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Oklahoma's Brent Venables ready for 'incredibly challenging' first trip to Neyland Stadium

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey11/01/25GrantRamey
Sep 20, 2025; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; General view of the upper deck during the second quarter of the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the UAB Blazers at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-Imagn Images
Sep 20, 2025; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; General view of the upper deck during the second quarter of the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the UAB Blazers at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-Imagn Images

Oklahoma’s Brent Venables ready for ‘incredibly challenging’ first trip to Neyland Stadium 

The story a year ago was Josh Heupel’s long-awaited return. The former national championship-winning Oklahoma quarterback was coming home for the first time since being fired as the Sooners offensive coordinator 10 years earlier. 

It was more than just Oklahoma’s first game as an SEC team. It was more than Tennessee’s first SEC game of the season. It was more than just a road game and a primetime kickoff on ABC.

It was Heupel’s homecoming.

“I am not sure I spent a day on the opposing sideline inside the stadium,” Heupel said in the days leading up to the game at Oklahoma’s Memorial Stadium, “not even for scrimmage. It will be different.”

Up Next: No. 14 Tennessee vs. No. 17 Oklahoma, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC

Heupel enjoyed his time on the far sideline, with his sixth-ranked Tennessee team jumping out to a 19-3 lead at halftime, on the way to a 25-15 win at No. 15 Oklahoma. 

“This thing — coming back to Norman was never about me,” Heupel told his team in the locker room after the game. “It was not … but I appreciate you all having a little extra for me. I do. I love you guys, and I really mean that.”

The former Kansas State linebacker and longtime Oklahoma and Clemson defensive coordinator confirmed this week that he has never been to Tennessee’s 104-year-old, 101,915-seat stadium on the banks of the Tennessee River. 

Now No. 14 Tennessee (6-2, 3-2 SEC) hosts No. 17 Oklahoma (6-2, 2-2) for the first SEC matchup between the two teams at Neyland Stadium. Once again it’s a 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time start on ABC, with College Football Playoff hopes on the line for both sides. 

A storyline this time for the away team is Brent Venables making his first appearance at Neyland Stadium. 

Venables said on Wednesday there was “no doubt” that he was excited about the trip. 

“It’s all part of the experience,” he said. “Traveling, taking your team to a new environment. Certainly for me, myself, something I’m looking forward to.”

‘This is something that I’m looking forward to, seeing and experiencing what it’s all about’

Venables played linebacker at Kansas State in 1991 and 1992, after transferring from Garden City Community College. He started his coaching career at Kansas State as a graduate assistant in 1993 and was promoted to linebackers coach in 1996. 

Oklahoma hired him as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 1999, then promoted him to associate head coach in 2004. He left for Clemson in 2012, where he spent 10 years with the Tigers as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, including the last four as associate head coach. 

Venables is 28-19 in his third season as Oklahoma’s head coach.

Heupel, meanwhile, is 28-5 at Neyland Stadium in his fifth season at Tennessee, including a 23-2 record since 2022.  

“I know it’s going to be incredibly challenging,” Venables said. “As somebody who has great respect and appreciation for college football — the history, the coaches, the teams, the moments — this is something that I’m looking forward to, seeing and experiencing what it’s all about.”