College football recap: OU gets new coach, OSU comes up inches short, bowl game matchups set

One week after OU began its search for a new head football coach following the surprising departure of Lincoln Riley, the Sooners have found their man, and it’s a familiar face. Brent Venables will be the Sooners' 23rd head football coach.

Venables was clearly fired up in this social media post as he boarded a jet to Norman Sunday.

Hundreds of fans greeted Venables when his plane landed at Max Westheimer Airport in Norman.

"This is an incredibly special opportunity. Julie and I and our family are extremely grateful for the belief in us — and certainly in me — to be the next head coach at Oklahoma, one of the winningest and most tradition-rich programs in college football history," Venables said in a statement. "Our memories from Norman, where all four of our children were born, have been nothing but great. We're looking forward to making another decade-plus of incredible memories as we transition to a new era of Oklahoma football, especially with the opportunity and the challenge to join the SEC, the premier conference in all of college football."

"Joe Castiglione, President Harroz and the Board of Regents have given us incredible support that equals the best of the best in our sport. There's no question we are equipped to compete at the very highest level and attract the best players from across the country. The OU logo has never been stronger."

It's the culmination of a tumultuous week or so for the OU football program. It started with losing Bedlam and a shot at a national title, then losing its head coach, several assistants and high profile recruits. It ends with the hiring of Venables, the former OU defensive coordinator who has served in the same role for powerhouse Clemson for the past decade.

OU released statements from President Joseph Harroz Jr., Vice President and Athletics Director Joe Castiglione and Interim Head Football Coach Bob Stoops.

OU President Joseph Harroz Jr.:
"Coach Venables is the perfect leader for the next exciting chapter of Oklahoma football as we look ahead to a new era of competition. OU is a destination job with an iconic program positioned for sustained success to which Coach Venables has already contributed. He is a charismatic and proven coach, and with 13 years under his belt on the Sooner coaching staff, he's one of our own. Brent is committed to excellence on and off the field — to ensuring that his players succeed as athletes, students and individuals. With his years of experience in building up teams and winning championships, I have high confidence in the unlimited potential of our program under his leadership. He knows what OU football is all about because he's lived it, and there's no doubt he is up to the task. We're thrilled to welcome him, his wife, and their children Jake, Tyler, Laney and Addie home to OU."

OU Vice President and Athletics Director Joe Castiglione:
"This is a truly great day for Oklahoma — for our program, our current players, former players, recruits and fans. Coach Venables is a proven winner who over the years has helped his teams earn 13 conference championships and three national titles, and has developed one of the country's consistently best defenses. A born leader, he helped build and sustain an exceptional culture during his 13 years here at Oklahoma and his 10 seasons at Clemson. He has a track record of establishing meaningful relationships with his players and preparing them for the next level. Brent embraces competition and the challenges that come with it, and there is no doubt in my mind he is the right man to lead OU football into its next great era. We couldn't be more excited for Brent to return to OU as our head coach and for him, his wife Julie and their children Jake, Tyler, Laney and Addie to call Norman home again."

Interim Head Football Coach Bob Stoops:
"Brent was a major part of our 2000 national championship team here at OU, won two national titles at Clemson and, all told, has coached in eight national championship games. He knows the formula to win national championships and has the toughness, the attitude and the fight that I think will elevate our program in a lot of positive ways. I've always loved his energy, excitement and passion for the game — it clearly spills over to his players. He has the absolute right experience to come in at this time and really boost our program. With 13 years here at OU and 10 at Clemson, you couldn't ask for better preparation to handle a job like this and handle it well. He's taking over a 10-2 team that has so much more potential, and the bottom line is he's the perfect guy to get us to the next level. He has an incredible support system with his wife Julie and his children, and it'll be great having them back leading the program."

The weekend didn't end up as expected for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, as they fell to the Baylor Bears in the Big 12 Championship Game Saturday by a score of 21-16.

OSU was put into a hole as quarterback Spencer Sanders threw four interceptions, but the Cowboys had a shot to win the game in the final seconds.

Ultimately, the Cowboys came up inches short of the goal line in a thrilling battle with the Bears.

The loss ended any hope the Cowboys had at securing a spot in the College Football Playoff. But, that point may have been made moot when Alabama beat previously undefeated Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, ensuring their spot in the playoff.

All three NCAA FBS teams in Oklahoma are going bowling.

OSU earned a spot in a New Year's Six bowl game — the Fiesta Bowl — against Notre Dame. The Cowboys have never faced the legendary Fighting Irish in college football history. That game takes place in Glendale, Arizona on Jan. 1 on ESPN.

As for the Oklahoma Sooners, they’ll face the Oregon Ducks in the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas on Dec. 29 on ESPN.

Tulsa is bowl eligible, too, and will play Old Dominion in the Myrtle Beach Bowl in Conway, South Carolina on Dec. 20, also on ESPN.

This report was produced by the Oklahoma Public Media Exchange, a collaboration of public media organizations. Help support collaborative journalism by donating at the link at the top of this webpage.