No one is mocking the Oklahoma defense anymore.
As sBrent Venable nears the midpoint of his third season as head coach, it’s clear he has transformed Oklahoma’s football identity, emphasizing a strong defense. After securing the program’s first SEC win with a 27-21 victory at Auburn, Venables expressed his goal of shedding the stigma of being mocked for their defense.
Having revitalized defenses at Kansas State, Oklahoma, and Clemson, Venables has once again turned around a struggling unit, making Oklahoma a team that can rely on its defense to win games. Unlike previous years, where opponents could easily score in crunch time, this Sooner defense has shown resilience, exemplified by crucial plays like Kip Lewis’s game-winning interception and R Mason Thomas’s decisive sacks.
As fans reflect on past struggles against teams like Baylor and Texas, there’s a sense of optimism that those days may be behind them. With an upcoming bye week followed by a matchup against No. 2-ranked Texas, the true test of this revamped defense looms ahead. Key players like safety Billy Bowman, linebacker Danny Stutsman, and cornerback Woodi Washington have embraced this cultural shift, suggesting that the team’s defensive growth is ongoing.
