Although the beginning of the 2025 college football season is still over three months away, analysts, writers and fans alike are already trying to get a grip on how they think this year will shake out.
That includes slotting the 16 teams in the Southeastern Conference to try and figure out the hierarchy in the sport’s toughest conference as we head into the summer. CBS Sports’ Will Backus took on that challenge this week, attempting to power-rank the SEC post-spring.
After a 6-7 season in 2024, the Oklahoma Sooners and head coach Brent Venables don’t have the highest of expectations in the conference or nationally. Backus has them in the bottom half of the league, ranked ninth, and sandwiched between Texas A&M and Auburn.
Pressure is mounting on Brent Venables to deliver, so he made wholesale changes in the offseason. He took over defensive play-calling responsibilities while handing the offensive keys to new coordinator Ben Arbuckle, a quarterback whisperer who consistently produced some of the nation’s top passing attacks at Western Kentucky and Washington State. Arbuckle’s most recent Wazzu quarterback, John Mateer, followed him to Norman as the Sooners look to revamp a stagnant offense. – Backus, CBS Sports
Venables decision to call the defense in 2025 will be watched closely as the season progresses. On the one hand he’s one of the best in the business at defensive play-calling. On the other hand, he’s not just a defensive coordinator. He’s a head coach. Venables is responsible for everything that happens on game day, and has to manage the game.
Fortunately, he’s got former head coaches Nate Dreiling (Utah State; interim), Kevin Wilson (Indiana and Tulsa), and Brandon Hall (Troy; interim) on his staff this season, in addition to a former defensive coordinator in Wes Goodwin (Clemson). Those experienced assistants…
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Publish date : 2025-05-15 18:00:00
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