Brent Venables’ first season at Oklahoma was disappointing, but his second season was more successful.
Yes, the Sooners lost to rival Oklahoma State and fell short of advancing to the Big 12 Championship Game. Nonetheless, they defeated Texas and won ten regular-season games before falling to Arizona 38-24 in the Alamo Bowl to finish the season 10-3.
Oklahoma is now officially preparing for a hectic offseason, which includes a much-anticipated relocation to the SEC.
Looking ahead, which players will be part of OU’s major transition in 2024? Similarly, who will not?
The following sections—who’s staying, leaving and on the way—are a mix of projections and reported/confirmed plans.
After playing scattered snaps in the regular season, Jackson Arnold took the reins in the Alamo Bowl. The postseason game offered a preview of what to expect in 2024 when he’s presumably the full-time starter. Given that he held a 5-star billing as a high schooler, there won’t be a shortage of hype for Arnold entering next season.
Venables’ first season concluded with a disastrous 30.0 points conceded per game. However, the defense improved dramatically in 2023, with linebacker Danny Stutsman and defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. leading the way. Stutsman led the team in tackles for the second straight year, and Bowman had six interceptions. Both players have indicated that they will return to OU.
In 2024, Arnold will be surrounded by familiar faces. Gavin Sawchuk led the Sooners with 610 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, while fellow freshman Nic Anderson had 31 receptions for 725 yards and nine touchdowns. Three more valuable wideouts—Jalil Farooq, Andrel Anthony, and Jayden Gibson—also have eligibility remaining.
