The winner of the 2016 Broyles Award, the Bear Bryant Award Fan Favorite Coach of the Week, yet the Oklahoma Sooners HC Brent Venables’ future turns out to be dark. They had kind of a lackluster season in 2024 as they rounded it with a 6-7 overall record. The last time the Sooners won a National Championship was in 2000. So maybe, this season Venables and Co. were looking to end the 25-year-old drought. But somebody rained on their parade. That’s none other than Georgia Bulldogs’ HC who comes off as a big threat. After all, Kirby Smart has turned his ‘poaching’ mode on.

Looks like Venables’ woes are not going to end anytime soon. Thanks to his four-star Oklahoma commit Jaden O’Neal. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound signal-caller has been fairly locked into his commitment to the Sooners, even transferring to Mustang High School in Oklahoma. But Venables’ signal-caller is now all about his Georgia visit that he took for the first time since his commitment to Oklahoma last summer. Georgia is in multiple races for a signal-caller in this recruiting class. And O’Neal stands a fair chance. After all, he showed marked improvement in accuracy. Plus he holds a record of 2,475 passing yards and 27 touchdowns with a 61% completion rate. So, Venables might have just lost his goodnight’s sleep. 

On March 15, analyst RJ Young on his The Number One College Football Show, shed light on what the future has on hold for the Oklahoma HC. First comes the reality check that how “it’s no longer just enough to be committed.” Gone are those days when Venables served as the assistant coach in Dabo Swinney’s squad. Now it’s more of “how much are you going to pay us.”

It’s not the right time to tighten your pockets. As Young advised, “If you want a high-caliber quarterback, you’re going to play into seven figures to get him. And the market keeps getting reset based on need. And what we come to find out is those that need the most are willing to pay the most.” Now the pressure on Venables is 100x more intense. After all, Oklahoma carries a rich history when it comes to scoring. Four Heisman Trophy winners at Oklahoma in the last 25 years played quarterback. Jason White (2003), Sam Bradford (2008), Baker Mayfield (2017), and Kyler Murray (2018). Quarterback Jalen Hurts finished runner-up. In the meanwhile, Venables has dished out a heavy offer for another QB carrying high Heisman hopes.

Will Brent Venables’ $3 million gamble pay off well? 

As O’Neal is busy taking trips, Oklahoma’s other QB John Mateer rises to the spotlight. Some fans are still skeptical about the quarterback. The reason? Mateer hasn’t exactly led any of his previous teams to championship-level games. However, his past seasons with the Washington State Cougars come up with some glimmering hope. Last season for the Cougars, Mateer threw for 3,139 yards, 29 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions.

Now in case, he puts up the same numbers blessing Venables’ program, the Sooners can surely bounce back. The Oklahoma HC is ready to give away a lump sum amount. Mateer agreed to an NIL package worth around $3 million when he signed with Oklahoma this offseason. Now will that be a costly flop or a good investment? Well, already Mateer has caught up with the hype showing shades of 2017 Heisman winner Mayfield.

As CFB analyst Brandon Drumm tweeted, “John Mateer’s mannerisms and just overall look on the field is very much eerily similar to a certain QB that wore 6 back in the day. Almost freakishly similar.” Later on, FOX analyst RJ Young doubled down on the claim. “He’s a better runner than Jake Baker Mayfield was, but I don’t know that he’s a better passer.” Well, now it is up to Venables to sprinkle in some of the winning magic.