The 2025 season isn't over yet with Oklahoma still competing in the College Football Playoff, but the Sooners already have their 2026 schedule, so it's never too early to start predicting how things could go, even before the chaos of the Transfer Portal and the coaching carousel coming to a complete stop.
Sooners headed for another successful season
Sept. 5: vs UTEP - W
UTEP went 2-10 this season and will be the Sooners' sweetest cupcake in 2026 for fans' first look at a new squad.
Sept. 12: at Michigan - W
Just a few days ago, a road trip to The Big House seemed to most likely end in a loss for the Sooners after beating Michigan this season in Norman. However, The Big House is now crumbling.
Michigan fired head coach Sherrone Moore to be a late entrant to a wild coaching carousel and could also lose star quarterback Bryce Underwood because of the move. Unless the Wolverines land a surprise home-run hire (like Alabama's Kalen DeBoer), they won't be at a blue-blood level when the Sooners visit.
Sept. 19: vs New Mexico - W
New Mexico went 9-3 this season, but the Lobos play in the Mountain West, and even if the success carries into next year, there will be an obvious difference in talent. For example, even during this great season, Michigan, which OU beat, still handled the Lobos 34-17 in Bryce Underwood's first career appearance.
Sept. 26: at Georgia - L
This is the toughest game on the Sooners' schedule and that won't change by Sept. 26. Both teams should be 3-0 and at least inside the top 10 when they meet. Undefeated seasons seem nearly impossible in today's college football, especially in the SEC, so a trip to Georgia seems like the Sooners' most likely deficit.
Oct. 10: vs Texas - W
After beating the Sooners this season, Texas should be even better next year with quarterback Arch Manning back behind an improved offensive line. However, the Sooners should also be even better than their last meeeting, and there's no way OU loses a third straight Red River Rivalry.
Oct. 17: vs Kentucky - W
Kentucky is the Big 12 equivalent of OU having Kansas on the schedule back in the day. Even a new coach for the Wildcats won't change that by next season.
Oct. 24: at Mississippi State - W
Jeff Lebby at least has Mississippi State improving after two seasons, but the Bulldogs are still bottom-dwellers in the SEC.
Oct. 31: vs South Carolina - W
Shane Beamer might have peaked at South Carolina. The Gamecocks had high hopes for this season, but still went 4-8. South Carolina will probably have even less talent next season unless quarterback LaNorris Sellers miraculously sticks around.
Nov. 7: at Florida - W
Florida's Jon Sumrall is currently one of four first-year coaches Brent Venables will face off against next season. That could actually mean a better Florida team, though, as the Gators are magnets for talent. The Swamp is also one of the toughest stadiums in the country to play.
However, this season was proof that Venables' teams are unbothered by hostile environments, and Sumrall hasn't ever seen a defense like OU's coming from the Group of Five level.
Nov. 14: vs Ole Miss - W
Lane Kiffin had Brent Venables' number, but he's gone to LSU and not on the schedule in 2026. This will not be the same problem it has been for the Sooners the last two seasons, especially at home again.
Nov. 21: vs Texas A&M - W
If OU and Texas A&M both keep up this season's momentum into next, then we're in for one of the biggest games of 2026 in Norman between two old Big 12 rivals that could both be College Football Playoff contenders.
Going back to those Big 12 days, though, the Sooners have been big brothers to the Aggies, and this will be too massive of a game at home for OU to slip away. Expect the lights to be on at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
Nov. 28: at Missouri - W
Missouri has ben bringing its best for the Sooners and this was almost marked as loss No. 2. However, this season's win got the Sooners back on track to controlling this matchup that Mizzou so badly wants to be considered a rivalry.
Season prediction: 11-1
Bullish? Absolutely, but 10-2 also would have been this time last year when predicting this season. Half of a team's success is scheduling, and although it'll never be a Big 12 slate again, this road might be as easy as it gets for the Sooners in the SEC, especially with where the matchups against Georgia and Texas fell.