NORMAN, Okla. — Oklahoma coach Brent Venables praised Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin’s leadership and offensive creativity as the Sooners prepare for their matchup with the Rebels this weekend.
Venables said Monday that Kiffin has done “a great job” building and sustaining Ole Miss’s offensive identity.
“Nobody that we play is more efficient from the sideline to the quarterback than Ole Miss,” Venables said. “Lane has done a fantastic job offensively in what they do structurally.”
The comments reflected Venables’ respect for Kiffin’s play-calling and offensive approach. The Sooners, meanwhile, have built their reputation this season on disciplined defense and preparation under Venables, who assumed play-calling duties this year.
Kiffin drew attention earlier in the week when he suggested Oklahoma’s defense may benefit from studying offensive signals.
“This is probably — I don’t know this — but it feels like, looking at it — probably, statistically, the best defense we’ve ever played here,” Kiffin said. “They’ve done an amazing job. And (Venables) just somehow gets the information to the guys, and they do a great job of playing the plays.
“They just do things that are very abnormal when they see plays they think are coming and go to take away and go to pick them off.”
Venables responded by calling those remarks “a kind of weird kind of compliment.”
“Our guys must look pretty good on film,” Venables said.
For Oklahoma, the mutual respect comes at a critical time. The Sooners (6-1) are deep in a stretch of ranked matchups that will define their postseason chances. No. 8 Ole Miss (6-1) brings one of the nation’s most balanced offensive attacks under Kiffin, while Oklahoma continues to rely on a defense that ranks among the top units in the country.
Venables said his defensive staff has been a key factor in that improvement.
“This is the best defensive staff that I’ve been on since I’ve been coaching,” Venables said.
Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer said the Sooners’ offensive approach must mirror that same attention to detail.
“We’ve got to stay efficient,” Mateer said. “When you play a team like Ole Miss, they’re explosive, they can score in a hurry, and you’ve got to make the most of your possessions.”
Venables said the staff’s commitment to preparation and communication remains central to Oklahoma’s success. He credited the Sooners’ “cheetah” position — a hybrid role used in the perimeter — as one of the biggest reasons the defense has taken a step forward this season.
With both teams at 6-1, the pregame comments add to the anticipation surrounding the matchup. While Kiffin’s remarks about signal study raised eyebrows nationally, Venables dismissed the speculation.
“We just try and do our job,” Venables said. “We’ve got enough to worry about just getting our guys lined up with the right call and things of that nature.”
Oklahoma’s defense has allowed fewer explosive plays than nearly any Power Five program this season, while Kiffin’s offense ranks among the top 10 nationally in total yards per game. The contrasting styles — a disciplined defense versus an up-tempo offense — make the meeting one of the most intriguing of the season.
Venables said the Sooners’ home-field environment will also play a factor in communication.
“The environment can really impact and affect what they’re trying to do from a communication and play-calling standpoint,” Venables said.
Despite the compliments for Kiffin and the Ole Miss staff, Venables reiterated that his focus remains on his own team’s discipline and consistency.
“This season has required us to play with a consistent standard,” Venables said. “We’re playing a lot of key games in the final stretch. Our job is just to kind of get our team ready for whoever’s next.”
Saturday’s contest pits one of the SEC’s most efficient offenses against one of the nation’s most improved defenses, testing Oklahoma’s ability to contain tempo and Ole Miss’s ability to maintain rhythm against pressure.
The mutual respect between Venables and Kiffin has been evident in their comments this week, and the matchup offers a tactical duel between two programs emphasizing execution, communication and preparation.
“This is the fun part of the season,” Venables said. “You want to see how your team responds when it’s hard, when you’re playing really good people. That’s what this is about.”
