The No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners are getting set to host No. 9 Alabama in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
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Fourth-year head coach Brent Venables is making his debut appearance in the CFP with Oklahoma. His predecessor, Lincoln Riley, made the CFP three times before leaving for USC.
The Sooners will be looking for their first national title since 2000, when Bob Stoops was in his second season as the program’s head coach. Stoops served as the head coach of Oklahoma from 1999 to 2016, and was the interim head coach for the Alamo Bowl in 2021 when Riley left for USC.
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Per a statement by Stoops posted by the Dallas Renegades, Stoops announced his retirement from coaching football.
“After much thought and reflection, I’ve made the decision to retire from coaching and step away from the game of football,” Stoops wrote. “Coaching has been one of the greatest honors of my life, and closing this chapter comes with lots of gratitude.”
Stoops wants to spend more time with his family.
“While it’s the right time for me to step aside, be with family, and embrace the next chapter of my life, I do so with deep appreciation and full confidence in the bright future of the UFL,” Stoops wrote. “This league is on the rise, and I’ll remain its biggest supporter. Thank you for allowing me to be part of this incredible game for so many years.”
Stoops coached the Dallas Renegades in the XFL in 2020 and the Arlington Renegades in 2023. He remained with the team when they switched to the UFL. He went 14-21 during his time with the Renegades, winning the XFL championship in 2023.
Stoops, 65, went 191-48 during his time at Oklahoma. He won 10 Big 12 championships with the Sooners.
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