BE ALL HANDS ON DECK, ALL HANDS ON DECK. AND OU POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY’RE IN CHARGE OF SECURITY THERE ON CAMPUS. BUT NORMAN POLICE TELL ME THAT THEY’RE GOING TO BE MANNING PLACES ALL ACROSS NORMAN WITH ROAD CLOSURES. OF COURSE, HERE IN DOWNTOWN NORMAN AND ON CAMPUS CORNER, THEY TELL ME THEY EXPECT ABOUT 100,000 PEOPLE TO COME INTO TOWN. SO THIS REALLY IS A DEPARTMENT WIDE EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS SAFETY ACROSS OUR CITY, AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO STILL RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES AS WE NEED TO A MULTI-AGENCY EFFORT. A LOT OF OUR SPECIAL TEAMS ARE WORKING IN CAPACITIES LIKE SWAT OR HAZARDOUS DEVICES UNIT. YOU’LL SEE ALL OF OUR BIKE TEAM OUT THERE. PD SAYS NEARLY EVERY ONE OF THEIR OFFICERS WILL HAVE A ROLE FRIDAY ON DUTY, PATROLLING BUSY AREAS LIKE CAMPUS CORNER AND MAIN STREET ON CAMPUS. OPD IS IN CHARGE. THEY BRING IN HELP FROM ACROSS THE STATE, DEPUTIES AND OFFICERS FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS. AND WHILE THE PLAN STAYS BASICALLY THE SAME, THIS GAME DAY LOOKS DIFFERENT THAN ANY BEFORE. THIS IS ONLY THE SECOND YEAR WITH COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF GAMES ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES. IN THE FIRST EVER IN NORMAN, SO THERE’S A LOT OF UNKNOWNS, LIKE HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE IN NORMAN, MANY WILL HEAD TO TOWN EVEN IF THEY DON’T HAVE A TICKET TO GET INTO THE STADIUM. POLICE SAY YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR EMERGENCY ALERTS IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN BY TEXTING NORMAN EVENTS TO 226787, AND A LOT OF TIMES THOSE EMERGENCY MESSAGES ARE PRETTY GOOD AT PUSHING THROUGH WHEN THERE IS DIFFICULTY IN CELL SERVICE. BEFORE FRIDAY AND GAME DAY ACTIVITIES, THEY’RE ASKING FANS TO PLAN AHEAD. I THINK THE BIGGEST THING WE SEE IS PEOPLE GET SEPARATED FROM OTHER PEOPLE IN THEIR PARTY AND ARE TRYING TO GET CONNECTED, AND SO ESTABLISHING SOME OF THOSE PRE SAFETY PLANS, PLACES TO MEET, MAYBE IT’S THE GATE FOR WHERE YOU’RE GOING TO GO INTO THE GAME, SETTING UP SOME OF THOSE TIMES SO THAT IF YOU DO GET SEPARATED FROM INDIVIDUALS THAT YOU’RE WITH, YOU’RE ABLE TO CONNECT WITHOUT HAVING TO RELY ON YOUR CELL PHONE. NOW, NORMAN, POLICE SAY THAT THOSE ROAD CLOSURES START BRIGHT AND EARLY, AROUND 6 A.M. ON FRIDAY MORNING ON CAMPUS CORNER AND AROUND 1 P.M. ACROSS THE REST OF TOWN. NOW THEY SAY THAT THEY WILL HAVE PEOPLE WITHIN REACH, POLICE OFFICERS W
Norman prepares for College Football Playoff with increased security
Norman is implementing extensive security measures as it hosts its first college football playoff game on campus, expecting around 100,000 visitors.
Updated: 5:21 PM CST Dec 17, 2025
Norman is preparing for its first college football playoff game on campus with extensive security measures, as local and university police coordinate efforts to manage an expected 100,000 visitors. >> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channelThe Norman Police Department is deploying officers across the city, including Campus Corner and downtown Norman, to ensure safety and maintain emergency response capabilities.”This really is a department-wide effort to make sure there is safety across our city and we have the ability to still respond to emergencies as we need to,” said Sarah Schettler of the Norman Police Department.The multi-agency effort includes special teams such as SWAT and the hazardous devices unit, with the bike team also actively patrolling. Nearly every officer in the Norman Police Department will be on duty, focusing on busy areas like Campus Corner and Main Street.On campus, the OU Police Department is leading safety efforts, with support from deputies and officers from other jurisdictions across the state. This game day is unique as it marks only the second year of college football playoff games on college campuses and the first ever in Norman, leading to uncertainties about the number of visitors, many of whom may come without tickets.Police are encouraging visitors to sign up for emergency alerts by texting “NORMANEVENTS” to 226787. “A lot of times those emergency messages are pretty good at pushing through even when there’s difficulty in cell service,” Schettler said.Ahead of Friday’s game day activities, fans are advised to plan ahead to avoid getting separated from their group. “The biggest thing we see is people get separated from people in their party and they’re trying to get connected, so establishing some of those pre-safety plans,” Schettler said. She suggested setting meeting points and times to reconnect without relying on cell phones.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.Street closures on Campus Corner will begin at 6 a.m. Friday, with closures across Norman starting at 1 p.m. Officers will be stationed throughout the area to assist in case of emergencies.Top Headlines‘Worst-case scenario’: Troopers work to determine cause of Deer Creek crash that killed 2 teensSuspect remains at large after stabbing near northeast Oklahoma City businessHere’s how tariffs are raising the prices of artificial trees and decorations this year‘It was triggering’: Reiner murder reopen old wounds for widow of slain Oklahoma labor commissionerThey answered the call, then bills came: The hidden cost of law enforcement injured in the line of duty
NORMAN, Okla. —
Norman is preparing for its first college football playoff game on campus with extensive security measures, as local and university police coordinate efforts to manage an expected 100,000 visitors.
>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel
The Norman Police Department is deploying officers across the city, including Campus Corner and downtown Norman, to ensure safety and maintain emergency response capabilities.
“This really is a department-wide effort to make sure there is safety across our city and we have the ability to still respond to emergencies as we need to,” said Sarah Schettler of the Norman Police Department.
The multi-agency effort includes special teams such as SWAT and the hazardous devices unit, with the bike team also actively patrolling.
Nearly every officer in the Norman Police Department will be on duty, focusing on busy areas like Campus Corner and Main Street.
On campus, the OU Police Department is leading safety efforts, with support from deputies and officers from other jurisdictions across the state.
This game day is unique as it marks only the second year of college football playoff games on college campuses and the first ever in Norman, leading to uncertainties about the number of visitors, many of whom may come without tickets.
Police are encouraging visitors to sign up for emergency alerts by texting “NORMANEVENTS” to 226787.
“A lot of times those emergency messages are pretty good at pushing through even when there’s difficulty in cell service,” Schettler said.
Ahead of Friday’s game day activities, fans are advised to plan ahead to avoid getting separated from their group.
“The biggest thing we see is people get separated from people in their party and they’re trying to get connected, so establishing some of those pre-safety plans,” Schettler said.
She suggested setting meeting points and times to reconnect without relying on cell phones.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
Street closures on Campus Corner will begin at 6 a.m. Friday, with closures across Norman starting at 1 p.m. Officers will be stationed throughout the area to assist in case of emergencies.
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