Blog Article
Oklahoma’s #6 Hot Seat Coach Has 12 Games To Save His Job. Michigan Is Game #2.
Here’s what everyone in college football knows but won’t say out loud.
Brent Venables is coaching for his career on Saturday. Not his season. His career. When you’re ranked #6 out of 136 coaches on the Coaches Hot Seat rankings, every game becomes a referendum on your future.
The Math Is Simple:
- 22-17 record in three seasons at Oklahoma
- Two losing seasons out of three
- #6 on the hot seat rankings (danger zone territory)
- A schedule ESPN calls the toughest in college football
Meanwhile, Sherrone Moore sits comfortably at #36 in our rankings. That’s the difference between “we’re watching” and “we’re planning your replacement.”
Here’s What Makes Saturday Fascinating:
Oklahoma went nuclear in the offseason. They brought in 21 transfer portal players, hired a new offensive coordinator, and landed John Mateer—the quarterback who led all of college football with 44 total touchdowns last season.
Michigan countered with the #1 recruit in the country, Bryce Underwood, who already proved he belongs by going 21/31 for 251 yards in his debut.
The Stakes:
For Venables, this is his best shot at an early statement win before facing eight projected top-25 opponents. Win, and the complete program overhaul looks genius. Lose, and the whispers become roars.
For Moore, this is about proving their offensive transformation can execute against proven competition.
The Truth:
Desperate coaches make dangerous opponents. When your job depends on 12 games, every snap gets magnified. Every decision gets scrutinized.
Saturday tells us whether that desperation breaks Oklahoma or brings out its best.
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