Look, if you’re a Sooners fan, you probably spent most of last season with your heart in your throat. Joining the SEC wasn’t just a move; it was a total cultural reset. Now that the dust has settled on the 2025 campaign—which, let’s be honest, had some of the wildest highs and lows we’ve seen in Norman—everyone is looking at the Oklahoma University football schedule for 2026 to see if life gets any easier.
Spoilers: It doesn't.
But that's kinda the point of being in this conference, right? You want the big stages. You want the Michigan rematches. You want to see if Brent Venables can actually navigate a schedule that looks like a gauntlet designed by a sadist.
The 2026 Non-Conference Reality Check
Remember when non-conference games were basically "cupcake Saturdays"? Yeah, those days are long gone. The 2026 season kicks off with a home opener against UTEP on September 5. It should be a standard win, a chance to see how the new roster translates from spring ball to actual snaps. But things get spicy fast.
On September 12, Oklahoma heads to Ann Arbor. This is the second leg of the home-and-home with the Michigan Wolverines. After the Sooners defended Owen Field in 2025 with that gritty 24-13 win, you know the Big House is going to be a hornets' nest. It's the kind of game that defines a season before conference play even starts.
✨ Don't miss: When Was the MLS Founded? The Chaotic Truth About American Soccer's Rebirth
Rounding out the non-con slate is New Mexico on September 19. It’s the "calm before the storm," because once that clock hits zero, the SEC schedule begins, and it is relentless.
Why the Oklahoma University football schedule looks different this year
For the first time since joining the SEC, the Sooners are actually opening conference play on the road. And they aren't just going anywhere; they’re heading to Athens.
September 26: at Georgia Bulldogs.
This is only the second time these two programs have ever met on a college campus. If you want to talk about a "Welcome to the SEC" moment, this is it. Kirby Smart’s program is the gold standard right now. Honestly, playing Georgia in late September is a massive test for depth. Injuries usually haven't piled up yet, but the heat in Georgia is its own opponent.
🔗 Read more: Navy Notre Dame Football: Why This Rivalry Still Hits Different
After an open date on October 3—which the players will desperately need—it’s the big one. The Red River Rivalry against Texas in Dallas on October 10. Last year’s 23-6 loss was a bitter pill to swallow for Sooner Nation. Being the "home" team in the Cotton Bowl this year, OU has a chance to reclaim the Golden Hat in a series where they’ve historically held their own, winning 11 of the last 17.
The Mid-Season Grind
The SEC announced a nine-game conference schedule starting in 2026. This means fewer breaks and more travel. Following the Texas game, the schedule alternates home and away in a way that’s going to test the equipment managers just as much as the linebackers.
- October 17 vs. Kentucky: The Wildcats haven't been to Norman since 1980. This is a "sneaky" game. Stoops (the other one) always has his guys playing physical, blue-collar football.
- October 24 at Mississippi State: This is actually a historic moment—the first-ever meeting between these two schools. Starkville and its cowbells are a different kind of road environment.
- October 31 vs. South Carolina: A Halloween matchup at the Palace on the Prairie. After OU handled them 26-7 in Columbia last year, expect Shane Beamer to have this one circled.
November: The Gauntlet Finishes
If the Sooners want to be in the College Football Playoff conversation, they have to survive November. It starts with a trip to the Swamp to face Florida on November 7. We haven't seen these two play in the regular season before, and Gainesville is never an easy place to play, even if the Gators have been up and down lately.
Then comes the return of Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss on November 14. The Rebels gave OU a lot of trouble in 2025, handing them a 34-26 loss in Norman. Keeping that offense off the field will be the number one priority for Venables.
💡 You might also like: LeBron James Without Beard: Why the King Rarely Goes Clean Shaven Anymore
The regular season wraps up with two games that feel like old-school Big 12 throwbacks but with an SEC patch on the jersey:
- November 21 vs. Texas A&M: The Aggies come to Norman for the first time since 2011. There’s a lot of history here, and the recruiting battles between these two have become legendary.
- November 28 at Missouri: Closing out the year in Columbia. It’s a rivalry that has been reignited, and with the way Missouri has recruited lately, this could easily have SEC Championship game implications.
Taking Action: What You Need to Do Now
Planning for a season like this isn't just for the coaches; it's for the fans too. If you’re planning on attending games, here is the reality of the 2026 situation:
Secure Your Travel Early for Ann Arbor and Athens. These are the two biggest road games of the year. Hotels in Ann Arbor and Athens fill up a year in advance. If you wait until August, you'll be staying an hour away.
Check Your Streaming Subscriptions. With the SEC’s deal with ABC and ESPN, several of these games—especially UTEP and the early-season matchups—will likely land on SEC Network+ or ESPN+. Don't be the person scrambling to find their password ten minutes before kickoff.
Monitor the Injury Report Post-Georgia. The physical toll of playing Georgia followed by Texas is enormous. Keep a close eye on the offensive line depth during the mid-October stretch. That’s usually where the season is won or lost.
The Oklahoma University football schedule is no longer about "winning the Big 12." It’s about surviving a weekly war. 2026 is going to be loud, it's going to be stressful, and for the fans in Norman, it's exactly what they asked for.