Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables is urging his players to view the recent 17‑10 loss to unranked Michigan as a test of character rather than a cause for panic. The defeat dropped the Sooners from No. 11 to No. 24 in the AP Top 25, tightening their margin for error as they chase a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Looking ahead to tough opponents
Venables reminded his team that the next three weeks include showdowns with No. 2 Georgia and No. 1 Texas, making the upcoming home game against New Mexico critical. “Anybody can be committed when everything is going right,” he said. “This was a real test of who our guys are. Our response will show whether our commitment is conditional or this is who we are.”
What went wrong against Michigan
Oklahoma struggled in several fundamental areas in Ann Arbor. The Sooners lost the field‑position battle, turned the ball over, and converted only three of 13 third‑down attempts. Venables noted, “We didn’t consistently execute the fundamentals necessary to win. Those aren’t excuses; that’s just what we put on tape. Got to own all of it.” He added that challenging moments reveal the team’s toughness, leadership, and maturity.
Building on last season’s resilience
Last season, losses to Texas and Mississippi sparked a late‑season surge that saw Oklahoma win its final four SEC games and host a home playoff game. Venables recalled that experience, saying, “Our guys responded, did some really tough, challenging things, and we continued to get better and found a way to win. We’re a program built on toughness and we’re built to stick together.” He emphasized that the focus now is on future actions, not past words.
New Mexico presents a fresh challenge
The Lobos arrive in Norman with a 2‑0 record and rank among the nation’s top ten in both scoring offense (54.0 points per game) and scoring defense (7.0 points per game). Oklahoma will need to improve consistency, especially at quarterback. John Mateer completed 17 of 33 passes for 189 yards against Michigan, a performance offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle described as “uneven.” Mateer’s interception in the fourth quarter helped swing the game to Michigan.
Coach backs the quarterback
Despite the interception, Venables defended Mateer, highlighting his toughness and leadership after playing through injury last season. “John’s demonstrated tremendous toughness and accountability, leadership since he’s been here. One play and one game won’t define him or certainly this team. We win together, and we lose together; we respond together,” Venable said. He stressed the coaching staff’s responsibility to help every player improve and learn from the experience.
Offensive coordinator stays focused on the game plan
When asked whether he was coaching for his job, Arbuckle replied, “I haven’t thought about that one bit. I take it week by week. How can I put together a game plan? How can I install it with our guys and get them to understand it? How can we execute at a high level? That’s what’s on my mind.” His focus remains on preparing the Sooners to execute at the highest level against New Mexico.
As the Sooners prepare for Saturday’s contest, Venables and his staff are counting on the team’s ability to learn from the Michigan loss, reinforce fundamentals, and demonstrate the resilience that defined their late‑season comeback last year.
Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
