Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables has made a believer out of Baker Mayfield.
It’s a lot easier to have faith in Venables this offseason after coming off a season in which he led the Sooners into the College Football Playoff with a 10-2 record while enduring one of the toughest schedules in the country thanks to a loaded SEC slate, which Mayfield got to avoid during his time in Oklahoma. It was the fifth time the Sooners made the CFP after Mayfield led them there the first two times when the playoff field was still just four teams.
“I have a lot of faith,” Mayfield said of Venables during his annual youth camp on OU’s campus. “Obviously SEC ball’s different. It’s week in, week out you gotta bring your ‘A game.’ There’s no weeks off there.”
Why Baker Mayfield has 'a lot of faith' in Brent Venables as OU's head coach
Baker Mayfield Youth Camp interview https://t.co/8qdR9v9vMZ
— John E. Hoover 🌮 (@johnehoover) June 27, 2026
However, Mayfield still carried a familiar tune even last year when he was in town after his alma mater had just went 6-7 for the second losing season in three years under Venables. With maybe the hottest seat in college football, Venables went all in on himself and took full control of the defense. That proved to be the difference in the Sooners’ dramatic turnaround with one of the best defenses in the country. That’s a lot different than when Mayfield was at OU playing in a Lincoln Riley program where tackling was optional.
It’s actually now the offense that sputters at Oklahoma, even after bringing in new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and top transfer quarterback John Mateer last year to turn things around. It’s clear Mayfield still has confidence in that side of the ball too, though, especially in Mateer. Mayfield noted how difficult of an injury Mateer had to overcome most of last season with his broken thumb and that earned all the respect from the former Heisman Trophy winner. Now, the Sooners have surrounded a healthy Mateer with an even better supporting cast.
Read more: John Mateer has earned all the respect from Baker Mayfield as Oklahoma's QB
Although Mayfield doesn’t lack confidence in Mateer, even as an offensive guy, it’s obvious that Venables’ defense is the key reason why he has such high hopes for his Sooners. Even after losing some talent to the NFL and transfer portal, Mayfield is sure Venables will reload for 2026.
“A lot of faith,” Mayfield repeated. “I think the toughness, obviously the defense is just unbelievable. Lost some really good players, but I know he knows how to recruit and to bring guys in to fill those roles. And I think just with John going into another year and having chemistry with some of those guys, and hopefully the guys up front and the receivers stay healthy because that was painful to watch, but I’ve been there.
"I think it’ll make them better in the long run and I think BV’s gonna have them going.”
It’s clear Venables has the Sooners surging, and as stellar as Mayfield was in Riley’s offense, it will likely be thanks to Venables’ elite defense that Oklahoma finally captures that elusive playoff win.
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