Oklahoma Sooners Football

Oklahoma Sooners legend Gerald McCoy is unhappy the school has canceled its annual spring game in favor of a combine event.

In a post on X, McCoy disagreed with the move because it takes away opportunities for younger players and players who may have improved during the offseason to perform in a game-like situation in front of a crowd.

So no spring game? Just a showcase? No opportunity for young guys to perform in front of fans? Guys who have improved to do it in front of the fans. What about the guys who may never see the field in a real game getting an opportunity in the spring game to get reps in front of a…

— Gerald McCoy (@Geraldini93) March 4, 2025

Oklahoma announced on Monday the spring game will be replaced with the Crimson Combine, which will allow players to perform in "combine-style drills, skills challenges, on-field fan engagement activities, autograph and photo opportunities, and more."

The Sooners are not alone in doing away with the traditional spring game. It's becoming common throughout the country for programs to do away with the event for a variety of reasons.

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule said in February he didn't want to hold a spring game because it resulted in several players on the team receiving NIL offers from opposing programs that were able to watch them on television:

"I think it's really, fundamentally—I hate to say it like this—it's really because last year we were one of the more televised spring games, and I dealt with a lot of people offering our players a lot of opportunities after that. To go out and bring in a bunch of new players and showcase them for all the other schools to watch, that doesn't make a lot of sense to me."

There are at least eight programs that have opted not to hold a spring game in 2025, including Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, USC and Florida State.

Alabama is still holding its annual A-Day game, but it's not going to be broadcast on television. It's unclear why the program is taking the game off TV after previously airing it on the SEC Network.

McCoy was a standout on the Sooners' defensive line for three seasons from 2007 to '09. He was named to the All-American first team in both of his final two college years.

Oklahoma had a chance to end a disappointing season on a high note with a Armed Forces Bowl victory over a solid Navy team. A quick 14-0 lead in the first quarter made that goal look like an inevitable reality.

Instead, the Midshipmen stuck around and secured a 21-20 to finish 10-3 and send the Sooners to 6-7.

IT JUST MEANS MORE IN THE ARMED FORCES BOWL

NAVY WINS🐐🇺🇸#AmericanWay x #AmericanFB pic.twitter.com/kMsg2HqdGF

— The American (@American_Conf) December 27, 2024

Final: Navy 21, Oklahoma 20

— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) December 27, 2024

Oklahoma nearly made it 21-0 in the second quarter but a crucial fourth-down stop in the red zone by Navy gave the Midshipmen some momentum.

From their, Navy scored a touchdown in each of the remaining three quarters to take the lead while the defense held firm and limited the Sooners offense. Oklahoma would get a chance to tie it with a late touchdown but instead opted to go for two and failed to convert.

NAVY STOPS OKLAHOMA ON THE TWO-POINT CONVERSION AND WINS THE ARMED FORCES BOWL!!!!pic.twitter.com/e4oEqA6sUP

— DraftKings Sportsbook (@DKSportsbook) December 27, 2024

Navy quarterback Blake Horvath went 7-of-12 for 92 yards in the air and had 18 carries for 155 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, including a 95-yard rushing touchdown that set a program record. Running back Alex Tecza had 15 carries for 43 yards and a touchdown.

NAVY QB BLAKE HORVATH WENT 95 YARDS FOR THE TD 😱

LONGEST PLAY FROM SCRIMMAGE IN PROGRAM HISTORY

(via @American_Conf)pic.twitter.com/09o2pdlPuL

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 27, 2024

Oklahoma quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. went 28-of-43 for 247 yards and two touchdown while also adding 17 carries for 61 yards on the ground. Running back Gavin Sawchuk had 13 carries for 67 yards and a touchdown while wide receiver Zion Kearney had two catches for 66 yards and a touchdown and tight end Jake Roberts had the other touchdown.

The flat effort caused Oklahoma to go below .500 for the second time in the last three seasons. Fans took to social media to blast head coach Will Venables for his coaching decisions, including the two-point decision, and debate his future with the program.

The trademark of the Venables era is flashes of hope with long stretches of embarrassment.

— Matt Blackwell (@Cap_405) December 27, 2024

This is the kind of game that makes me doubt Venables.

Get mad at me all you want but games like this is bad head coaching

— Boomer (@Run_Away_Riley) December 27, 2024

I don’t understand how Brent Venables is still employed as the head coach #Sooners

— Disrespect my Decision (@adamclenhart) December 27, 2024

Oklahoma & Navy has been.. a game. Let’s say that. 😂

Brent Venables & Co. in Norman need to win this one… optics of 7-6 & 6-7 are drastically different whether that’s fair or not.

— Faxon Childress🎙️ (@FaxOnSports) December 27, 2024

I thought Navy might have a hard time running consistently based on what Venables did against the option in the past, but as long as it set up big plays, that was OK. Well, the plays are there, but the throws are not.

— Mike James (@navybirddog) December 27, 2024

That Brent Venables hire set OU back a decade im so serious

— Lando (@landoscoutsnfl) December 27, 2024

Why. WHY do coaches insist on going from the shotgun when they need less than a yard on fourth down??? Brent Venables. You deserved that.

— BFriedACC (@BFriedACC) December 27, 2024

Fire brent venables that was a terrible call to go for 2

— Drew (@Drewdog919) December 27, 2024

Brent Venables, what are you doing

— Jake Nichols (@jnichols_2121) December 27, 2024

Give it to Venables, went for the win, but not a really good play for it.

— Bama Mom 🐾 (@BamaMom216) December 27, 2024

Fire Venables now.

— Fire Donnie Ecker (@CodyAPersinger) December 27, 2024

Kick the XP Venables, you dummy

— kirsch (@CaptainKirsch12) December 27, 2024

Brent Venables after 3 years as HC:
22-17 record
12-14 in conference play
4-7 against ranked teams
5-8 in 1-score games
0-3 in bowl games

3/4 recruited QB’s transferred away
Only 2 1st rd picks (both OT’s)

Like… what are we doing here? He’s basically Scott Frost at Nebraska

— Brandon Quinlan (@BQ_Sports) December 27, 2024

FIRE BRENT VENABLES

— THE GABE (@ousooner4) December 27, 2024

Brent Venables, YOU are a Clemson Tiger!

— Andrew 🐅 (@SixersAndrew) December 27, 2024

I’ll say it…Brent Venables is our Tom Herman…

— Jackson (@SoonerBredPod) December 27, 2024

I am over the Venables era

— Pierce (@I_Am_Pi3rce) December 27, 2024

Oklahoma deserves to lose after that dumb play call by Venables

— Carolina man (@Carolinama78080) December 27, 2024

Hottest seats in the SEC ranked entering 2025.

1. Brent Venables
2. Hugh Freeze
3. Sam Pittman
4. Billy Napier

Thoughts?

— Chris Phillips (@CPhilly19) December 27, 2024

Oklahoma has had TWO losing seasons this century. Brent Venables owns both of them. #ItJustMeansMore

— 𝒅𝒂𝒍𝒊 𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒂 (@dali_drama) December 27, 2024

Oklahoma falls to 22-17 in the Venables era, but did have significant opt-outs from the game.

Still, the storied program's first season in the SEC ended sour, and many will hope that new transfer quarterback John Mateer can bring the Sooners back to a strong place.

The top-rated player in the transfer portal, per 247Sports, is heading to Oklahoma.

Quarterback John Mateer announced Wednesday he is transferring from Washington State to Oklahoma:

Praise God!!#BoomerSooner pic.twitter.com/p5cweJTQNJ

— John Mateer (@John_Mateer4) December 19, 2024

The move makes sense, as the Sooners already landed former Washington State offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle for the same position after they fired Seth Littrell in October. Mateer is following his OC and will take the place of Jackson Arnold, who already transferred to Auburn this offseason.

Arnold was a 5-star prospect and the No. 4 overall quarterback in the recruiting class of 2023, per 247Sports' composite rankings. However, he never fully lived up to expectations with Oklahoma.

After barely playing as a freshman, he completed 62.6 percent of his passes for 1,421 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions to go with 444 yards and three scores as a runner in 10 games during the 2024 campaign.

He was also benched in September, and the Sooners struggled with consistency on the way to a 6-6 record in their first season in the SEC.

It will be up to Arbuckle and Mateer to help turn things around during the 2025 campaign.

Washington State went 8-4 this season with Mateer leading the way and defeated Texas Tech and rival Washington, although it finished with three straight losses to New Mexico, Oregon State and Wyoming. It reached the Holiday Bowl, where it will face Syracuse.

Mateer completed 64.6 percent of his passes for 3,139 yards, 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions while running for 826 yards and 15 scores as a dual-threat playmaker.

While he will face a higher level of competition in the SEC, he will also be working in a familiar offense with Arbuckle. If he can replicate his numbers from the 2024 campaign, the Sooners should be in position to improve on their .500 record next year.

One of the most highly regarded quarterback prospects in the 2023 recruiting class is reportedly looking for a new home.

Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports and 247Sports reported Wednesday that Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold is expected to enter the transfer portal. Arnold was a 5-star prospect and the No. 4 overall quarterback in the 2023 class, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

Like the 2024 Sooners overall, Arnold did not exactly live up to expectations during this season.

He appeared in 10 games and completed 62.6 percent of his passes for 1,421 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions while adding 444 yards and three scores on the ground. He was benched in September and didn't look like the face of the program the Sooners were surely hoping for when they recruited him.

Oklahoma went just 6-6, which tied for its lowest number of wins since the 1998 campaign.

Perhaps a change of scenery will help Arnold fulfill his potential.

He will surely have plenty of suitors given his overall recruiting profile, and he has flashed his skill set enough times that it isn't difficult to envision him thriving at his next stop. He largely avoided critical interceptions this season and showed the ability to make plays with his legs when needed.

That type of dual-threat playmaking would work in a number of college offenses across the country even if he didn't find the most success against SEC defenses this season.

As for Oklahoma, it will look to bounce back in 2025 with a different signal-caller leading the way.

Amid a season full of offensive struggles, Oklahoma has a new offensive coordinator.

Per ESPN's Pete Thamel, Washington State offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle has agreed to a three-year deal with the Sooners. He replaces Seth Littrell, who Oklahoma fired in October.

Arbuckle took over as Washington State's offensive coordinator in 2023 and found immediate success, coaching Cam Ward, now a Heisman Trophy candidate at Miami, as he threw for 3,735 yards and 29 touchdowns a season ago. The Cougars' current John Mateer, threw for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns this year.

Before he arrived at Washington State, Arbuckle was the offensive coordinator at Western Kentucky in 2022, when quarterback Austin Reed led the national in passing yards with 4,746.

Under Arbuckle, the Cougars finished No. 12 in scoring offense, No. 9 in pass efficiency and No. 22 in total offense on their way to an 8-4 record.

In its first season in the SEC, Oklahoma finished 121st nationally in total offense and went 2-6 in conference play and 6-6 overall. It fired Littrell on Oct. 20 following a 35-9 loss to South Carolina.

Arbuckle will have plenty of pieces to work with in Norman assuming the Sooners retain most of their key players this offseason. The group is highlighted by sophomore Jackson Arnold, who was the No. 4 quarterback in the Class of 2023 according to 247Sports Composite.

Arnold had a forgetful first season as the Sooners' starter, throwing for just 1,421 yards and 12 touchdowns, but could be due for a big leap in Arbuckle's offense.

While Oklahoma's offense struggled in 2024, its defense performed well, coming in at No. 22 nationally in total defense. If the Sooners can continue their defensive approach while getting an offensive boost from Arbuckle, they could be on their way to a turnaround season.

A pair of upsets in the SEC have resulted in fines for two schools after their fans stormed the field.

The conference announced Sunday that Oklahoma and Auburn have incurred fines for violations of the league's access to competition area policy due to fans entering the field. Auburn will be fined $100,000 after fans stormed the field following its win over No. 15 Texas A&M while Oklahoma will be fined $200,000 after its win over No. 7 Alabama led to fans storming the field.

NEWS: The SEC has fined Oklahoma $200k and Auburn $100k for fans storming the field.

It's a double fine for Oklahoma because fans stormed the field before the game ended. pic.twitter.com/twjDk8Z9uZ

— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) November 24, 2024

Auburn was fined $100,000 because it was the school's first offense of the competition area policy that was revised in 2023. Oklahoma was also a first-time offender but picked up an additional $100,000 fine because its fans entered the field before the game was over.

The Sooners, who came into the matchup with Alabama at 5-5 and 1-5 in conference play, were dominant in the 24-3 win. While they had just 68 passing yards on the night, they picked up 260 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground. Oklahoma also forced star quarterback Jalen Milroe to throw three interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown.

Oklahoma's first season in the SEC hadn't gone well before Saturday as its only conference win came against Auburn, but it managed to pick up a big win before the end of the year and can add to its resume next week against LSU.

Auburn didn't have as easy of a time knocking off Texas A&M as Oklahoma did beating Alabama. The Tigers went into four overtimes before finally taking down the Aggies behind a big night from running back Jarquez Hunter, who had 130 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

The win got Auburn one victory away from becoming bowl-eligible, though the Tigers will have to beat Alabama on its home field to get to six wins.

Word has emerged that class of 2025 offensive tackle and Oklahoma commit Michael Fasusi is planning to visit both Texas and Texas A&M, prompting Sooners head coach Brent Venables to take a not-so-thinly-veiled shot at the 5-star prospect.

"You're not committed if you're visiting other places," Venables told reporters on Tuesday.

After reports of 5-star Oklahoma OT commit Michael Fasusi's visit plans to Texas and Texas A&M the next two weekends surfaced, Brent Venables kept it💯

“You’re not committed if you’re visiting other places.”

(h/t @GeorgeStoia)https://t.co/nwxFKmpCRn pic.twitter.com/6IfXe7rSzS

— On3 (@On3sports) November 19, 2024

Fasusi is the No. 2 offensive tackle and No. 12 overall prospect in the class of 2025, per the 247Sports composite rankings.

It's been an ugly season in Oklahoma, which is 5-5 overall and 1-5 in the SEC. The Sooners have also lost four straight games to Division I-FBS schools.

The offense in particular has struggled, with the team averaging just 25.1 points per game (91st in the 134-team Division I FBS). OU fired offensive coordinator Seth Littrell in October.

It's ultimately been a rough go for Venables in Norman. After a 6-7 start in 2022, Oklahoma improved to 10-3 with a 7-2 mark last year. However, the move to the SEC has not been kind to the Sooners.

Naturally, commits may have some hesitation about the future in Oklahoma given the team's performance, although Venables implored offensive recruits to have faith.

Here's Brent Venables' full answer from today on his message to offensive recruits amidst an obviously rough season offensively:

"This year hasn't represented our standard in any way, shape, or form."

"This is a staff that is a championship staff. A staff that's had success at… pic.twitter.com/jQM1SEnPlo

— Josh Callaway (@JoshMCallaway) November 19, 2024

Obviously, it would be great for Fasusi, who could be a foundational piece for brighter days, into the mix. He did say recently that he's a "Sooner for life."

Amidst continual speculation on the security of his commitment to the #Sooners, five-star OT Michael Fasusi told @LibbyRivals he’s not going anywhere… and neither are his comrades in OU’s 2025 class.

“It’s Sooner for life, man.”

MORE ➡️ https://t.co/3b8gNmiWX2 pic.twitter.com/rXKQ5YThHO

— OUInsider (@OUInsider) November 14, 2024

However, Collin Kennedy of Sooners Illustrated reported on the Texas and Texas A&M visits. He may be a Sooner commit right now on paper, but as Venables said, he may as well not be given visits to rival schools. Now it's a wait-and-see game for Oklahoma.

HEIGHT: 5'10"

WEIGHT: 200

---

POSITIVES

— Instinctual and opportunistic player with high football IQ. He shows to understand what he sees.

— Smooth athlete with fluid hips and good change of direction in the open field.

— Physical run defender who takes on blocks with the necessary aggression and quickness to slip blocks with space. He tracks the ball with great leverage and quick closing speed.

— Shows versatility to play at multiple levels, showing a knack to play close to the line of scrimmage, despite his lack of length.

---

NEGATIVES

— Limited length and size may present itself in multiple ways. Hangs his hat on his football IQ and instincts but lacks elite athletic ability for his size.

— Though he is fluid and moves well in the open field, he is slower out of breaks and does not have the desired top-end speed.

---

2024 STATISTICS

— 12 Games, 47 Tackles, 1.5 TFL, 2 INT, 1 FR, 3 PBU

---

NOTES

— Born Jan 29, 2003

— Games Started: 41

— 4 Star recruit in the 2021 class, per 247Sports

— 2024: Third Team All-SEC

— 2023: First Team All-Big 12

— 2022: All-Big 12 Honorable Mention

---

OVERALL

Billy Bowman Jr. is a smart, instinctual safety prospect with the versatility to play at multiple levels of the defense. Known for his football IQ and aggressive play style, Bowman has made an impact at Oklahoma with his physical run defense and reliable coverage skills, despite his lack of size and length.

Bowman is a smooth, fluid athlete with a quick change of direction and good ball-tracking ability. His football IQ allows him to anticipate plays and react quickly, making him effective in coverage despite his size. However, his limited length and lack of top-end speed can be exposed against bigger tight ends and receivers, where he may struggle to break out of transitions quickly.

Bowman is a physical run defender who consistently takes on blocks with aggression and technique, using his quickness to slip blocks in space. He tracks ball carriers with great leverage and closing speed, but his smaller frame can occasionally lead to allowing extra yards after contact. His toughness and instincts, however, help mitigate some of these concerns, making him a reliable asset near the line of scrimmage.

Billy Bowman Jr. projects as a third-round pick with the potential to be a high-level backup and eventual starter. His football intelligence and versatility make him a valuable defensive asset, but he must compensate for his size and athletic limitations to reach his full potential at the next level.

---

GRADE: 7.5 (Potential Impact Player — 2nd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 60

POSITION RANK: S5

PRO COMPARISON: Tyrann Mathieu

---

Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings

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Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.

As pressure mounts on Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables with the team off to a 5-5 start in its first season as a member of the SEC and 21-15 overall since he took over in 2022, the school president and athletic director have given him a public vote of confidence.

Oklahoma president Joseph Harroz Jr. told reporters on Tuesday their commitment to Venables is "unwavering" and there is "a lot of adjustment" going on for the program and across college athletics that requires time to see through.

Athletic director Joe Castiglione echoed Harroz's sentiment, noting that while the Sooners' performance this season isn't up to their usual standards, there is a belief in Venables' ability to right the ship in 2025:

"Obviously, the season thus far has not gone as we'd hoped or planned. We're mindful that we haven't met the Oklahoma standard for 2024. That said, we truly believe in coach Venables and our team and are completely focused on both supporting them and looking at all of the ways to address the needed improvements now as soon as possible as well as in preparation for next year."

The Sooners hired Venables in December 2021 after Lincoln Riley left to become head coach at USC.

Venables had a long history as an assistant before getting his first opportunity as a head coach at Oklahoma. He started his career as a graduate assistant at Kansas State in 1993.

Bob Stoops brought Venables to Oklahoma in 1999 as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He would later become the sole defensive coordinator and add the title of associate head coach during his 13 seasons with the Sooners.

After Mike Stoops rejoined his brother's staff, Venables left to become defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Clemson in January 2012. He was with the program for 10 seasons, winning two national titles in 2016 and 2018.

Venables won the Broyles Award in 2016 as the nation's top assistant coach. His stint as Sooners head coach hasn't gone as smoothly as anyone hoped when he first got the job.

Oklahoma went 6-7 in Venables' first season, the program's first year with a losing record since 1998 (5-6). The Sooners did rebound with a 10-3 record in 2023, highlighted by a 34-30 win over Texas.

Star quarterback Dillon Gabriel decided to leave Oklahoma after the season, transferring to Oregon for his final season of eligibility. The Sooners had 5-star recruit Jackson Arnold waiting to take over, but he is struggling in his sophomore season.

Arnold has thrown for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns in eight games. The offense ranks 93rd out of 134 FBS programs with 25.1 points per game. They have lost five of their last seven games after a 3-0 start, including a 34-3 loss to Texas on Oct. 12.

The Sooners are currently in 13th place out of 16 teams in the SEC with a 1-5 conference record. Their lone victory against an SEC opponent was against Auburn, which is also 1-5 in SEC play and 3-6 overall.

Venables signed a new six-year deal with Oklahoma in June that runs through the 2029 season and has a total value of $51.6 million. He would still be owed $44.8 million if the Sooners parted ways with him at the end of this season.

Oklahoma has fired offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Seth Littrell, per ESPN's Pete Thamel, who provided more information.

ESPN sources can confirm that Oklahoma has fired OC Seth Littrell. There's a team meeting called for 6 p.m. to inform them. Per ESPN sources, CO-OC Joe Jon Finley will be the new play caller for Oklahoma and former Duke OC Kevin Johns will have a significant role in the offense. pic.twitter.com/1k1oab7uNQ

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 20, 2024

The 4-3 Sooners (1-3 SEC) just lost 34-3 to arch-rival Texas and 35-9 to South Carolina in back-to-back weeks. Their 22.1 points per game thus far ranks just 107th out of 134 Division I-FBS teams.

Fifty-one of the Sooners' points came in the season opener against 2-5 Temple. Oklahoma snuck by Auburn 27-21 despite being outgained 482-291, as a fourth-quarter pick-six propelled the Sooners to a win.

The Sooners also barely beat Houston 16-12 despite being outgained 318-249. One of their two touchdowns occurred after Oklahoma got a short field after recovering a fumbled Houston punt on the Cougar 10-yard line.

A 34-19 over the 5-2 Tulane Green Wave is ultimately the Sooners' most impressive result this year, but Oklahoma has gone 1-3 since. That skid started with a 25-15 loss to Tennessee.

The Sooners' passing game has struggled in particular with just 176.4 yards per game (112th overall). The run game has been even worse, with the team amassing just 3.1 yards per carry (123rd in college football).

Oklahoma was once 15th in the Associated Press poll with legitimate College Football Playoff hopes, but those have gone by the wayside after an ugly stretch. Now the Sooners hope a change in offensive leadership can boost the scoring output in the second half of the season.

But the final five regular-season games won't be easy, with matchups against four ranked SEC teams in No. 18 Ole Miss, No. 21 Missouri, No. 15 Alabama and No. 8 LSU. Up first is Ole Miss on Saturday in Oxford.