Oklahoma Football 2026 Schedule Outlook and Analysis

The Good

There's a good midseason run of winnable games that Oklahoma has to take advantage of.

Kentucky, at Mississippi State, South Carolina, at Florida - that's four straight games against teams that didn't go to a bowl game last year. 

Yeah, the November games against Texas A&M and Ole Miss are tough, but they're in Norman.

The Bad

The first half of the season is a total bear.

This year, the Sooners have to go to Michigan, the SEC season starts at Georgia, and that's followed by the Texas showdown.

November isn't a whole lot better. Going to Florida and ending the regular season at Missouri is tough, and yes, while Ole Miss and Texas A&M are home games, they're against teams that were in the College Football Playoff.

What SEC Teams Oklahoma Will Miss

Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Tennessee, Vanderbilt.

Not playing Alabama or LSU this year is great, and missing Tennessee is always a positive. It would've been nice to miss more killers, though.

Oklahoma’s Best and Worst Case Scenarios in 2026

Best Case: The Sooners start 4-0

Everything got rolling last season with a 5-0 start that provided a buffer for the loss to Texas.

This time around, there aren't any problems with UTEP and New Mexico, and with wins at Michigan and Georgia, it's Game On.

With a healthy John Mateer, the Sooners get by Texas, rip through the manageable stretch, and all of a sudden, they're 9-0 when Ole Miss comes to town.

Worst Case: Michigan and Georgia rise up and rock

The Sooners have their first two-loss September since 2016 - that team won ten straight after that, though - with losses to Michigan and Georgia on the road. 

After dropping the date against Texas, it's a 2-3 start, the College Football Playoff shot is gone, and then it's a battle just to stay relevant.

Two more losses - like, at Florida, or to Ole Miss and/or Texas A&M - put the pressure on the road game at Missouri just to be bowl eligible.

Oklahoma Football 2026 Schedule

Sept 5 UTEP
Sept 12 at Michigan
Sept 19 New Mexico
Sept 26 at Georgia
Oct 3 OPEN DATE
Oct 10 Texas (in Dallas)
Oct 17 Kentucky
Oct 24 at Mississippi State
Oct 31 South Carolina
Nov 7 at Florida
Nov 14 Ole Miss
Nov 21 Texas A&M
Nov 28 at Missouri

Games That Will Decide Oklahoma’s Season

1. at Georgia, Sept. 26
It's insane that Oklahoma and Georgia have only played once. It was the epic 2018 Rose Bowl in the College Football Playoff, a 54-48 overtime Bulldog win. This time around, it's the OU SEC opener.

2. Texas (in Dallas), Oct. 10
The Sooners were able to get away with losing this game last year. They probably won't be as fortunate this time around. This might not be a College Football Playoff elimination game for both teams, but it'll be close.

3. at Michigan, Sept. 12
Here's the tone-setter of tone-setters. Win this, and Oklahoma's season goes into hyperdrive. Lose, and good luck getting through the last ten games with just one more loss.