OU’s defense has posted its most dominant early-season performance under head coach Brent Venables, allowing just 19 points through the first three games of the 2025 season.
The unit’s improvement comes after OU limited Temple to 104 yards in its 28-3 victory over the Owls, the fewest allowed by the program since 2014. The Sooners also forced 12 punts, the most in a single game since 2015 and the most in a road game since 2000 against Baylor.
“It’s not OK for people to score points on us. We don’t want to give them anything,” said sophomore defensive back Reggie Powers III. “Even if the offense may have a turnover or something, say we’re in their territory, we want to stop them to a field goal and then block the field goal.”
The defensive resurgence has occurred under Venables’ direct oversight after the departure of defensive coordinator Zac Alley following last season’s struggles. Venables, who built his reputation as one of college football’s premier defensive coordinators at Clemson, has returned to calling plays and implementing his system firsthand.
In 2022, under Ted Roof, OU allowed 30 points in its first three games and finished the early stretch with a +97 point differential. The following year, the defense improved slightly, giving up 28 points while the team surged to a +139 differential. In 2024, Alley’s unit allowed 34 points through the first three games, and the Sooners’ early scoring margin dipped to +67. By comparison, the 2025 squad has allowed just 19 points while producing 101 points offensively under first-year coordinator Ben Arbuckle. That has resulted in a +82 point differential, signaling what may be the most balanced team of Venables’ head coaching era.
The game against Temple highlighted the defense’s emerging depth, particularly along the pass rush. Defensive backs, sophomore Michael Boganowski and Powers, recorded their first career sacks, while Powers, redshirt sophomore Taylor Heim and redshirt senior Kendel Dolby led the Sooners in tackles with four apiece.
“We’ve definitely been improving every week,” Powers said. “Young guys are stepping up. … We’ve got a lot of talent and we just gotta keep working.”
However, the turnover margin remains a concern for a unit seeking elite status. Despite consistent pressure and field position advantages, the defense has yet to generate interceptions or recover fumbles with the frequency expected of SEC-level units.
The lack of takeaways represents the primary area where Venables seeks improvement before SEC play begins.
“We start every practice with a turnover circuit — they’ll come,” Venables said. “We’ve been, the last three years going into this year, a really efficient defense when it comes to creating turnovers, and we need to continue to hang in there. They’ll come.”
Next week’s clash with Auburn marks OU’s first Southeastern contest of the season and provides the first legitimate measuring stick for defensive progress under Venables’ direct leadership.
In 2024, OU’s defense allowed 482 yards and 21 points against Auburn, exposing weaknesses against SEC-level athleticism and scheme complexity. However, sophomore defensive lineman Jayden Jackson feels confident in the Sooners’ shift.
“It doesn’t feel like different position groups; it feels like a team,” lineman Jackson said. “It’s a culture change. … Everyone’s more comfortable”
The Auburn matchup carries additional significance, as former OU quarterback Jackson Arnold now directs the Tigers’ offense.
“Coach (Venables) says, ‘It doesn’t matter who we play; we play to our standard,’” said Powers. “No matter who we’re playing against, the standard is you do your job and play hard.”
The kickoff between OU and Auburn is set for 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on ABC.
This story was edited by Josh McDaniel.