After ending 6-7 for the second time in Brent Venables<\/a>\u2019 three seasons, the OU football<\/a> program enters the 2025 season needing to indicate loads of enchancment.
The SEC schedule is unforgiving, with house video games towards Auburn, Ole Miss, Missouri and LSU, and highway video games towards South Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama<\/a> to go along with the annual showdown towards Texas in Dallas.
The Sooners<\/a>\u2019 non-conference schedule additionally encompasses a showdown with fellow blueblood Michigan.
With lower than three months earlier than the beginning of the season, OU beat writers Ryan Aber and Colton Sulley take a game-by-game have a look at the Sooners<\/a>\u2019 schedule:
5 p.m., Aug. 30 (SEC Community+)<\/strong>
Aber:<\/strong> The Redbirds have been stable final season, going 10-4 and making it to the second spherical of the FCS playoffs. However OU shouldn\u2019t have an issue dispatching of Illinois State. The Sooners\u2019 protection figures to make life tough on the Redbirds\u2019 offense, which hasn\u2019t scored towards an FBS opponent since 2019. And with John Mateer working Ben Arbuckle\u2019s offense, OU will rating lots to place the sport away by early within the second half on the newest. It may not be excellent, nevertheless it\u2019ll be a victory for the Sooners.
6:30 p.m., Sept. 6 (ABC)<\/strong>
Sulley:<\/strong> This matchup is among the most anticipated non-conference video games in all of faculty soccer. Michigan coach Sherrone Moore returning to his alma mater. Two historic soccer manufacturers dealing with off for the second time ever and first time since 1976. Moreover, it\u2019ll be the primary likelihood to see OU\u2019s new look offense led by Arbuckle and Mateer face an elite protection. I wouldn\u2019t be stunned if this one goes both method, particularly with a Wolverines protection that may very well be the most effective teams nationally. However I\u2019ll give a slight<\/em> edge to the Sooners at house with a extra skilled quarterback in Mateer towards the proficient Michigan true freshman Bryce Underwood in his first highway contest.
11 a.m., Sept. 13 (ESPN2)<\/strong>
Aber:<\/strong> Even with what turned out to be a traditionally unhealthy offense, the Sooners scored 51 factors towards the Owls final season, with Deion Burks scoring three touchdowns. Temple figures to get higher \u2014\u00a0finally not less than \u2014\u00a0below first-year coach Okay.C. Keeler, however this early within the season, OU figures to have the ability to draw back from the Owls early and construct some momentum heading into SEC play.
2:30-3:30 p.m. OR 5-7 p.m. , Sept. 20 (TBD)<\/strong>
Sulley:<\/strong> Jackson Arnold\u2019s return to Norman. The previous OU quarterback will clearly be impressed for this one and Auburn can be out for revenge after OU stole a sport instantly traditional final season. The Sooners return a plethora of defensive starters and will overwhelm the Tigers\u2019 offense. OU has a greater roster and will start SEC play 1-0.
3 p.m., Oct. 4 (SEC Community)<\/strong>
Aber:<\/strong> The Golden Flashes are simply 1-23 during the last two seasons below Kenni Burns. Burns was positioned on administrative depart in late March and was fired April 11, with offensive coordinator Mark Carney taking on as interim coach for the 2025 season. Whereas the Michigan sport presents a stiff check for the Sooners, the remainder of the non-conference schedule is extremely gentle and that\u2019ll be evidenced as soon as once more on this sport as OU rolls.
2:30 p.m., Oct. 11 (ABC or ESPN)<\/strong>
Sulley:<\/strong> This sport is normally a toss-up and maybe the toughest to foretell in recent times. Texas, a playoff crew in back-to-back seasons, is loaded and can be led by the ultra-talented however unproven quarterback Arch Manning. The Longhorns ought to win this sport however OU\u2019s revamped offense will rating touchdowns and hold it nearer than final 12 months\u2019s blowout. As for me, I\u2019m excited for an additional 2:30 p.m. kick.
11 a.m.-noon, Oct. 18 (TBD)<\/strong>
Aber:<\/strong> This was maybe OU\u2019s most disappointing sport in 2024, when the Gamecocks scored thrice within the first 5:20 to place the sport away not lengthy after it started. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers performed an enormous position in South Carolina\u2019s eventual 35-9 win, and Sellers is again in 2025. Williams-Brice Stadium can also be one of many extra underrated atmospheres in faculty soccer. Former OU assistant Shane Beamer will get one other victory over the Sooners.
11 a.m.-noon, Oct. 25 (TBD)<\/strong>
Sulley:<\/strong> That is an attention-grabbing one. Coach Lane Kiffin and Mississippi must be aggressive once more subsequent season with new quarterback Austin Simmons. I\u2019d rank Mississippi as a greater crew as of now, however my opinion on this sport will possible change because the season inches nearer. Seems like a sport OU might win at house however the SEC\u2019s week-to-week schedule is a grind.
2:30-3:30 p.m. OR 5-7 p.m., Nov. 1 (TBD)<\/strong>
Aber:<\/strong> This one would\u2019ve been a reasonably straightforward choose for Tennessee till mid-April, when quarterback Nico Iamaleava left the crew amid a dispute over his NIL deal. Iamaleava finally transferred to UCLA, leaving Josh Heupel\u2019s Vols with a void at a very powerful place. Joey Aguilar isn\u2019t unhealthy, having thrown for practically 7,000 mixed yards during the last two seasons for Appalachian State, however the Sooners have the sting at quarterback with Mateer. OU finds a method to pull this one out.
2:30-3:30 p.m. OR 5-7 p.m., Nov. 15 (TBD)<\/strong>
Sulley:<\/strong> One other revenge sport towards OU. You\u2019ve bought to assume coach Kalen DeBoer, star extensive receiver Ryan Williams and new quarterback Ty Simpson can be out for blood in mid-November in Tuscaloosa after watching the Sooners storm Owen Area after upsetting the Crimson Tide final season. If Simpson is the true deal, Alabama can be much-improved and get the job finished towards OU inside a rocking Saban Area at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
11 a.m., Nov. 22 (ABC or ESPN)<\/strong>
Aber:<\/strong> Missouri figures to take a little bit of a step again this season with Brady Prepare dinner, Luther Burden, Theo Wease and Nate Noel all having departed from the Tigers\u2019 2024 offense. Missouri wanted two touchdowns within the remaining 1:03 to flee the Sooners final season, and there received\u2019t be a miracle coming this time round with the sport in Norman.\u00a0
2:30-3:30 p.m. OR 5-7 p.m., Nov. 29 (TBD)<\/strong>
Sulley:<\/strong> LSU has aspirations for an SEC Championship and Faculty Soccer Playoff berth this season. Coach Brian Kelly has maybe his finest roster since arriving in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is projected to be one of many nation\u2019s premier quarterbacks. The Tigers\u2019 roster is loaded, and whereas I feel OU can be much-improved and have a bonus at house, it\u2019s laborious to not see LSU being favored on this one.
Aber:<\/strong> I\u2019m going with 7-5 for the Sooners this season. They may go slightly below or a sport or two above that if issues fall proper. In a important season for Brent Venables and OU, they\u2019ll present huge enchancment on the offensive facet, however will probably be as much as the Sooners\u2019 protection how the season goes as a complete. OU\u2019s line of defense must be on the heart of that protection this season. Whether it is, the Sooners may very well be on the fringes of the CFP dialogue, nevertheless it\u2019s extra possible OU finishes barely above .500.
Sulley:<\/strong> For now, I\u2019m predicting the Sooners to complete 8-4 with losses to Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and LSU, which might be an unlimited enchancment from final 12 months and be deemed a profitable season in my thoughts. If we do that once more earlier than the season, my predictions will inevitably look completely different. I might actually see OU dropping to Michigan and ending 7-5 or stealing a late SEC sport and ending 9-3, winding up within the CFP dialog.<\/p>\n