Brent Venables isn't worried about hosting CFP game: 'I'd just love an invitation'

NORMAN — For the last month, Brent Venables has never played the politics game when it comes to the College Football Playoff.

Venables never made arguments about Oklahoma’s resume or tried to plead his case to the playoff committee. The focus has always been on the next game, and doing the things the Sooners can control.

On Saturday, Venables saw the mindset come to fruition. The Sooners beat LSU, 17-13, in the regular-season finale, capping off a 10-2 season anda perfect 4-0 record in the month of November. Most importantly, the Sooners all-but-certainly clinched a spot in the playoffs.

The Sooners went into the game ranked No. 8 in the CFP rankings. Teams ranked 5-8 will be host sites for the first-round games. Does Venables believe his team has done enough to be one of those teams?

“I don’t even know what that means, you know? I’d just love an invitation,” Venables said after the game.

“I don’t care if it’s on the road. And I say I don’t care, of course I would love to be here, but I spend no time looking at that and I’m going to fight for this or that. I don’t know. They’re not listening to me. There’s plenty of things to look at for them to make the decisions they make. I’m sure it’s not easy. Wherever they ask us to play, we’ll show up.”

If it’s just an invitation Venables is looking for, he’s got that. Though the Sooners will have to await for the final CFP rankings next Saturday, they can feel good about where they stand.

It was another gritty win against the Tigers that saw the Sooners had to find ways to win. The teams went into halftime tied at 3-3, and the Sooners trailed 13-10 midway through the fourth quarter. It was another tough day for John Mateer, who threw three interceptions through three quarters.

But the Sooners found a way, like they have the last month. Mateer threw two touchdowns over the last 17 minutes, including the go-ahead score to Isaiah Sategna that went 58 yards. Peyton Bowen got a pass breakup that forced a turnover on downs and sealed the win.

The Sooners haven’t won with style, but their resume — three wins over ranked teams currently in the top 25 — and their ability to close games have put themselves in a great spot to make the playoff and potentially host. And for Venables, it was a season of growth after a disappointing 2024 campaign.

“I’m super thankful to be their coach,” Venables said. “They just got the right stuff — all the stuff that you can’t put a price on, you can’t put a measuring stick on, these guys got it.”