Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables reveals that key player will not play in season opener vs. Temple

The Oklahoma Sooners are just two days away from their season opener against the Temple Owls, where they are looking to get their difficult schedule started. And, while the home game against the Owls on Friday should be a win regardless, they won't make it easy. You're in the SEC now, everyone will be gunning for you.

The Sooners are bringing a ton of players back from last year, especially on the defense, hoping to only improve their units on what they did last year. The defense is coming into this season as the leader of the team. That's where the money will be made, as they say, the Sooners have Venables, with a defensive background, running the show on that side.

But, that's not to say that the offense won't be good either. The Sooners have weapons all around quarterback Jackson Arnold. They have some concerns, sure, like the wild card that is the offensive line. But, they have the potential to be a great unit on that side of the ball.

However, they will be without one of their best players on offense in their first game.

We talked to head coach Brent Venables on Wednesday during the SEC web conference, and he let us in on some news regarding two key players and their availability on Friday.

"Andrel Anthony will be available to go, and Nic Anderson will not," Venables told the media over Zoom.

The Sooners will be without one of their starting wide receivers Nic Anderson, but, that was something we kind of assumed would happen, as he hasn't practiced in several weeks. As for Anthony, he has been recovering from an ACL injury he suffered last season. To know that he is game-ready is awesome to hear, especially for a guy like him who will bring so much experience to the team.

It feels like the Sooners are ready to get their inaugural season in the SEC kicked off.

Related: Five wildcard Sooners who could shift Oklahoma's first season heading into the SEC