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Brent Venables' aggressive defense gives Oklahoma a different look than past Sooners playoff teams
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Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables celebrates with linebacker Kip Lewis (10) after defeating LSU during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in Norman, Okla. - photo by AP Photo/Alonzo Adams
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Brent Venables' version of the Oklahoma Sooners is very different than the ones that previously reached the College Football Playoff. Oklahoma reached the playoff four times in the 2010s — once under Bob Stoops and three times under Lincoln Riley. Those squads were known for their high-scoring offenses and relatively leaky defenses, with the best example being a 54-48 loss to Georgia in a national semifinal after the 2017 season.