Some Oklahoma fans to quietly pull for the Alabama Crimson Tide Saturday night

Across the world of college football, Brent Venables is liked and respected. Plenty of Alabama Crimson Tide fans remember that as good as the Bama defense was from 2011 through 2017, Venables also produced some great Clemson defenses that challenged Alabama.

Unlike many coaches, Venables passed on numerous head coaching opportunities, before finally deciding to leave Clemson and make Oklahoma his first head coaching challenge. In almost three seasons, only one has been a success. After the Sooners went 6-7 in his first season in Norman, Venables and the Sooner bounced back with a 10-3 campaign in the 2023 season. Currently at 5-5, with games remaining against the Alabama Crimson Tide and a road game against LSU, the 2004 season looks bleak for the Sooners. ESPN Analytics gives Oklahoma an 18.4% probability of upsetting Alabama. Within the range of 'it could happen' ESPN's algorithm gives the Sooners a 35.4% probability of winning in Tiger Stadium.

Pulling off a Baton Rouge upset should give a 6-6 Oklahoma team a bowl bid. Oklahoma fans are not showing enthusiasm for any bowl that would invite the Sooners. What some of them want instead is a new head coach.

On the Stormin' In Norman site, Sam Fariss wrote that Oklahoma upsetting Alabama on Saturday could mean another season in Norman for Brent Venables. Fariss stated "Oklahoma fans have been in uproar as the defensive specialist that they have as a head coach has failed to slow down teams that the Sooners should have defeated. Not to mention, Oklahoma failed to score a single touchdown against the Texas Longhorns in the Red River Rivalry."

Alabama Crimson Tide and Brent Venables' future

Fariss argues it would be unfortunate for the Oklahoma program should a Sooner's upset of the Crimson Tide save Brent Venables' job. Some Oklahoma fans may disagree with that harsh assessment. Perhaps harsh is the wrong word. Building a successful roster in college football is now a two-season cycle; in some situations, success can come in just one season. By season three of a coaching tenure, no program should be headed in the wrong direction, other than those forced always to accept mediocrity. Oklahoma is one of the blue-blood programs in which anything below greatness is unacceptable.

The reactions of Oklahoma fans will be interesting on Saturday night, if (or when) it becomes clear the Alabama Crimson Tide are too much for the Sooners.

The situation for Venables and Oklahoma should and will have no effect on the Alabama Crimson Tide. Alabama needs more than the win. The Tide needs to improve every week, regardless of the opponent.