Ep. 430 - OU Makes Big Bet On Brent Venables Before Massive 2026 Season

Ep. 430 - OU Makes Big Bet On Brent Venables Before Massive 2026 Season

OU and Brent Venables agreed to a new six-year contract that reportedly pays Venables an average of $10.5 million per year. Did OU have to make this move now?

The guys also discuss the latest on Jake Maikkula’s injury and the plan at center moving forward. The latest news out of fall camp includes Reggie Powers’ growth at cheetah, OU’s run-game talk, and more under-center work for John Mateer.

Later, Brady Trantham from Oklahoma Sooners on SI and Through the Keyhole joins the show to give his perspective from fall camp. Brady discusses the center situation, Xavier Robinson, Jonathan Hatton, OU’s wide receiver questions, the tight end room, Tank Carrington, the defensive line, and the bigger-picture debate over Venables’ contract extension and Oklahoma’s standard in the SEC.

Chapters/Timecodes

00:00 — Opening Take – Brent Venables gets a new contract
06:21 — Jake Maikkula injury clarity and the plan at center in the short term
17:27 — Reggie Powers buzz from fall camp
20:42 — Kip Lewis, Owen Heinecke and linebacker rotation questions
23:57 — Bigger bodies, tight ends and more command in the run game
24:19 — Tight ends as extra blockers in Oklahoma’s offense  
27:06 — John Mateer talks under-center work and more 12 personnel discussion
34:16 — Brent Venables contract discussion begins
35:46 — Venables now reportedly among the top 10 highest-paid coaches
37:52 — Grant’s opening reaction: why do this right now?
40:39 — Lee: why not wait and see what happens in 2026?
46:01 — Oklahoma’s bet on front-office structure, Venables and development
49:41 — Listener question for Grant: did OU do enough to improve the offense?
50:57 — Grant’s answer: year five should mean national-level expectations
54:47 — Brady Trantham joins to talk fall camp
58:14 — Brady’s biggest fall camp takeaway outside Venables and Maikkula  
01:02:19 — Brady on the Jake Maikkula injury and center options  
01:06:00 — Is Ryan Fodje at center a real option or emergency planning?   
01:12:10 — Tory Blaylock hamstring concern
01:12:48 — Xavier Robinson, Jonathan Hatton and Lloyd Avant as the healthy trio
01:14:05 — Jonathan Hatton’s physical tools and Adrian Peterson/Joe Mixon comparisons   
01:19:00 — Elijah Thomas buzz and whether OU has a real playmaker emerging
01:24:00 — Tight end room talk: Hayden Hansen, Rocky Beers and Jack Van Dorselaer
01:26:00 — Can Jason Witten and Deland McCullough change OU’s offensive identity?
01:30:16 — Tank Carrington hype keeps growing
01:33:06 — Brady reacts to the Brent Venables contract extension
01:38:43 — Brady puts stock in the 2025 playoff season and the challenge of SEC play
01:41:01 — Grant’s concern: OU thought things were fine before 2024 too
01:43:25 — When should Oklahoma expect more than “good”?
01:44:11 — Should OU be a national title contender in year five?
01:45:44 — Comparing Venables’ path to Bob Stoops and the old Big 12/Big Eight reality
01:49:52 — How the SEC exposes your flaws
01:53:37 — The glass-half-full case for Oklahoma’s bet on Venables
01:58:37 — Whether the extension looks good depends on what you think 2026 will be
02:00:02 — What is the eject button for Venables?  
02:10:46 — What if OU goes 9-3 but makes real offensive and defensive jumps?
02:14:59 — Georgia expectations and when OU should expect 11-1 or 12-0 again
02:16:34 — Where to find Brady Trantham’s work
02:17:32 — Closing: follow West of Everest

Subscribe to the West of Everest YouTube channel

Follow the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and please leave a five-star rating and review if you enjoy the podcast.

Follow West of Everest on X, Instagram and Facebook.