Where does Brent Venables rank among coaches in the CFP?

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables has silenced a lot of his critics with a 10-2 season and a College Football Playoff appearance. Though the job’s not finished, this is what the vision looks like, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

The Sooners boast one of the best defenses in the country, Venables’ calling card, and he and his staff have laid the foundation to have sustained success on that side of the ball. The offense has had some good moments, but hasn’t been able to match what Venables has done on defense, mostly due to turnover at offensive coordinator and quarterback.

Still, Oklahoma is set to host their first playoff game in Norman on Friday night when they take on the Alabama Crimson Tide for the second time in five weeks. Oklahoma is certainly capable of getting a win and going on a deep run, but whatever happens next, Venables has earned some respect in college football circles.

Paul Myerburg of USA TODAY Sports ranked every head coach in the College Football Playoff, and Venables came in at No. 8.

Venables has had a choppy four-year run at Oklahoma, alternating losing seasons with double-digit wins during the program’s transition to the SEC. But he delivered this season thanks to leading a defense that carried the Sooners to key wins against Tennessee and Alabama. As a coordinator, he was a playoff superstar during Clemson’s run under Dabo Swinney. That Venables lands here speaks to the depth in this year’s playoff class. – Myerburg, USA TODAY Sports

Venables came in just behind Texas A&M’s Mike Elko at No. 6 and Mario Cristobal at No. 7. Cristobal has a longer head coaching tenure than just about everyone in the field, having been a head coach since 2007, which started with Florida International and then a five-year run at Oregon. He has four career 10-win seasons and a career winning percentage of .547. Elko has been a head coach for four seasons, but the first two seasons came at Duke before taking the job in College Station. He has four winning seasons under his belt, one 10-win season (this year), and a career winning percentage of .700.

Oh, and the guy that Venables will face this Friday night, Kalen DeBoer, who is 0-2 against Venables and the Sooners? He ranks No. 5.

Venables has two 10-win seasons and a .627 career winning percentage as a head coach. Both 10-win seasons came after a 6-7 season the year before. Both 6-7 seasons came in years of firsts. 2022 was Venables’ first year as a head coach, and 2024 was Oklahoma’s first year in the SEC.

He’s also 0-3 in bowl games with losses to Florida State, Arizona, and Navy to close his first three seasons. Though Friday night won’t count as a bowl game, Venables can get the postseason monkey off his back with a strong performance against the visiting Crimson Tide.

Beyond the box score, it’s the way Venables’ team plays the game. They play with a relentless effort and intensity that has them battling for every inch of grass for all 60 minutes.

It may have taken a few years to lay the foundation of the program, but Venables has Oklahoma pointed in the right direction. He’s created a culture and vision that players, recruits, parents, coaches, and fans have bought into. The only thing left to do is contend for a championship.

This is the best team Venables has put together in his four years in Norman, and they have a chance to do something special starting Friday night.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.You can also follow John on X @john9williams.

This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Where does Brent Venables rank among head coaches in CFP?

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos