The Sooners are entering the 2025 season with one of the toughest schedules in the country.
The University of Oklahoma’s football team will be on the road at three of the toughest places to play in the SEC this season and will welcome at least two playoff contenders to Norman.
Oh, and the Sooners have the Longhorns in Dallas, too.
With that, here is a ranking of each game on the Sooners’ schedule. This list is based on significance, watchability and toughness of the opponent.
No. 12: vs. Kent State, Oct. 4
The only thing worth of note for this game is that Kent State went 0-12 last season. The Sooners will play the Golden Flashes a week before Texas.
No. 11: vs. Illinois State, Aug. 30
The Sooners open the season against FCS-Illinois State. The Redbirds went 10-4 last season.
No. 10: at Temple, Sept. 13
It’s an, odd, return trip for the Sooners, who will travel to Philadelphia week 3 to play the Temple Owls. The Owls went 3-9 last season, including the 51-3 loss at Oklahoma to open the 2024 season.
Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz leaps as players run onto the field after defeating Arkansas 29-27 in an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 25, 2022, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
L.G. Patterson
No. 9: vs. Missouri, Nov. 22
This is when the schedule starts. There’s a massive, massive gap between Missouri and Temple. Missouri has plenty of question marks this season, including Penn State transfer Beau Pribula, who’s expected to be the starter.
For the Tigers, they will visit the Sooners after OU goes to Tuscaloosa and before LSU gets up to Norman. Maybe a potential trap game for the Sooners.
Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold runs down the field during the Sooners game against Alabama Nov. 23.
Paxson Haws | The Norman Transcript
No. 8: vs. Auburn, Sept. 20
For the first SEC game on the schedule, the Sooners will welcome back former quarterback Jackson Arnold to Norman. Arnold transferred to Auburn this offseason and is expected to be the starter.
Last year, the Sooners needed magic to beat the Tigers, and they did for their first SEC win. The Sooners look to make Auburn their first SEC win this season, too.
Mississippi head coach Lane Kiffin, center, looks on from the sideline against Florida during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Phelan M. Ebenhack
No. 7: vs. Ole Miss, Oct. 25
The Rebels lost a lot of production to the NFL Draft last year, most notably almost their entire defensive front and quarterback Jaxon Dart. The Rebels rebuilt in the portal, though, and are, again, a contender this season.
The Rebels will have a new quarterback in Austin Simmons, who’s in his third year with the program, but is only 19 years old.
Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood (19) rolls out to throw as head coach Sherrone Moore watches during an NCAA college football spring game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, April 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Paul Sancya
No. 6: vs. Michigan, Sept. 6
This is the biggest nonconference home game for the Sooners since 2016 when No. 3 Ohio State visited Norman with the soon-to-be President Donald Trump in attendance, that’s how big that game was.
The matchup against Michigan will almost certainly bring College GameDay with it as it’s the best matchup in week 2 and it’s on ABC in the primetime slot.
The Wolverines come into this game with the best player in the 2025 class, Bryce Underwood, taking snaps at quarterback. Last season, the Wolverines finished the season with wins over Ohio State and Alabama, certainly a momentum-builder going into this season.
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel during the game against Tennessee Sept. 21.
Paxson Haws | The Norman Transcript
No. 5: at Tennessee, Nov. 1
If this game was in Norman, it’d be lower on the list, but the Tennessee home environment plays a massive part in this ranking. Since 2022, the Volunteers are 11-1 in SEC home games, with the lone loss coming to then-No. 1 Georgia in 2023.
The Volunteers have a new quarterback and it’s expected to be Appalachian State transfer Joey Aguilar. Along with the quarterback, the Vols have a revamped offense after losing most of their 2024 starters to graduation or the draft.
Nonetheless, it will be the toughest road environment for the Sooners in 2025.
South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers (16) throws a pass against Illinois during the second half of the Citrus Bowl NCAA college football game, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Phelan M. Ebenhack
No. 4: at South Carolina, Oct. 18
The Sooners get to follow the Red River Shootout with a visit to Darude’s ‘Sandstorm’ and the Gamecocks on the other side of the country. Another reason why OU has arguably the toughest schedule in the country.
The Gamecocks are coming off one of the best finishes to the 2024 season, with a six-game win streak to end the regular season with wins over ranked Clemson, Texas A&M and Missouri.
The Gamecocks also have one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the country in Heisman contender LaNorris Sellers.
Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer talks with Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams (2) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Missouri, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Vasha Hunt
No. 3: at Alabama, Nov. 15
The Sooners will finish a stacked SEC road schedule with a visit to Tuscaloosa. Alabama hasn’t lost at home to an SEC opponent since 2019 against soon-to-be national champion LSU. That’s 23-straight wins.
The Crimson Tide rolls into 2025 with a lot of questions, most notably at the quarterback position with Ty Simpson stepping into the starter role.
LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13) passes in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024.
Gerald Herbert | Associated Press
No. 2: vs. LSU, Nov. 29What better way to end the regular season with a potential elimination game in Norman? That’s what is potentially brewing for OU’s game against the Tigers in November.
The Tigers return arguably the best quarterback in the SEC in Garrett Nussmeier and added two Sooners in the portal in wide receiver Nic Anderson and tight end Bauer Sharp.
Texas quarterback Arch Manning (16) works out during the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal game against between Texas and Ohio State, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Arlington, Texas.
Julio Cortez | Associated Press
No. 1: vs. Texas, Oct. 11 (Dallas)
There’s no bigger game than the Red River Shootout, but it’s amplified even more with the potential for both teams this season.
This feels like the first time in a long while the two teams could enter the game in October with high hopes for an SEC Championship game and College Football Playoff berth. And the game will more than likely dictate which team is in the CFP come December.
Arch Manning versus John Mateer might be the best quarterback matchup in the rivalry since Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford were duking it out in the late 2000s.
It will be a show to watch with the season on the line at the Cotton Bowl.