I love the football offseason. Instead of watching games, we get to ask amazing hypothetical questions that provoke deep and intellectual conversations. In this case, I really like this one: “Will Lincoln Riley be on the hot seat if Brent Venables wins a national championship first?”
It would be Hollywood-worthy if the Oklahoma Sooners somehow win a national championship before their former head coach after the very messy Lincoln Riley divorce.
Brent Venables is a guy who will get the most out of his players, but a national championship is an unrealistic expectation in year one.
However, as long as the Sooners are in the Big 12, the path to the still four-team College Football Playoff is a relatively easy one.
The task is simple: Win 11 games and then win the Big 12 Championship. That should be more than enough to get into the CFP. It’s happened before.
Josh Pate on the Late Kick Show discussed this very scenario.
To be clear, the question is, if Brent Venables comes into Oklahoma and wins a national championship before Lincoln Riley does, you don’t need to overthink the room here. I think you know what’s going to be said. I think I know what’s going to be said. You and I may even be among the people saying it. Imagine Brian Kelly having been at Notre Dame for a decade. If Marcus Freeman comes in and wins a national championship, which is what Brian Kelly, got to the playoffs, but never really came close to doing himself, yeah I think there would be a word or two said about that. – Pate, Late Kick Show
These words are from 247Sports’ Josh Pate and he’s nailed it. USC isn’t giving Lincoln Riley all that money to not win national championships, and if Venables does end up bringing the title to Norman, things might get a little uncomfortable out in Southern California.
The same goes for LSU and Brian Kelly. What if the Fighting Irish win it all this year? What if Oregon wins it?
This will be an interesting race to watch unfold between USC and Oklahoma. It’s probably not happening this year, but imagine a CFP matchup…
What a world.
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