OKLAHOMA HIRES VENABLES TO LEAD
Oklahoma hired Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables as its head coach to replace Lincoln Riley on Sunday night, bringing back a former Sooners assistant with a long track record of success.
Venables will be introduced this morning on the campus in Norman, the school said.
Venables was on Oklahoma’s staff under Bob Stoops as co-defensive coordinator from 1999 to 2003 and defensive coordinator from 2004 to
2011. He was co-defensive coordinator when the Sooners won the 2000 national title. He left Oklahoma for Clemson in 2012 and won the Broyles Award in 2016 as the nation’s top assistant.
Venables’ Clemson defense led the nation in scoring defense in 2018, and his 2020 unit tied for the lead in sacks.
This season, Clemson ranks second nationally in scoring defense, ninth in total defense, eighth in rushing defense and sixth in pass efficiency defense.
Oklahoma was caught off guard when Riley took the job at USC. The Sooners quickly made Stoops interim coach to calm things down during recruiting. Stoops reassured fans that things would be fine at a program that has won seven national titles and had seven Heisman Trophy winners.
Venables quickly emerged as a favorite among fans for the job. Many had hoped the Sooners could lure him back from Clemson as defensive coordinator after the Sooners fired defensive coordinator Mike Stoops in 2018. The Sooners chose Alex Grinch, who left to join Riley at USC.
Venables’ first order of business will be to save as much of the recruiting class as possible.
Several players announced their intention to enter the transfer portal after Riley’s decision, including quarterback Spencer Rattler. Numerous recruits decommitted, including Malachi Nelson — a five-star quarterback who now says he is heading to USC.
Riley set the bar high. He went 55-10 in five seasons with the Sooners and led them to three College Football Playoff appearances. Quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray both won Heisman trophies and were No. 1 overall picks in the NFL draft.
Gridiron Moneyball
New Florida coach Billy Napier plans to hire an “unprecedented” support staff.
Napier had close to 40 analysts at Louisiana-Lafayette and could end up with even more in Gainesville. In addition to a $7.5 million annual budget for 10 assistants, Napier got a $5 million pool to build a support staff that includes analysts.
His vision for Florida — and Athletic Director Scott Stricklin’s willingness to make it a reality — stood out during Napier’s formal introduction.
Napier and his family arrived to a sea of orange-andblue-clad fans at the airport, and more waited for him to step out of a van outside Florida Field. It was all a bit surreal for the 42-year-old coach, who has been one of college football’s rising stars in recent years.
“I’m drinking water through a firehose right now,” Napier said.
Notable
Louisiana-Lafayette promoted co-offensive coordinator and former Ragin’ Cajuns quarterback Michael Desormeaux to head coach. The announcement by AD Bryan Maggard came less than 24 hours after Napier won his final game as Cajuns coach in the Sun Belt Conference championship game, 24-16 over Appalachian State. Desormeaux played at Louisiana-Lafayette from 2005-08 and has been on the Ragin’ Cajuns’ staff for the last six seasons.
Saturday’s late results
Cal 24, USC 14: Trey Paster scored on a 55-yard fumble return in the second quarter, California’s defense made a clutch stop near the goal line, and the Golden Bears held off USC in the season finale for both teams.
Christopher Brooks added a pair of short scoring runs on a day when Cal’s offense struggled reaching the end zone to help the Golden Bears (5-7, 4-5 Pac-12) to their first home win against the Trojans since 2003.
Jaxson Dart, making his third start for USC (4-8, 3-6) in place of injured quarterback Kedon Slovis, threw a 45-yard touchdown before being forced out with an injury in the third quarter.
No. 2 Michigan 42, No. 13 Iowa: Hassan Haskins ran for two second-half touchdowns and broke a school record while running back Donavan Edwards threw a 75-yard TD pass to help Michigan (12-1) capture its first Big Ten title in 17 years, beating the Hawkeyes (10-3).
No. 15 Pitt 45, No. 16 Wake Forest 21: Kenny Pickett accounted for three touchdowns and Erick Hallett II returned one of Pittsburgh’s four interceptions for a touchdown to help the Panthers (11-2) beat Wake Forest (10-3) in the ACC championship game at Charlotte, N.C.