Joel Klatt, one of the most respected voices in college football and lead analyst for FOX Sports, is no stranger to bold takes and firm convictions. As the 2025 college football season draws closer, Klatt has turned his attention to the Oklahoma Sooners—a program with as much potential as any in the country but also one facing immense pressure amid rising expectations and a volatile transition. And Klatt is not mincing words. During a recent appearance on The Joel Klatt Show, he delivered a stern warning to Brent Venables and the entire Sooners program: Evolve quickly, or risk being left behind in the SEC arms race.
For Oklahoma fans, Klatt’s message is both sobering and revealing. This isn’t just a critique of talent or a routine preseason prediction. It’s a broader commentary on the stakes facing the Sooners as they enter their second year in the Southeastern Conference—a league that has already tested their depth, identity, and long-term direction. If the Sooners don’t address key deficiencies, Klatt believes they could become an afterthought in a league where mediocrity means irrelevance.
“I like Oklahoma’s upside, but right now, they’re a team that still hasn’t fully embraced what it means to be an SEC program,” Klatt said. “And that’s a problem when you’re surrounded by teams that live, breathe, and eat football at a level you’re still learning how to match.”
The Sooners posted a 10-3 record in 2024, which, on the surface, seems like a successful campaign. But Klatt wasn’t buying the win total as proof of progress. To him, Oklahoma’s late-season collapse and underwhelming play against physical teams exposed structural issues that still linger. He particularly pointed to Oklahoma’s 31-24 loss to LSU in the Texas Bowl as a microcosm of the broader concerns.
“Too often, they get pushed around at the line of scrimmage,” Klatt said. “And in the SEC, that’s where games are won or lost. If Oklahoma doesn’t build more muscle in the trenches, both offensively and defensively, they’ll keep getting outclassed in big games.”
Klatt’s warning is rooted in experience. As a former quarterback at Colorado and longtime broadcaster, he’s watched dozens of programs try and fail to make the leap from good to great. The difference, he says, is rarely just about talent. It’s about culture, toughness, and identity. He believes Oklahoma is still in the midst of an identity crisis, trying to blend Lincoln Riley’s old high-flying offensive system with Venables’ defensive-minded, grind-it-out philosophy.
“You can’t be half-pregnant when it comes to building your football team,” Klatt said. “Right now, I don’t know what Oklahoma wants to be. Are they a team that wants to score 50 and play finesse? Or are they trying to morph into a Georgia or Alabama-type blueprint? Because you can’t do both. And trying to do both means you’re not doing either well.”
It’s a damning assessment, but not without merit. In 2024, Oklahoma had flashes of brilliance—especially from quarterback Jackson Arnold, who stepped into the starting role with confidence and natural playmaking ability. But the offense was inconsistent against elite defenses, and the Sooners struggled to sustain drives when their speed was neutralized. Defensively, Venables’ unit showed improvement from 2023’s disastrous campaign, but depth issues, missed tackles, and poor red-zone execution were persistent thorns in the side.
Klatt’s analysis has sparked plenty of reaction, particularly in Norman, where Venables is still considered the right man for the job—but not without questions. His recruiting classes have been strong, and his reputation as one of college football’s top defensive minds is well-earned. However, Klatt argues that reputation alone won’t get the Sooners where they want to go. The program, he insists, needs to raise its standards, not just match them.
“There’s this sense that because Oklahoma has this rich history and massive fanbase, they’ll eventually just figure it out. But that’s not how it works anymore,” Klatt explained. “Texas found that out the hard way. Nebraska still hasn’t recovered. USC had to go out and buy a roster. The days of assuming success are over. You’ve got to earn it.”
Earning it, Klatt believes, starts in the weight room, in the trenches, and in the mindset of every player who steps on campus. He cited Georgia and Michigan as the new models for consistency—programs built on player development, physical dominance, and elite execution in high-leverage moments. And for Oklahoma to reach that level, Klatt says, they’ll need to go beyond simply recruiting 5-star talent.
“Being ‘back’ isn’t about recruiting rankings,” he said. “It’s about taking that talent and developing it into NFL-ready monsters who can control a game physically. Right now, I’m not seeing enough of that from Oklahoma.”
The good news for the Sooners is that the blueprint for success isn’t a mystery. Venables has already shown a commitment to building a tougher, more resilient program. The 2025 recruiting class is loaded with size and athleticism, particularly on the defensive front. And Jackson Arnold’s continued growth gives Oklahoma a legitimate quarterback to build around. But as Klatt sees it, the next step isn’t optional—it’s mandatory.
“I’m not saying Oklahoma can’t do it. In fact, I think they can. But the time for patience is over. The margin for error in the SEC is razor-thin. You can’t take another year to figure it out. You’ve got to show up in 2025 ready to punch people in the mouth and finish the job.”
Klatt’s words may sting, but they reflect a broader truth about the state of college football. In the NIL and transfer portal era, things move fast. Momentum can be fleeting. Programs that fail to evolve quickly are quickly passed by. Oklahoma, with its resources, brand, and history, is positioned to thrive—but only if it meets the moment with urgency.
The Sooners’ 2025 schedule offers both challenges and opportunities. A September showdown with Tennessee looms large. Matchups with Alabama, Texas, and a surging Ole Miss program will be gut-checks for Venables’ squad. And with no divisions in the SEC, every game carries the weight of a playoff elimination.
There is little doubt that Brent Venables has a vision. He’s invested in his staff, doubled down on player accountability, and committed to recruiting difference-makers. But Joel Klatt’s warning is a timely reminder that vision alone isn’t enough. The SEC demands execution, aggression, and clarity of identity. Anything less, and the Sooners risk falling into the void that has swallowed so many once-proud programs trying to adapt to a new college football reality.
For now, Oklahoma remains a contender. But Klatt is clear: They must become more than that. The Sooners need to be bullies again—on defense, on the offensive line, and in the fourth quarter. They need to stop relying on legacy and start imposing their will. Because in the SEC, no one cares what you used to be. Only what you are.
“You’ve got to have an edge,” Klatt said. “You’ve got to walk into that stadium like you own the place. That’s what Alabama does. That’s what Georgia does. That’s what Oklahoma used to do. And that’s what they need to get back to—fast.”
If Brent Venables can harness that mentality and translate it to the field, Oklahoma could emerge as a serious playoff threat in 2025. But if they don’t, Klatt believes the Sooners could spend another year on the outside looking in, watching as more complete programs take their place on college football’s biggest stage.
And in today’s unforgiving landscape, second chances are getting harder to come by.
