There's not a job opening yet in Oklahoma, but there definitely could be by the end of the college football season.
OU head coach Brent Venables is entering the 2025 season with one of the hottest seats in the country as he starts Year 4 leading the Sooners. It seems Venables made all the right moves this offseason to turn around the Sooners and save his job, which I predict he will, but just in case, these coaches are worth a side eye once the season kicks of.
If Venables truly does fail as the Sooners' head ball coach and OU had to go searching again, then I believe the experiment of hiring a first-time head coach, even if it is a big-time coordinator, will not be attempted again. Every coach worth watching who could lead the Sooners one day is already a head coach elsewhere with proven success.
Matt Campbell, Iowa State
Matt Campbell's name comes up for every big job opening, whether it's college or the NFL, and there's a reason why. Yet, he's still never left and has been at Iowa State for nearly a decade. Maybe coaching the Sooners in the SEC is enticing enough to leave all that corn and a low ceiling behind.
Campbell has built Iowa State into a relevant program as a three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year. Campbell, though, has never actually won any hardware, which is the expectation in Norman. If the Cyclones win a wide open Big 12 this season, then every major program (or franchise) with an opening will be calling Campbell.
Josh Heupel, Tennessee
Josh Heupel somehow seems like the most likely and least likely candidate to be OU's next head coach. Heupel quarterbacked the Sooners to a national title 25 years ago and they haven't won one since. Maybe he could be the one to get OU back?
The divorce between Heupel and OU was ugly when his old head coach, Bob Stoops, fired him as offensive coordinator. Since, though, Heupel has developed into one of the best coaches in college football and is even finding success in the SEC. Maybe, over a decade later and with anyone involved with his firing gone, Heupel has forgiven the Sooners and would return home.
Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss
Big names will be mentioned if the Sooners need a coach, and Lane Kiffin is one of the most notable names out there, even if it is just for his mouth and social media presence. Regardless, after a rough patch, Kiffin is back as one of the best offensive coaches in college football and has even accomplished it in the SEC at Ole Miss, where many consider him the best coach the Rebels have ever had.
G.J. Kinne, Texas State
Every coach before this had Power Four experience, but G.J. Kinne will be there soon, it just matters if OU will be the one to get him there. A former standout quarterback down the highway at Tulsa, Kinne has quickly risen as one of the top young coaches in college football at only 36. He's won everywhere he's been with a 28-12 career record in three seasons between Incarnate Word and Texas State.
Brian Newberry, Navy
OU fans should immediately recognize Brian Newberry's name. His Navy Midshipmen just beat the Sooners in the Armed Forces Bowl to conclude last season.
At a program without NIL and transfers, Newberry led Navy to double-digit wins in just his second season after going 10-3 last year. Not only would Newberry be a top candidate, but he's an Oklahoma native and admitted before playing OU that he grew up a Sooners fan, so he would jump at the opportunity to return to Oklahoma.
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