Calls Mount for Major College Football Program to Fire Head Coach

Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables is taking heat for the Sooners' dismal performance in Saturday's 35-9 loss to the unranked South Carolina Gamecocks.

This was an opportunity for Oklahoma to get back on track following a disappointing performance against No. 1 Texas last week, a 34-3 loss in the Red River Rivalry. The Sooners entered the game as 1.5-point home underdogs (ESPN BET) to the Gamecocks, who were coming off two straight losses to No. 7 Alabama and No. 18 Ole Miss.

But Oklahoma, which entered the season at No. 16 in the AP Top 25, was severely outplayed from the opening drive. Freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. was intercepted on the first play of the game. Hawkins fumbled on the very next drive, which resulted in a defensive touchdown for South Carolina. He was benched after throwing a pick-six on the following possession.

This is all on Venables," an Oklahoma fan wrote . "He is responsible for the entire team, not just the defense. He put this staff together. He assembled the talent, or lack of, on offense. This is his 3rd year. There is no redemption arc. He’s in over his head. Don’t let him drag us down further. Fire him

Venables' decision to start Hawkins over Jackson Arnold, who started the first four games of the season before being benched against Tennessee, has come under question with Oklahoma's struggles on offense. That coaching move – paired with back-to-back blowout losses – has ignited a fire for some Sooners fans who are already fed up with the second-year head coach and his staff.

"Am I the first one to post #firevenables?" asked another . "Looks like not. Fire his a**. Bring it on."

"Everyone needs to be packed up and out by Monday including the AD," another responded .

Venables, a former Kansas State linebacker, got his coaching start with the Wildcats in 1993. He went on to join Oklahoma's staff as defensive coordinator in 1999. After 13 seasons in Norman, including two national championship appearances, Venables left to join Dabo Swinney's staff at Clemson as defensive coordinator.

Venables continued to be a coveted assistant coach with the Tigers, who won a pair of national titles during his 10 seasons under Swinney. After Lincoln Riley left for USC, Oklahoma signed Venables to a six-year, $43.5 million deal in 2022.

The Sooners went 6-7 in Venables' first season. But Oklahoma made notable improvements the following season, finishing 10-3 and tied for second in the Big 12. Venables later inked a six-year contract extension worth $51.6 million as the program prepared to enter the SEC.

Venables' transition to the SEC has not been smooth. While Oklahoma's defense has looked formidable at times, the offensive woes prove to be a hurdle that the Sooners haven't overcome yet under first-year coordinator Seth Littrell. Oklahoma hasn't scored a touchdown in its last two games.

One requested Littrell be fired:

"Dear Brent Venables, I have been a lifelong OU fan and had the upmost trust in you when you were hired," said a fan. "I know you said you have never been part of a mid season firing. I have never seen such an atrocious OU offense. Things change. I humbly ask you to fire Seth Littrell. Or more."

Oklahoma ranks 126th in the country in total offense after finishing fourth last season behind star quarterback Dillon Gabriel and offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby. Gabriel transferred to Oregon and Lebby is in his first season at Mississippi State, leaving the Sooners with major questions that haven't been answered.

"Fire everybody, this isn’t OU," one Sooners fan wrote .

The once perennial Big 12 powerhouse has taken a huge fall and fans fear that the program is no longer what it used to be. The question is how much leeway does Oklahoma leadership gives Venables, who's owed $44.8 million if fired this year, given the jump to the SEC. College football's toughest conference is anything but easy.

"Fire Coach Venables!!" added another.

Oklahoma (4-3) still has a tough slate ahead with four ranked opponents, including No. 18 Ole Miss, No. 19 Missouri, No. 7 Alabama and No. 8 LSU.

Related: SEC Program Benches Quarterback After Terrible Start in Week 8