The chances of Brent Venables not getting caned from Norman right after the 2025 season are getting better and better.
Not only does Venables have a QB-OC duo in John Mateer and Ben Arbuckle that can actually turn the tide for Oklahoma, but SEC analyst Cole Cubelic underlined another strong suit that could save Venables' job with the Sooners.
"The easiest team for this list to select was number one, and it's Oklahoma. And folks, it ain't even close," Cubelic announced his verdict on the team with the best defensive line in the country during the Cube Show.
"I'm just going to be honest with you. This was not a debate with Texas, this was not a debate with Georgia, this was not a debate with Florida in my head. Oklahoma, by far, has the best defensive line in the SEC, and it is by a landslide. I mean, they literally have a 40-yard head start on everybody else."
This is good news for Venables in two ways.
The first: the obvious of a good defensive line boosting their chances of winning, and secondly, as a direct applause for Venables.
The Sooners' head coach will handle the defensive play-calling duties in 2025, which will make their already decent-looking defense more attacking and aggressive.
Part of his aggressive defensive mastermind was evident in the Sooners' game against Alabama last season. Now all they need is more performances like that.
We'll see how well all this translates for the program and its head coach.