5 college football teams that can end their national title drought

Oklahoma — 21 years

Oklahoma has been the most consistently strong program in college football this century thanks to Bob Stoops and his successor Lincoln Riley.

Despite that consistency, it’s been two decades since the Sooners last hoisted the national championship trophy back in 2000.

They came close with a BCS title game berth in 2008. They made it to the College Football Playoff three times under Riley. Still, the title has eluded them.

Now it’s Brent Venables turn to have a go at it.

Venables got the gig because Riley left for USC. So the Sooners turned to their former DC who helped Dabo Swinney’s Clemson reach the pinnacle a couple of times.

It may take some time to build up the Oklahoma defense, but Venables has a proven record as a defensive coordinator. If the adage about defense winning championships remains true, then Venables has that one covered.

He picked up a pretty good offensive coordinator in Jeff Lebby from Ole Miss to run the other side of the ball as well.

Venables is striking out on his own for the first time and he has to prove he can head coach as well as he coordinates. The proof will come in the form of trophies.