Brent Venables met with reporters in Norman on Tuesday to help preview Oklahoma’s Week 11 contest against Missouri.

OU and Mizzou have history that dates back decades. Although this will be the first SEC meeting between these old Big 12 foes, OU and Missouri have met 96 times before.

In addition to that tension, there have been a few different transfers between these programs. Theo Wease began his career at Oklahoma before spending the last couple of seasons with the Tigers. Mizzou also lured offensive lineman Cayden Green out of the transfer portal after he had a standout freshman season with the Sooners in 2023. On Oklahoma’s side, former Mizzou wideout JJ Hester is OU’s leading receiver through 9 games.

However, Venables dismissed the idea that there’s any “bitterness” between the 2 programs.

“It’s not spicy for me,” Venables said. “Recruiting is incredibly competitive, winning is incredibly hard. We’re programs that, certainly there’s a familiarity. But I don’t think Eli was on staff for any of the past Oklahoma-Missouri meetings and what happens in the past doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with what happens in the future. Good or bad.”

Venables also spoke about Wease and Green.

“Spicy maybe for the media or the fans, but staff-wise, it hasn’t … and in regards to Theo, our offensive staff at the time … he wasn’t a major part of what we were doing and he was looking for an opportunity. He was nothing but great [at Oklahoma].

“I think Cayden went in there and was a starter. He was a starter for us, we’re not surprised if he has success. Cayden was a fantastic player, a freshman All-American. That’s the world that we live in now. Players are free to come and go as they please and look out for what’s best for them. There ain’t no time for bitterness and things like that.”

Kickoff is set for 7:45 p.m. ET on Saturday night in Columbia.