Oklahoma football is in a tough spot in year one of competing in the SEC. At 4-3 and losers of two straight by a combined 57 points, the Oklahoma Sooners continue to play musical chairs at quarterback while entering this weekend’s clash against Ole Miss as a three-touchdown underdog. In the era of public and legal player compensation, college football has received an injection of parity, especially with loose transfer portal rules. However, one longtime Oklahoma head coach is still determining if the once Big 12 power can compete against the most extensive programs in the country.
Barry Switzer, the Sooners’ leadman from 1973 to 1987, took to the Paul Finebaum Show on Tuesday, speaking on Oklahoma football’s struggles and program state while chiming in on their NIL structure compared to their rival, the Texas Longhorns. College football fans did not share Switzer’s belief that Oklahoma can not, or will not, compete with other teams regarding NIL.
Oklahoma Football’s Barry Switzer Questioned by Fans
According to Barry Switzer through On3 Sports:
Former Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer questions if Sooners’ NIL can compete with Texas: “They can raise more money than we can. We’re a small state. We’ve only got 3.5 million people, and it’s gonna be more difficult than it is for the University of Texas, where they’ve got 35 million people. A wealthier state and people to be able to support the programs. We’ll have to wait and see…NIL is still a mystery for everybody because we don’t know where we’re gonna end up. Hopefully, someday, we’ll get something that has some stability to it that we all will have a chance to be successful with.”
Per On3, rival Texas houses one of the top NIL collectives in the country. Also, according to the website, the Texas Longhorns have five of the top 75 NIL earners, headlined by quarterbacks Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning. Meanwhile, Oklahoma football is not represented in the top 100. Their highest earner, linebacker Danny Stutsman, is the 170th highest-paid player in the sport.
The Longhorns and the Sooners played earlier this season in the 120th rendition of the Red River Rivalry. In a one-sided affair, Texas won 34-3, outgaining OU by nearly 200 yards while forcing five sacks. UT will enter this weekend as one of the top-ranked teams in the country, while the Sooners will try and avoid just their second three-game slide since 1998. Naturally, with Oklahoma’s long standard of competing for national titles, fans do not share Switzer’s concern when it comes to NIL:
Yeah but there’s 13 FBS programs in Texas
— Kyle Umlang (@kyleumlang) October 22, 2024
And the excuses come flowing in. Ole Miss has a top 5 collective in the country while being located in a state that has another SEC school with a population of only 2.9 mil. It can be done
— WA🅾️Ⓜ️ (@WAOM_) October 22, 2024
IF this is the big barrier, all NIL did was make what was already happening more public
Oklahoma being too far behind Texas would reflect poorly on other aspects of the program
Besides, student-athletes choose where to play on multiple factors, not just NIL
— Big Ten Gabriel (@BigTenGabriel) October 22, 2024
With how many other schools in Texas we have 7 power 4 schools and another one in the sec that we have to compete with for talent as well in the state of Texas we can’t lock our state down because it’s impossible
— OLU (@2tonekey) October 22, 2024
https://twitter.com/eksohv3/status/1848848215484825989
The excuses pouring in already 😭😭😭😭
— Football Fanatics (@FFB_Fanatics) October 22, 2024
I’ll answer this… no. The answer is no. Oklahoma is a smaller state is everyone knows OU is about to be 3rd tier behind the powerhouse OSU Cowboys and then Tulsa Golden Hurricanes.
OU may be forced to cancel their football program and stick to Softball and Gymnastics.
— Uncle Baby Petey (@FriscoOSU) October 22, 2024
— spicypeanuts (@saltyalmonds_) October 22, 2024
Not sure if I’m putting Texas on a pedestal just yet. They’ve always had the stars and everything else. Seasons just a bit over half way over and one thing I know forsure is Texass is going to underperform at some point they always do. Ou just needs to hire the right OC.
— KellZ (@Kellzzzzzz001) October 22, 2024
He’s right, venables is not utilizing the NIL and it’s costing us. This team straight up sucks.
— #RedDecember believer (@unbearable_szn) October 22, 2024
https://twitter.com/eksohv3/status/1848848215484825989
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Oklahoma Sooners: Fans Bashing Brent Venables For Starting Jackson Arnold Against the Ole Miss Rebels
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Oklahoma Football: Sooners Open as Three-Touchdown Underdog Against Ole Miss After Embarrassing 35-9 Home Loss
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Oklahoma Sooners: Fans Explode Over Firing Of Offensive Coordinator Seth Littrell
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