Sooners win coaching sweepstakes, clearly, but who knew the margin would be so great?

Nearing two seasons after one of these men left Norman and the other arrived, there’s no doubt who got the better of the exchange.

At this point, pointing out Lincoln Riley’s post-Bedlam Sunday morning exit from Oklahoma for Southern Cal two Novembers ago to be a favor to the program he departed has become passé.

Of course it was.

It didn’t feel like it a year ago because Brent Venables’ head coaching learning curve turned out to be steep, he didn’t know what he didn’t know and the program lost its way, suffering its first losing season in almost 25 years.

But now it’s clear.

Even if you can’t pinpoint why it’s clear, it’s still clear.

Every game USC appears capable of losing, it loses and dang near other ones, too.

Everything Riley could never do here, he’s been unable to do there, too.

Just like his old Sooner teams were always being outscored in second halves and fourth quarters, hardly ever winning going away, it’s all happening at his new place, too.

The Trojans can’t close.

Meanwhile, Venables has proven to be a fast learner and OU’s on its way to Lawrence, Kansas, hoping to move to 8-0, remaining in line for both a spot in the Big 12 championship and, eventually, the College Football Playoff.

So, write it down.

It took a season, but the Sooners have made out like a bandit.

USC did not win Riley’s departure, OU did.

Case closed.

What might not be passé, though, is all the different ways it’s suddenly become so abundantly clear.

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