Paul Finebaum of the SEC Network has been consistent this offseason in expressing his belief that Oklahoma will be a much improved football team in 2025, but with the caveat that the schedule will be the Sooners' biggest obstacle. OU's brutal schedule includes eight teams projected to open the season ranked in the top 25 nationally.
On his eponymous radio show this week, which also airs on the SEC Network, Finebaum discussed what it would take for OU head coach Brent Venables, who is entering his fourth season at the helm of the OU football program, to cool down the heat he is feeling to remain on the job and feel comfortable coming out of the 2025 season.
Finebaum said Oklahoma needs to win its opening five games, which would include wins over a nationally ranked Michigan team on the second weekend of the season and Auburn in its SEC opener, as well as probable victories over Illinois State, Temple and Kent State. The Sooners would then go to Dallas for their annual Red River Rivalry versus Texas undefeated at 5-0.
Finebaum predicts Venables' needed record to get off hot seat
The SEC Network analyst projected the Sooners to lose to Texas and believes OU can only afford to lose two of its remaining six games to save Venables' job.
"If they can win all but maybe two of those games, I think that Brent Venables may have a great record and will likely be around for a while," Finebaum said.
A 9-3 record not only would put the Sooners in the upper tier of the SEC standings, but also likely put them in the College Football Playoff conversation. But it clearly won't be easy to achieve.
The second half of Oklahoma's 2025 schedule features games at home against Ole Miss, then Missouri and LSU on successive weekends to end the regular season. The Sooners will also have road games at South Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama.
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