NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — The future looked bleak for Oklahoma coach Brent Venables a year ago.

The Sooners were blown out by Texas , and a fanbase that warmly embraced him after he replaced Lincoln Riley turned on him midway through his third season.

The next week, an error-filled blowout home loss to South Carolina led Venables to fire his offensive coordinator. Though the roster was besieged with injuries, a fanbase spoiled by past success didn’t care and blamed him for the disappointing results.

The tide started to turn about a month later when a severely outmanned Oklahoma squad stunned No. 7 Alabama 24-3. The Sooners finished with a 6-7 record but showed enough late in the season for Venables to get another shot.

This season, sixth-ranked Sooners (5-0, 1-0 SEC) already have wins

See Full Page