It is a question everyone in college football is asking right now, given the enormous struggles of both USC football and Oklahoma football right now: Which program is better with Lincoln Riley at USC and Brent Venables at Oklahoma? The Athletic waded right into the middle of the debate (subscription required).
We have discussed the key flaw dragging down both USC and Oklahoma, and it’s not that hard to identify: offensive line recruiting. Oklahoma fans and analysts noted slippage in Riley’s offensive line recruiting at OU in 2021, which bled into 2022 and left Brent Venables shorthanded at that crucial position. Venables, an excellent defensive coach, has not been able to build an offense which is capable of capitalizing on OU’s strong defense. Riley did not give Venables a good situation to inherit, but we also have to admit that Venables has had three whole years to address those problems. He is behind schedule. The fact that Venables fired his offensive coordinator, Seth Littrell, this past weekend is an indication of how bad things have become in Norman. USC is an absolute mess, but Oklahoma isn’t really better.
The offensive line is what each program has to solve — with big talent upgrades on the trail and in the portal — if a resurrection is going to occur.
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