Oklahoma's Brent Venables believes Red River Shootout's fiery feud remains unfazed by SEC shift: "It’s a deep-seated and hate-filled rivalry"

The Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns will battle against each other as SEC rivals after their battles together from their Big 12 days. When Oklahoma coach Brent Venables was asked if anything about the Red River Shootout has changed, he said that the feud between both teams is as fresh as it ever was:

“I don’t,” Venables said, as per Texas Inside. “It’s as deep-seated, hate-filled and emotional of a rivalry as there is in all of college football. So I don’t see how the conference affiliation will make a big difference.”

During the Big 12 era, the winner of the Red River Shootout often went on to win the conference championship. It has traditionally been a significant hurdle for both teams on their way to the conference championship game.

As per Venables, the change in the conference affiliation from the Big 12 to the SEC will not diminish any of the intensity and pageantry of the Red River Shootout.

The Sooners may face a more challenging schedule after the Red River Shootout, with the addition of games against other SEC powerhouses.

Brent Venables does not want to get into the Horns Down debate

When the Oklahoma Sooners joined the SEC, the Horns Down hand gesture debate became a problem for SEC Coordinator of Officials John McDaid. He believed the Horns Down gesture would not offend the public if acted out of the football stadium. Therefore, when Venables attended the 2024 SEC Media Days event, he was asked about his opinion on the matter:

"I don't really have an opinion," Venables said as per USA Today. "Football's a game of emotion, intensity and passion. If they say that's going to be a penalty, then don't do it. If they say it's going to be a free-for-all, then have at it."

The Sooners coach also expressed that his team was not scared of making its debut in the new conference:

"Oklahoma isn't intimidated as a football program," Venables said of his team's readiness to move to the SEC. "We're running toward the SEC. ... How ready we are? We're excited for the challenge. I think you have to go through it."

Brent Venables and the Sooners are getting ready for their time in the SEC. The coach has been preparing for this moment since 2021 after Lincoln Riley departed from the program to join the USC Trojans. With 53 newcomers to the team, the squad only has eight players remaining from the 2021 roster.

How do you think the Oklahoma Sooners will fare in the SEC next season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.