J.D. PicKell reveals massive advantage for Brent Venables' Oklahoma defense in 2026

Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables is already an advantage himself as the Sooners' defensive play-caller, but OU's 2026 schedule gifted Venables an unfair upper-hand that he won't let go to waste.

On3's J.D. PicKell pointed out this week that of the 10 Power Four opponents on the Sooners' upcoming schedule, eight have a new starting quarterback or offensive coordinator calling plays. PicKell is already a big believer in Venables and knows he won't let any edge go to waste throughout the season, which is massive considering that advantage will come in all but two of the Sooners' biggest games of the season.

New quarterbacks and play-callers give Sooners instant edge in 2026

"If you give Brent Venables just even a little bit of an edge when it comes to having the jump on the other play-caller or the jump on the quarterback, like, he's going to maximize that and milk that for all that it's worth," PicKell said.

The only QB-OC duo still the same from last year that the Sooners face in 2026 is Texas with head coach Steve Sarkisian, who leads the Longhorns' offense, and Arch Manning, and at Georgia with offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and QB1 Gunner Stockton. It's no coincidence, at least in April, those are clearly the toughest challenges on the Sooners' slate, and neither give Venables home-field advantage at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

Last regular season against Power Four teams with new starting quarterbacks, the Sooners went 4-2 with losses to Ole Miss and Texas. Both return their quarterbacks and are on the Sooners' schedule again, but Ole Miss lost head coach Lane Kiffin, who not only ran the Rebels' offense, but had proven to be Venables' Kryptonite.

Future foes Michigan, South Carolina and Texas A&M also return their starting quarterbacks from 2026, and all three are stellar players, but each will be in a new system with a new play-caller to adjust to, like Trinidad Chambliss at Ole Miss.

Life wasn't fair for Bryce Underwood last year when he had to make his first career road start as a freshman when Michigan visited Norman in Week 2. Underwood will be better equipped this season and at home, but it will also be just the second game with offensive coordinator Jason Beck after the Wolverines had to completely transform their coaching staff over the offseason.

There's reason for OU fans to have faith in Venables heading into every matchup, but for eight times in 2026, there's reason for even more confidence.