Paul Finebaum Goes Scorched Earth on Historic College Football Program Over Contract Extension

The Oklahoma Sooners made major headlines this week after announcing a contract extension with head coach Brent Venables.

Brent Venables Lands Contract Extension

ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that it is a new six-year contract through the 2031 season. The extension will add two additional years, but it is pending approval by the Oklahoma Board of Regents and is expected to average more than $10.5 million per season. Venables made just $7.5 million per year, and this raise would move him into the top 10.

Venables has had a rocky tenure in Norman. The legendary defensive coordinator took over at Oklahoma ahead of the 2022 season. He served as the defensive coordinator there from 1999 to 2011, winning one national championship before leaving for the Clemson Tigers, where he helped them win two national championships during his tenure.

His first season in Norman was a terrible one. Oklahoma went 6-7, the first losing season since 1998. He followed that up with a strong 10-3 season, earning him his first contract extension, but an injury-riddled 2024 season saw the Sooners fall back to 6-7. That put Venables on the hot seat heading into 2025. With his back against the wall, he responded with a 10-3 season, returning Oklahoma to the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2019.

Oklahoma coach Brent Venables celebrates with his players after winning an NCAA football game. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Paul Finebaum Criticizes Oklahoma's Decision to Extend Venables

ESPN's Paul Finebaum was asked about his thoughts on Venables' extension on "The Paul Finebaum Show." He said he did not agree with it at all.

"You give someone an extension when there is concern that he may be leaving," Finebaum said. "I can only think of one school that Venables would be a candidate to leave for, and that's Clemson if Dabo Swinney retired... You are 1-3 against your rival. You haven't won a College Football Playoff game. You haven't won a championship. You haven't finished in the top-10. Unless you have dumbed down your expectations, you are probably not worthy of an extension."

Venables' New Contract Raises Expectations at Oklahoma

To Finebaum's point, Oklahoma is one of the best programs in the history of college football. The Sooners are about winning championships, and Venables hasn't sniffed one. So, it's fair to be critical of Oklahoma for making a decision that didn't seem necessary this early. New vice president and director of athletics Roger Denny could have waited to see how the 2026 season goes before making this call.

However, this move signals something that has been lost in this new era: stability. This shows Oklahoma's commitment to what Venables is building, and while other schools act hastily to build a program, trying to rush the process, the Sooners are showing that they believe in the vision of Venables and general manager Jim Nagy, who also got an extension this offseason.

For Venables, the objective is simple. He has to prove that this contract was worth it. He needs to get Oklahoma back to being a perennial College Football Playoff team and national championship contender. If he can do that, he will quiet the criticism from Finebaum and others.

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