When Josh Pate sits down to grade SEC head coaches, you know the conversation is about to get interesting. And for Oklahoma Sooners fans, the verdict on Brent Venables is one that might just spark some debate around the water cooler—or the tailgate.

Venables is heading into his fifth season at the helm in Norman, fresh off what many consider his best year yet. After a rollercoaster ride that saw the Sooners go 6-7 in 2022, bounce back to 10-3 in 2023, stumble to 6-7 in 2024, and then roar back with a 10-win campaign and a College Football Playoff berth in 2025, the trajectory is finally pointing up. But with high expectations looming for 2026, the question isn't just about one good season—it's about consistency.

On his "College Football Show," Pate handed out a job approval rating for Venables that landed somewhere between solid and promising. "Obviously, they made the College Football Playoff last year. That's awesome," Pate said. "I think that gets Brent Venables a 'B.' I leaned 'B+', somewhere between 'B' and 'B+.' That's where I am. That's where I think Oklahoma fans are on Brent Venables."

There's no denying Venables has transformed the Sooners' defense. Under Lincoln Riley, that side of the ball was often an afterthought. Now? It's a strength—a return to the bedrock identity of Oklahoma football. But Pate pointed out a critical missing piece that kept the Sooners from being truly elite: the run game.

"Where was the run game is the question," Pate said. "You would think there are two things you could take for granted when you hire Brent Venables. One of them, it turns out, you can. Defense is going to be good. Normally, right there along with that, arm-in-arm with a good defense, is normally a good solid dependable ground game, at least. Doesn't have to be top 10, but man, they were outside the top 115 or 110 last year—113th exactly in rush yards per game. Abysmal. And as a result, they couldn't control games."

That stat is a gut punch for any program with championship aspirations. A ground game that ranks 113th nationally isn't just a weakness—it's a liability. And it's something Oklahoma has made a clear priority to address this offseason. The question now: can Venables and the Sooners string together back-to-back strong seasons?

"Last year's a good start, a very good start," Pate added. "Ten-win season's great. Can you win nine or 10 again this year? Does it have to dip back down? Doesn't have to."

For Sooners fans, the answer to that question will determine whether that "B" grade turns into something higher—or something that leaves them searching for answers. And for the team itself, the path is clear: build on that defense, find a reliable run game, and prove that 2025 was the start of something special, not just a flash in the pan.