't think that's the case at all. [5:38] I don't think that it's hard to recruit on offense at Oklahoma. [5:42] I don't see that, not at all. [5:45] You know, that would be saying that we have no good players, right? [5:48] Is that what you're saying? [5:50] I think it's hard to. [5:51] I mean, I think it's opportunity, how you look at it. [5:55] You know, just like hiring an OC, it's going to be a great opportunity. [5:59] You don't have to be that much better to make us better. [6:01] You know, it ain't hard to go from wherever we're at, 138th in the country in this category, [6:07] 130th in that category, to make improvement. [6:10] And that's what people want to be able to be a part of. [6:12] So I see a lot of hunger and eagerness for guys we've recruited well. [6:17] We have some good young players, foundationally, some of the best young players in college football [6:22] that are actually on our offensive side of the ball. [6:27] Second row, Tom. [6:28] Yeah, Brent, about two years ago you stood up there and said you hired the wrong guy [6:31] when you made the Seth Luttrell hire. [6:33] Yeah. [6:34] I know last night you spoke really highly of Ben on your show. [6:36] Yeah. [6:37] Do you feel like... [6:38] I'll leave it. [6:39] All my comments about Ben is kind of what I'll, you know, my press release, [6:43] that's how I feel about Ben. [6:44] What do you feel was like why it didn't work out ultimately? [6:48] Yeah, I mean, obviously we didn't get, we didn't make the improvement. [6:51] We played inconsistently. [6:53] You know, we lead the world in the turnover margin, you know, on the wrong side of it. [6:58] You know, got to have better, more consistent quarterback play. [7:04] Those are reasons why maybe you don't do as well on offense. [7:07] Joe Misato. [7:09] Brent. [7:11] For Jason, could these last four games be an audition for him? [7:14] Nothing's off the table. [7:15] Nothing's off the table. [7:16] Yeah. [7:17] Last time you talked about it being collaborative for Jason and the offensive staff. [7:23] Just what'd you learn from a couple years ago about how to help the interim group get [7:28] across the finish line and be successful for these next four games and beyond? [7:33] What did I learn about that? [7:34] Yeah. [7:35] About how to help the interim staff be as successful as possible just in that interim period. [7:39] Yeah, well I think they have to be on the same page is where it starts. [7:43] And there has to be an alignment. [7:45] There has to be strong leadership. [7:47] You got to make decisive decisions. [7:50] And you got to work well together as much as anything. [7:54] I think that's important. [7:55] The players see that. [7:56] They're a part of that. [7:57] Ultimately, the product is going to be a byproduct of the staff readiness and preparedness. [8:03] And at the end of the day, you got to get guys to play well too. [8:06] You know, there has to be an execution piece that's important. [8:11] And everybody plays a role in that. [8:15] You know, Brett, Jason's never done this before, been a coordinator. [8:22] I know he's been a great football man, but he's never been a coordinator. [8:25] You've been a coordinator for a long time, so you know the interim secrecy that go with that. [8:30] So how difficult will it be for Jason to game plan all of a sudden and to then on Saturday get into the rhythm of calling plays? [8:38] You know how difficult it is to call plays, so what's that going to be? [8:41] Yeah, there's nothing easy about any of it. [8:44] It didn't, you know, be put in the position that he's put in with the last four weeks. [8:50] You're going to be the play caller. [8:52] But after visiting with the offense altogether and, you know, it became really clear quickly that, you know, he was the most ready to do it and the most eager and excited. [9:05] And, you know, Jason's been around the game a long time. [9:08] And just because you've been around the game doesn't mean that you're qualified. [9:12] But there are so many other layers to this. [9:15] And his understanding of offensive football, defensive structure, what's good, what isn't. [9:21] He's been a part of, you know, had a very pivotal critical role in helping Ben and doing what he was asked to do in that role as far as week to week preparation. [9:34] So some of those things will carry over. [9:36] And at the end of the day, it'll be a, you know, you know, a collaboration of all of the offensive coaches together to put together a game plan, you know, each week for the next four weeks. [9:45] Yeah, Coach, how significant is it that he would have someone with Kevin Wilson's experience there? [9:55] How much will he lean on him? [9:57] How collaborative will that be? [9:58] Yeah, they've worked well together. [10:00] You know, they've really clicked at the hip for, you know, several months. [10:07] So Kevin's, you know, he's got great experience, great wisdom. [10:12] And he'll continue to, you know, have an impact and influence. [10:19] Coach, I'll be quick. [10:23] Just want to follow up on a lot of questioning from earlier. [10:25] Is the plan for John to start this weekend or is that to be determined? [10:28] Everything's on the table. [10:29] As far as the reps go with the quarterbacks? [10:37] Yeah, not going to talk about reps and depth chart and all that today. [10:40] So all three quarterbacks got reps yesterday. [10:45] Yeah. [10:51] Florida. [10:53] We don't know who's no quarterback. [10:54] They've been switching a lot. [10:56] How different are they? [10:57] How does that affect your prep? [10:58] Yeah. [10:59] Great question, actually. [11:01] You know, they're both very good players. [11:03] I think systematically they ask them to do similar things. [11:08] Philo's had more experience in the system coming with Buster Faulkner from Georgia Tech. [11:13] Both can run. [11:14] Both are excellent throwers. [11:17] They put the quarterback on the move, do a ton of pocket movement. [11:21] And they both throw the ball really, really well. [11:23] They had a couple turnovers early in the game against Georgia. [11:27] And Tramell came in and did some good things. [11:29] Tramell was a starting quarterback when they beat Texas a few weeks ago. [11:34] Really talented Texas football team and defense. [11:38] But yeah, they're both completing 70 plus percent of their passes and playing really well. [11:44] They've had great balance in what they're doing on offense. [11:48] Their ability to run the ball has really opened up some opportunities to throw the ball down the field. [11:52] And then again, arguably one of their best position units on their football team is receivers. [11:58] They're very deep there. [12:00] They've recruited very well there. [12:02] The guys that were left over and the guys that they brought in, they've got excellent players to get the ball to, [12:08] both at receiver, tight end, running back, et cetera. [12:12] Yeah, Brent, just with John, how did he handle the news yesterday that you've been parting ways with Ben? [12:22] Just because they've been together for so long? [12:24] Yeah, it was tough. [12:25] It was tough. [12:26] It was emotional. [12:27] And John's a tough guy. [12:29] Carries, again, a lot of weight. [12:31] And, you know, that's a, you know, there's a cause and effect to everything. [12:35] So I'm sure he feels like he, you know, played a part in that. [12:40] And I told him, you don't deserve that weight. [12:42] That's not your responsibility. [12:44] Doesn't have anything to do with, you know, you know, when you make these types of decisions, [12:51] there's a lot more layers to it than, you know, how's the quarterback played. [12:57] But tough for him. [12:58] Yeah, Brent, sort of extending from what Ryan asked you earlier about, excuse me, collaboration within the offensive group. [13:08] How does your role change, if at all? [13:10] Not that you, you know, aren't involved offensively, but do you get more involved now with this? [13:15] No, not more involved. [13:18] Just the same level, you know, overseeing everything, knowing what's the plan. [13:23] You know what, you know, you try to paint a picture of how we're going to win this week. [13:27] And everybody being on the same page when it comes to all three phases, how we can impact and complement each other. [13:33] But, you know, I'm there to answer questions. [13:36] Certainly talk defensive structure, what people are trying to do, where they're vulnerable, things of that nature. [13:44] And but let them do their thing as well. [13:46] You know, you don't want to, you know, you've got very limited time in your preparation. [13:52] So, you know, you want to give the influence and impact, you know, with some suggestions when they're when they need them, if they need them. [14:01] And but, you know, oversee everything, you know, my answer. [14:05] You know, I'm aware of what we're doing on offense, all the different situationals, personnel, things of that nature going into the game. [14:14] You know, Bala is a tremendous running back and their concepts are pretty cool. [14:22] Talking to some of the media today, they talked about some of that and how that was going with some of the guys. [14:27] But what do you see in their running game and how they're doing it and how they're able to run the football almost against anybody? [14:32] Yeah, they've got good balance. [14:34] They run outside type plays in the stretch and toss sweep, some of their jet sweep game, a ton of, you know, quick hitting screen game. [14:43] That's like perimeter run game. [14:45] And then they'll run downhill, you know, both in the plus one run game and some inside zone, some insert plays that you saw South Carolina doing that everybody does with their tight ends running ISO type plays. [14:58] But they're very well orchestrated, good structures, and they've done a good job when they're in the right type of rhythm. [15:08] They're really, they've got great balance to what they do, how they run it, how they throw it, and things that set up, you know, the run sets up the pass and vice versa. [15:19] Your defense probably had a game where it wasn't a typical game for your defense. [15:26] Do you fully expect them to come back? [15:28] I mean, when they fired up yesterday, I mean, what, you know, what was, what's your outlet for this week defensively? [15:34] Well, I mean, yeah, we, we need to play like we're capable of playing and need to play better. [15:39] As I, as I said, I thought our fundamentals were really poor. [15:43] I thought our entry angles on space, closing space was not great. [15:48] I didn't think we've kept great leverage and coverage, just a really overall poor performance. [15:55] And, but our guys are incredibly invested and they got tremendous pride, great toughness. [16:00] They, they know what the standard is supposed to be. [16:03] We didn't have to remind them of that. [16:06] They, they came in with a great humility and a great focus about the work that they're going to put in this week to get ready for a really good Florida offense. [16:16] Touches a little bit on what had said, you know, some of the goals now kind of gone and then also having lost an offensive coordinator. [16:28] Um, I just wanted to know what the vibe and the energy level is right now. [16:33] Uh, and what, uh, you're sharing with them in terms of what is ahead? [16:38] What is there to strive for? [16:40] Yeah, I mean, that's a great question too. [16:42] Um, you know, it was yesterday's team meeting and my job is to paint a perspective and get our guys excited and passionate about putting in a great week of work here over the, uh, this week. [16:56] And then certainly, you know, over the next four weeks, what do you want the end game to look like? [17:00] And, uh, you know, we want to win every game, uh, that's in front of us and know the challenge that goes along with that. [17:06] Some excellent football teams in front of us got to have a willingness to put the work in, not just check the box, but put the work in, make improvement. [17:13] Um, make improvement. [17:14] Everybody needs to make improvement, coach player alike. [17:17] Uh, everybody has the right to do that, to get better today, uh, than you were yesterday. [17:22] And I know that's kind of cliche-ish, but it is so true. [17:25] And, um, that's what the best teams do. [17:28] You know, the best players do that. [17:29] They've got great self-awareness. [17:31] They're willing to have, uh, truthful conversations. [17:34] They hold themselves to a non-negotiable, uh, really high standards. [17:38] And, uh, they know the value of, uh, the detail of the preparation every single day to strain, to work, to get better, to get the game plan down, [17:46] to understand the DNA of the opponent that we're playing. [17:48] And, uh, the, the opportunity to, to challenge the guys that are lined up against in practice every single day to get better. [17:54] So, everybody plays a role in that. [17:56] Scout team, offense, defense, kicking game. [17:59] Uh, the details are gonna show up on game day. [18:01] And, um, our guys are, um, excited to do so. [18:04] I would, um, you know, this is a great experience. [18:07] You know, this is a group of guys that, like I said, are, there's a close football team. [18:11] A team that deeply cares. [18:12] And the more you care, the more you'll do. [18:14] And this is a group of guys that will show back up. [18:16] Can you talk about Buster Faulkner and just what makes him such a good OC and a hard OC for, for defensive coordinators? [18:30] I think, I think, you know, and again, that's a, there's a lot that you could probably go into that, uh, answer. [18:36] But I think the best thing that he does, he, he looks at things from a defensive structure. [18:40] He understands defense and how to attack defense. [18:43] So, his time probably with Kirby, amongst others. [18:47] You know, he's, he's, uh, played the game collegiately. [18:50] He's a quarterback, uh, in college. [18:52] And, um, he, uh, he's been a winner, uh, wherever he goes. [18:57] He's a tough guy and, uh, knows the value of, of, uh, running the football. [19:03] And, uh, the things that come with that, with the success that you have running the football. [19:07] But he knows how to attack defensive structure. [19:10] He, he understands, uh, deeply, you know, what, um, that looks like. [19:16] Yeah, Brenton, I know you said everything, everything's on the table. [19:20] But, forget people, but style of offense you prefer. [19:25] Do you have anything in mind? [19:27] And for people like me that don't really know what's going on. [19:30] How would you describe? [19:31] Come on, you gotta give yourself some credit. [19:33] You know what's going on. [19:34] What kind of, how would you describe what your offense, what kind of offense did you run? [19:39] Yeah, score, score as many points as you possibly can. [19:42] And put incredible pressure on the defense and take care of the football. [19:46] Score however you need to score. [19:48] Throwing it, running it, all of it. [19:49] So, uh, you know, I'm not, I mean that's literally what we want. [19:54] And, um, you know, so you gotta have the players to do that. [19:58] You know, you gotta have a quarterback that can deliver. [20:00] And, um, but, uh, that's, at the end of the day, that's what we want. [20:04] We want to have an explosive offense that has balance, that can put pressure on people down the field. [20:08] Uh, score lots of points. [20:10] And, uh, that makes it, everybody's job, uh, easier. [20:14] Yep, appreciate it. [20:18] All right.