Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables took a shot at the Sooners’ old conference, and the Big 12 fired right back.
Venables on Tuesday during his weekly press conference was asked about the SEC being a “one-possession league” as the toughest conference in college football top to bottom. This is just the Sooners’ second season part of the SEC after 28 years in the Big 12 and being part of the Big 8 even before that.
Oklahoma dominated the Big 12, but the conference pointed out Venables' lack of success
“This isn't the old Big 12 days where Oklahoma destroys everybody every single week except for one game a year,” Venables said.
Here is a good part of the quote from Venables talking about how difficult it is to play in the SEC. #Sooners pic.twitter.com/5DsHNVGZ73
— George Stoia III (@GeorgeStoia) October 14, 2025
Venables was basically (accurately) saying that things won't come as easy as OU fans got used to while the Sooners were in the Big 12. Regardless, Venables' comment picked up steam on social media, and as soon as the Big 12 caught wind, it quipped right back, directly at Venables.
“Coach Venables lost eight Conference games in his two seasons in the Big 12,” the Big 12 wrote in a post from its official account on X.
Coach Venables lost eight Conference games in his two seasons in the Big 12 https://t.co/O4eLzaJ3lo
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) October 14, 2025
After taking over the Sooners in 2022, Venables guided them to a 10-8 conference record in their final two years in the Big 12. In their first season in the SEC last year, the Sooners went 2-6.
However, OU as a whole completely dominated the Big 12 during its time in the conference. The Sooners won 14 conference titles in 28 years in the Big 12, being the best team in the conference half the time. The Sooners’ 3-6 Big 12 record in 2022 in Venables’ first season was their first losing record in conference play since 1998. It's fair to note, though, that Venables was OU's defensive coordinator for seven of those Big 12 championships.
Venables was certainly dealt a tougher hand than any previous OU coach having to guide the Sooners’ transition into the SEC. However, thanks to the Big 12 pointing it out, it seems Venables is the common denominator in the Sooners’ conference struggles, no matter the league.