Jim Nagy and Oklahoma fans point out the national disrespect for Brent Venables

Finalists for the Walter Camp Coach of the Year award were announced this week, and Oklahoma Sooners fans immediately realized there was an obvious choice excluded.

The three finalists included Indiana's Curt Cignetti, Ohio State's Ryan Day and Vanderbilt's Clark Lea, which On3's Brett McMurphy pointed out in a post that caught the attention of OU general manager Jim Nagy and the rest of Sooner Nation because Brent Venables was omitted.

Brent Venables snubbed as Walter Camp Coach of the Year finalist

Venables entered this season fighting for his job after the Sooners went 6-7 in 2024, but he masterfully turned things around while taking over defensive play-calling and now has the Sooners as locks to make the College Football Playoff at 10-2 as the No. 8 team in the country. And he managed to get the Sooners to this point while maneuvering what many considered to be one of the toughest schedules in the country.

There's no argument against the trio of finalists being outstanding coaches, which Nagy mentioned, and there's a reason their programs are in the position they're in after the regular season. However, this award is based on what coaches accomplished just this year, not what they built upon from previous seasons.

Ohio State and Indiana were both expected to be national contenders from Day 1. The Buckeyes were preseason No. 1 with maybe the most talented roster in college football, so there's no exceeding expectations there. Cignetti was more than worthy of this award last year, but now, he just continued on with the top team he already had.

Lea has basically performed a miracle at Vanderbilt, but again, his best work was done last year. OU and Vandy both also endured an SEC slate, but the Sooners had a tougher gauntlet and are still the ones with a playoff spot while Vandy is on the outside looking in.

And not even OU fans, but just those who actually pay attention to the Sooners realize what Venables has pulled off this season and how it compares.