Before the latest setback on Saturday, Oklahoma fans had their reasons for optimism. They often pointed to injuries in the wide receiver position, highlighted strong recruiting efforts this year, and chalked up various issues to growing pains under head coach Brent Venables as the Sooners prepared to join the Southeastern Conference.

It’s also why the university gave Venables a lucrative new contract with a $44.8 million buyout after last season, despite the lack of any real threat that he would leave for another job. The Sooners were confident that Venables was the right leader to guide them through the challenges of competing in the tough SEC.

So, how is that working out?

Oklahoma’s recent 35-9 defeat against South Carolina—on their home turf—is one of the worse moments in the last 25 years of the program. This may sound overly generous, as the Sooners currently sit at 4-3, with a remaining schedule that makes it unlikely they will qualify for a bowl game.

This performance does not reflect the standards traditionally associated with Oklahoma football, whether in the Big 12 or SEC. There are no acceptable excuses; this is a severe disappointment.

At 53 years old, Venables has had an impressive career as a defensive coordinator at both Oklahoma and Clemson, earning recognition at the highest levels. However, stepping into the head coach role has been a different challenge. He might still be in his assistant role under Dabo Swinney had it not been for Lincoln Riley’s surprising exit to Southern California after the 2021 season.

Oklahoma, taken aback by Riley’s exit, didn’t have clear alternatives, making Venables an appealing choice. He had already been a two-time national champion at Clemson and was familiar with the Oklahoma program, having been part of Bob Stoops’ staff from 1999 to 2011.

The pressing concern now is whether Venables’ experience as an assistant translates effectively to head coaching. As Oklahoma fans witness one of the team’s most disappointing seasons, this concern is more valid than ever.

While there have been injuries on the team, the fact that the Sooners possess one of the least effective offenses in college football falls partly on Venables and offensive coordinator Seth Littrell. Oklahoma shouldn’t be this underperforming.

From starting quarterback Jackson Arnold to recent substitute Michael Hawkins and back, a defeat like the one against South Carolina simply isn’t acceptable.

“We’re all failing miserably right now,” Venables admitted to the press.

Given the humiliating loss to South Carolina—and against Shane Beamer, a former tight ends coach at Oklahoma—the administration must evaluate all options. It would be negligent not to. Although Venables has a hefty buyout clause and the university is inclined to allow him an adequate chance to turn things around, which is challenging due to injuries and a more competitive conference, this season could mark a dismal low for Oklahoma football, reminiscent of 1998—an important year to note.

The most probable course of action will involve replacing the offensive coordinator, a critical decision that could define Venables’ time at Oklahoma. Still, fans, who have seen their team excel in the past, are aware of the reality: The program seems to be stuck, and Venables may not be the solution to revive it.

For these reasons, the Sooners currently rank first on the Misery Index, which tracks the most frustrated fan bases each week.

More Teams in Distress

Florida State: The dramatic fall of the Seminoles, once a national championship contender, is a startling tale. Just ten months ago, they boasted a perfect 13-0 record but have now spiraled down to a dismal 1-6 following a 23-16 defeat to Duke. This has led fans to re-evaluate not only the roster but also the team’s mental preparedness after missing out on the College Football Playoff (CFP) last season due to a significant injury to quarterback Jordan Travis. Losing to Duke for the first time in 22 matches only compounds these concerns. Mike Norvell, the 43-year-old head coach, navigated through two losing seasons but now faces the challenge of rebuilding a program that has disappointingly fallen back to its former struggles. With a hefty $63.8 million buyout, there’s an urgent need for faith in his ability to steer the team back on track.

Alabama: DeBoer is acutely aware that he has stepped into a role not just to succeed Nick Saban but also to navigate a landscape where Saban frequently weighs in on your team from his television perch, all while he maintains an office at the Alabama football facility.

This situation is profoundly unfair, yet the Alabama fanbase is reputed for its reasonableness and understanding.

Just kidding! This fanbase is notoriously demanding, unrealistic, and spoiled, making it likely that all frustration will be directed at DeBoer, who now holds a 5-2 record after a narrow 24-17 defeat to Tennessee.

Before retiring, Saban was questioned whenever he finished a season with two losses, which is quite a feat considering he’s won six national championships. If DeBoer is curious about how Alabama fans will react to his own two-loss seasons, he should tune into the Paul Finebaum Show on Monday for an enlightening dose of reality: not very positively.

It’s completely unrealistic to expect Saban’s successor to replicate his success, yet that’s the expectation that comes with the Alabama position. DeBoer was cautioned about this before leaving a well-paying and more stable role at Washington.

Saban’s visibility on ESPN only heightens the discomfort of Alabama being labeled just an average team in the SEC after dominating for the past 15 years. While it’s possible DeBoer may navigate this transitional phase with his reputation intact, he currently appears to be a scapegoat for a fanbase aware that its team is underperforming.

Southern California: Lincoln Riley had an extraordinary run at Oklahoma, accumulating only eight losses across his five years, resulting in a standout record of 55-10. He simply didn’t lose much.

That’s precisely why USC offered him a substantial salary to breathe new life into the Trojans. The administration believed Riley possessed remarkable coaching skills, and his offensive strategy would not only electrify the scoreboard but also rejuvenate the talent pool in Southern California, which had seen players gravitating towards distant programs.

Riley had a solid start at USC, especially with quarterback Caleb Williams joining him from Oklahoma, where he quickly secured a Heisman Trophy and later became the first overall pick in the NFL draft.

This season, however, has been tumultuous for Riley: adapting to a new conference, a different quarterback, diverse outcomes, and rising critiques. With nine losses in his last 14 games—almost matching his total losses at Oklahoma—USC seems unable to secure victories against Big Ten opponents.

The 29-28 loss against Maryland was particularly disheartening, especially as it swung on a blocked 41-yard field goal attempt that would have given USC a 31-22 lead with only two minutes left. While USC’s 1-4 record in the Big Ten (3-4 overall) could have easily been improved with a little luck, how can Riley persuade USC fans that his program remains strong when they’re losing to teams with far less talent like Maryland and Minnesota? This is undoubtedly one of the more unexpected declines in coaching history.

Auburn: Hugh Freeze’s confidence in his offense was clearly visible with under six minutes left to play against Missouri. Auburn led 17-14 and had just executed a crucial defensive stop, returning a punt to Missouri’s 37-yard line. Scoring would have almost sealed the game.

In contrast to his previous aggressive playstyles at Ole Miss and Liberty, Freeze played it safe: a handoff resulted in a two-yard loss, a quarterback keeper brought a one-yard loss, and a throwaway on third down left Auburn without a chance to score again. Consequently, Missouri marched 95 yards in 17 plays to seize a 21-17 victory.

Freeze’s cautious strategy may have been understandable, given that quarterback Payton Thorne has struggled this season, completing just 17 of 29 passes for 176 yards against Missouri. Nevertheless, Freeze’s current record stands at 8-12 at Auburn and 3-9 in the SEC, raising concerns about why he deserves more time when he has not improved upon Harsin’s dismal 9-12 and 4-9 record.

Although Freeze will probably receive at least one more season to turn things around, Auburn supporters are justified in questioning why someone faring worse than his predecessor deserves a longer opportunity.

Miserable but not miserable enough

Nebraska: It’s challenging to articulate the depth of disappointment when a storied program with an illustrious past suffers a 49-point loss to a team long regarded as merely a filler before basketball season. Yet, the current Indiana team is a legitimate 7-0 contender with possible College Football Playoff aspirations. In contrast, Nebraska, at 5-2, faced a humbling 56-7 defeat that put undeniable pressure on Matt Rhule’s second year. The Huskers’ five turnovers and failed attempts on fourth down highlight being completely outclassed by first-year Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, despite Indiana having gone 3-9 last season. While Nebraska may be making strides overall, this was indeed a significant setback.

Arizona State: The Sun Devils are showing signs of improvement this season, boasting a 5-2 record, but coach Kenny Dillingham expressed frustration following a 24-14 defeat to Cincinnati, declaring that campus tryouts for a new kicker would be held on Monday. This came in response to kicker Ian Hershey missing a 48-yarder late in the game and then failing a 41-yarder with only 30 seconds remaining. However, one has to consider the realistic chances that an ordinary student might perform better than someone on a scholarship secured by Dillingham’s staff.

Michigan: The reigning national champions are currently grappling with a serious quarterback dilemma. After starting the season with Davis Warren, the offense was handed over to Alex Orji, and has now shifted to Jack Tuttle. As the saying goes, if you have three quarterbacks, you effectively have none. The Wolverines faced a tough 21-7 loss at Illinois, where they were outperformed despite allowing a mere 267 yards of offense. This illustrates how first-year coach Sherrone Moore seems to be stuck in indecision about the team’s direction. Although the previous year’s championship win was a significant achievement, Michigan finds itself at 4-3, with a challenging road ahead to reach a 6-6 record, particularly given their offensive ranking far beyond the national top 100.

It seems that this program will have a tough time bouncing back following Jim Harbaugh’s transition to the NFL.

Florida International: When a stadium is backed by Pitbull, fans should be enjoying a great time. However, when 0-6 UTEP arrives on the scene, things take a turn. Unfortunately, it appears that no one in the Panthers’ locker room had the energy to celebrate, as they ended up losing 30-21, granting the Miners their first win of the season. Mike MacIntyre, the experienced coach at FIU, is undoubtedly feeling the weight of this moment, as his team’s record has now dropped to 10-21. If FIU considers a coaching change, MacIntyre and his agent are likely to demand the full amount he’s entitled to under his contract, which amounts to a $1.14 million buyout. Is there any remaining affection for FIU?