First, based on what people in Norman are saying, I'll be surprised if Williams comes back. OU should be tampering the hell out of Dillon Gabriel.
I've asked you all for other serious ideas as to where he'll go, and the options you've presented illustrate the point that staying at OU makes a lot of sense for Williams. There are about 120 schools he could transfer to and start immediately. But only about 2-3 that make sense for him. This is because the other teams are significantly worse that OU or have unstable coaching situations. If he goes to somewhere other than ND, Wisconsin, or I guess Ole Miss (is Kiffin stable anywhere, ever?), it will be a big departure for a family that, heretofore, has made logical, calculated decisions.
If there ever was a plug and play new head coach and staff, this is just about as close as it gets. The offensive coaches (though I don't like all of the hires) are all from OU or OU alums. Venables history at OU is known, and the new coaches on defense it appears will all have ties to OU. Even if Venables is terrible, OU isn't going to fire him soon.
No doubt that OU underachieved this year, but they still finished 11-2 and will have about 7 starters returning on both sides of the ball at present. If Williams comes back, that number could go up to 9 on offense (only losses Hayes-OG, Hall-FB). Based on several factors, Williams returning next year will mean OU's offense next year will be significantly better:
- Simpler scheme
- OL that keeps 4/5 starters and won't be ridiculously fat
- Williams own year 1 to year 2 improvement
- Better RB (Brooks, surprisingly, may stay; but they'll get 1-2 top 10 RB coming in for the 2022 class regardless; they worked on RB pass game a little for the bowl game so maybe they'll work on blitz pick up for next yr?)
- WR only loses Hazelwood, who wasn't good at OU. Simmons didn't develop the room. Gundy will get a chance to see if he can coach them up.
There is scuttlebutt that there is about to be some massive portaling from OU. Just looking at the depth chart, I'd imaging there will be some high upside DBs in the portal. Some above average LB could also look to move. OU is left with bread on the DL, and could lose 1-2 there too. On offense, they could push out a couple of non-factor OL out from an already depleted OL room. The biggest losses would be from the WR group. Woods has said he's coming back, but Mims has been non-committal, and Mario Williams could leave too. OU would be need a big name portal QB to be considered a good spot for portal WR.