NORMAN — Just a couple days after Oklahoma’s loss to Ole Miss in late October, Brent Venables did something that goes against his nature. During a team meeting, Venables brought up the ESPN College Football Playoff Predictor and showed his team the numbers.

The Oklahoma Sooners have done it. After a nail-biter win over the LSU Tigers, the Sooners have punched their ticket to the College Football Playoff. All there is left to do now is wait to see how the chaos unfolds as Oklahoma looks to host a game in the first round of the playoffs.

Oklahoma is one win away from the College Football Playoff and coach Brent Venables knows it. Just don't tell him that.

With the Sooners on the brink of a College Football Playoff return, OU's coach hopes his seniors will be able to enjoy their regular season home finale.

Brent Venables isn't as accomplished as his predecessor, but Oklahoma winning its 5th game vs. a ranked foe was no small feat.

For the last month, Brent Venables has never played the politics game when it comes to the College Football Playoff. Venables never made arguments about Oklahoma’s resume or tried to plead his case to the playoff committee.

The Sooners fell into a deep hole in 2024, but their upset of Alabama revealed Venables’ vision for the program — one year later, that vision is taking shape.