The Oklahoma Sooners football program is no stranger to adversity. Over the years, they’ve faced a variety of challenges—whether it’s tough losses, tough competition, or personal setbacks—and time and time again, the program has managed to rise above. But this time, the challenge has been one that has tested the depths of their resilience: an injury crisis that has left key players sidelined and the depth chart looking much thinner than expected. Despite the hurdles, head coach Brent Venables has responded with innovation and determination, implementing an exciting new format for the 2025 Crimson Combine that aims to energize the fan base, maintain momentum for the program, and even help reshape how the team approaches spring practice.
The Crimson Combine has traditionally served as a major event to help with recruiting, while also giving fans a chance to get a sneak peek at the talent coming into the program. However, with the injury crisis facing the team, Venables and the coaching staff have had to adapt in order to ensure that spring practices don’t lose momentum and that they continue to push for success. What Venables has come up with is an exciting combination of training, fan engagement, and high-level competition that has fans buzzing, recruits intrigued, and players energized despite the challenges on the field.
The Injury Crisis: A Test of Depth and Resilience
As spring practices began, the Oklahoma Sooners were hit hard by an injury crisis that left several key players on the sidelines. Injuries to important positions, including the offensive line, wide receiver corps, and defensive secondary, created an immediate concern for the program. While the depth chart was deep, it wasn’t deep enough to avoid significant setbacks when multiple key contributors went down early in the offseason.
For a program like Oklahoma, which has high aspirations each season and routinely competes at the highest level of college football, an injury crisis can throw a wrench into the program’s plans. The injuries have raised concerns about how the team will be able to build chemistry, develop young players, and prepare for the season ahead. These concerns were amplified by the fact that several of the injured players were expected to be impact contributors in the 2025 season, and their absence threatened to derail some of the team’s plans for success.
However, Venables has never been one to shy away from a challenge. His experience as both a coach and a former player has instilled in him a deep understanding of how to navigate adversity. Venables’ leadership and tactical adaptability are critical in times like these, and instead of allowing the injuries to derail the team’s preparations, he has used this as an opportunity to innovate.
The Crimson Combine: A New Opportunity for Fans and Players
As the injury crisis unfolded, Venables recognized that it wasn’t just the players on the field who needed support. The fans, who have always been a central part of the Sooners’ success, also needed something to rally around during this uncertain time. The Crimson Combine, an event that had previously been used to showcase the team’s future talent and engage recruits, was due for an overhaul.
By extending the Crimson Combine and incorporating more interactive elements, Venables was able to turn the event into an exciting spectacle that would not only help fans engage with the team but also serve as an effective tool for evaluating talent and building team cohesion, even with so many injuries. The event became more than just a recruitment showcase—it turned into a crucial part of spring practice, serving both as an energizing force for the program and as a vital opportunity to see how the team was evolving despite the injuries.
Reworking Spring Practices
One of the key components of the 2025 Crimson Combine extension was its integration with spring practices. Rather than just running standard drills and scrimmages, Venables revamped the practices to be more inclusive and collaborative. With many first-string players sidelined, there was a greater focus on player development, and the extended Crimson Combine allowed for multiple opportunities for backups and younger players to step up and prove their worth.
Venables adjusted the practice structure so that players who might have been overlooked in traditional spring practice scenarios were given the chance to show their skills in front of coaches and fans. The combine structure provided fans an interactive way to watch the team’s evolution, whether it was in the form of 7-on-7 drills, one-on-one matchups, or skills competitions. It gave players who might not have had the spotlight in previous years a chance to prove themselves and earn a more significant role on the team, all while building depth and confidence within the program.
The extended Crimson Combine also focused on developing team chemistry. With so many new faces and players filling in for injured veterans, the team needed to develop trust and communication. Venables structured drills to focus on position flexibility and positional group coordination, ensuring that even with injuries, players were becoming familiar with different roles and responsibilities.
Creating a Competitive Atmosphere
Despite the injuries, Venables managed to create a highly competitive environment during the combine. This wasn’t about seeing just how many touchdowns a quarterback could throw or how many tackles a linebacker could make. It was about how players responded under pressure, how they adapted to new roles, and how they contributed to the team’s success, regardless of their individual injury status.
For example, quarterbacks who might have otherwise been relegated to watching the action from the sidelines were given an opportunity to show off their leadership qualities, throwing passes and engaging with the younger players on the roster. Similarly, defensive players were given scenarios in which they had to work cohesively in short bursts of intensity, allowing them to focus on technique and communication as they adapted to their evolving roles.
Venables used the opportunity to have position battles play out in front of fans and recruits, ensuring that every player had a chance to showcase their skills in a high-pressure, real-world setting. This not only helped in finding the right players for each spot but also ensured that every player on the roster was getting the opportunity to develop and step into their new roles. This competitive atmosphere served as both a challenge and a motivator for the Sooners, keeping morale high even when it seemed like injuries could slow down their progress.
Fan Engagement: Bringing the Sooners Nation Together
One of the most innovative aspects of the reworked Crimson Combine was its focus on fan engagement. Traditionally, fan interaction at spring practices and combines has been limited, with fans allowed only to watch from afar or engage with limited parts of the team. With Venables at the helm, the Crimson Combine was reimagined as a fan-first event that allowed the fan base to engage with the team in new and exciting ways.
The team’s injury crisis presented a unique opportunity to reenergize the fan base by offering them a closer look at the players stepping up in the absence of key veterans. Fans were given the chance to attend various interactive events, including player meet-and-greets, behind-the-scenes looks at practice, and Q&A sessions with coaches. These elements allowed fans to see the next generation of Sooners stars in a new light, building excitement for the upcoming season and solidifying their connection to the program.
Additionally, the extended Crimson Combine included live coverage on social media platforms, giving fans who couldn’t attend the event an inside look at the practices and drills. The use of live-streamed events, fan polls, and social media challenges allowed fans to participate in real-time and feel directly involved in the team’s journey.
For recruits, the combination of fan engagement and visibility at the Crimson Combine was equally crucial. The event allowed high school prospects to see firsthand how the program treats both its players and its fans. It also allowed recruits to observe how Venables adapts to adversity and how a team can rally together during a time of crisis, making the Sooners an even more attractive option for players seeking both success and a strong sense of community.