The Oklahoma Sooners defense was straight fire last season, one of the best in college football, no joke. Head coach Brent Venables has completely flipped that unit since taking over in 2022, transforming them into a legit force on the field. They weren't just good, they finished among the nation's top 10 in a bunch of major categories, playing a crucial role in getting Oklahoma back to the College Football Playoff. That's huge. But here's the kicker: even an elite defense knows where it needs to get better, and star EDGE Taylor Wein just put them on blast for two major weak spots that absolutely gotta get fixed for the 2026 season.
The Turnover Drought Was Real, And That Ain't The Oklahoma Standard
Wein's first point? The shocking lack of turnovers. "We didn't have our first turnover, I think, until Week 5," Wein said. Seriously, Week 5? For an elite defense? That's just not the Oklahoma standard. Even with all their strengths last year, Wein admitted, "That's something we struggled with." The stats back him up: the Sooners forced a measly 13 turnovers all season. Meanwhile, their offense coughed it up 16 times. That's a negative-three turnover differential. You just can't be an *elite* defense and consistently fail to take the ball away, flipping momentum. That's a huge piece of the puzzle, and it absolutely has to change if they want to hit that next level.Choking In The Clutch? Not For A Championship Squad.
Wein wasn't done, though. His second issue was critical: struggling to finish games in the fourth quarter, especially when the chips were down in their losses. "In the fourth quarter, our three losses, we struggled to finish games," Wein admitted during SEC media days. He didn't mince words, "We've got to do a better job. We can't allow points in the fourth quarter." The Sooners allowed 46 fourth-quarter points throughout the entire season, which might sound manageable until you see the breakdown: a relatively modest 20 points came in their 10 wins, but a staggering 26 points were given up during their *three losses*. That tells the whole story. Letting opponents hang around, or worse, pull ahead late in those toughest matchups? That's not the move for a team aiming for a title. Late-game execution in crunch time was clearly their Achilles' heel when it mattered most.Next Up: Championship Caliber D?
This isn't just about being good, it's about being legendary. Coach Venables' crew already built a monster defense. But the standard inside that program is set way higher. Getting more takeaways and shutting teams down cold in the fourth quarter are the next steps for Venables' unit. If they can fix these two glaring issues and bring back key contributors, then buckle up. The Sooners could roll out one of the most complete defenses in college football in 2026. That's the kind of D that doesn't just win games, it wins big games.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.
Originally reported by yahoo.com.