Most Oklahoma fans 10 years ago wouldn't have believed you if you were to tell them that the Sooners would not only would be playing in the SEC in 2024, but also that their first conference opponent would be a Josh Heupel-led team.
Well, that is the reality that will be played out on Saturday as the Sooners host the No. 6-ranked Tennessee Volunteers for a primetime kickoff at 6:30 p.m.
The college football world will be tuning into ESPN in the morning as "College Gameday" makes its 41st appearance for an Oklahoma game. The game will be televised on ABC that evening as the former national championship-winning quarterback for Oklahoma faces his old team.
Already, Heupel has fielded numerous questions thrown at him about his return and he has given them honest and genuine answers, especially when he said, "It will be unique. I have teammates and friends back there. I'm not sure I have ever spent a day on the opposing sideline inside that stadium, not even for a scrimmage. It'll be different, but it's one that I'm really looking forward to."
Heupel further spoke on his relationship with current head coach Brent Venables, whom he played for on the other side of the ball in 2000 when Venables served as the co-defensive coordinator for the Sooners.
#OUDNA #Boomer pic.twitter.com/4sQDsBGmiR
— Bob Stoops (@CoachBobStoops) September 16, 2024
"A guy that, again, I've got so much respect for," Heupel said about the Sooners' head coach. "Got a great family. Somebody that poured into me as a young coach and I learned so much from him. He's as good as they come when you look at what he's done historically as a defensive coordinator. Lots of respect, a huge challenge for us this week."
If there's one guy that is personally familiar with both Heupel and Venables it's Bob Stoops. Big Game Bob has received many media requests to comment on Heupel and Venables but has respectfully declined all interviews, saying he wants the focus to be on the current players and teams for both sides.
Stoops did want to acknowledge both individuals, however, for their previous and current impact on the Sooners' program, as he posted a statement on X (formerly Twitter) that said:
" I have great respect for both coaches. I'm grateful for their great work here at OU; Brent as a coach here for 13 years including our national championship in 2000. Josh as our 2000 national championship QB & coach for 10 years. I've often said he is the MVP of all my recruits because he was the catalyst that got us started in '99."
Even though people may still speculate that Heupel left Oklahoma on sour terms, there is seemingly no love lost between Heupel and Stoops. While Heupel was co-offensive coordinator at Oklahoma, the Sooners ranked in the top 20 in all of FBS in scoring offense in three of his four seasons. Heupel's time at Oklahoma and his stints as offensive coordinator at Missouri and head coach at UCF has undoubtedly prepared him for his current success at Tennessee.
While former Oklahoma coaches and colleagues wish Heupel continued success at Tennessee, they certainly won't be rooting for him on Saturday night.