Since 1998, the Oklahoma Sooners have finished below .500 only twice. Unfortunately for current coach Brent Venables, both times it’s happened under his watch. Though many are expecting a bounce-back season for the Sooners, the SEC media isn’t quite ready to crown them, picking Oklahoma to finish 10th in the SEC preseason media poll.

The Sooners are coming off a 6-7 season with a 2-6 record after their first year in the Southeastern Conference. That disappointment, combined with the 6-7 season in 2022, when Oklahoma was still in the Big 12, has put Venables’ job in jeopardy. USA TODAY Sports writers Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams ranked the five coaches with the hottest seats in the SEC, and Venables came in third in Toppmeyer’s top five and No. 4 according to Adams.

Rival Texas experienced little trouble transitioning to the SEC. That adds up to a pivotal Year 4 for Venables, who soon will be working for a new athletic director. Joe Castiglione, who hired Venables, is retiring. – Toppmeyer and Adams, USA TODAY Sports

Though a 10th-place finish would be an improvement – the Sooners finished in a tie for 14th last year – it would make Venables’ job prospects tenuous, most likely.

To help alleviate some of that pressure, Venables hired offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle from Washington State. Along with Arbuckle came quarterback John Mateer. Mateer is considered one of the top transfers in the country after leading FBS in total touchdowns last year, running for 15 and throwing for 29. Running back Jaydn Ott also joins the offense from California-Berkeley, and after being named all Pac-12 two seasons ago, was ranked preseason second-team All-SEC last week.

Oklahoma went all in to turn over the offensive group that finished 97th in the nation in points per game in 2024. If they can get an improved performance from the offense to go along with Venables’ defense, the Sooners should be in good shape in 2025.

The only coaches in the conference with hotter seats are Arkansas’ Sam Pittman and Auburn’s Hugh Freeze, according to the list.

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Does Brent Venables have the hottest seat in the SEC?