For the sake of argument, let's all agree that every football game Oklahoma plays is difficult. It really doesn't matter who the opponent is, because it is the Oklahoma Sooners, they are always going to have a target on their back.
A long history of winning football and a rich tradition will do that for you. The Sooners pretty much expect to get everyone's best shot. And now that Oklahoma has moved up to be among other big boys in college football's best and most competitive conference, the SEC, seemingly every weekend presents a matchup with a top-25 opponent.
Last month, we suggested that the most important game on the 2025 Oklahoma schedule is Week 2 when the Michigan Wolverines come to Norman. The reasons are twofold: 1) the timing of where it falls on the schedule and the confidence boost and tone it would set for the rest of the season, and 2) OU's strength of schedule already sets up as one of the best in the country by virtue of the conference it is in and the quality of the SEC teams on the 2025 schedule. A quality nonconference win over a national power that is just two years removed from winning a national championship would strongly add to the Sooner's end-of-season resume.
As important as the Michigan game is, though, it does not represent the most difficult challenge on the Oklahoma schedule this coming season.
That dubious distinction belongs to the game at Alabama on Nov. 15. You can be sure that the Crimson Tide have had this date circled on the calendar since late last fall after being embarrassed and held without a touchdown in a 24-3 loss at Oklahoma. That loss ostensibly cost Alabama a spot in the College Football Playoff, and you know that will be on the minds of head coach Kalen DeBoer and the returning Alabama players when the Sooners pay a visit to Tuscaloosa this fall.
Crimson Tide are Sooners' toughest challenge of 2025
Texas, being Oklahoma's chief rival and ranked No. 1 in many of the way-too-early 2025 top-25 projections, would be a logical choice as the toughest game for the Sooners on the 2025 schedule. The fact that the Longhorns are loaded with talent on both sides of the ball -- including having the highly touted and Heisman favorite Arch Manning at quarterback -- and defeated OU and Brent Venables by a combined score of 83-3 in two of the past three seasons is more than enough to support that argument.
It's easy to circle the Red River Showdown with Texas as the biggest and most emotional -- and therefore the most difficult -- game on the schedule every season, and in most seasons it definitely is the hardest fought because of the nature of the game. But the rivalry game with Texas won't be the most difficult opponent or environment the Sooners will face this season.
Alabama must replace starting quarterback Jalen Milroe, but the Crimson Tide still have plenty of talent back on both offense and defense with seven starters on offense and eight on defense returning for the 2025 season. Defense is the strength of this Alabama team, but it can be as explosive as any team in the country on offense with the playmakers it has on the roster.
Perhaps the biggest advantage Alabama will have, though, when Oklahoma comes calling in mid-November is the home environment at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, with over 100,000 strong and one of the most difficult road environments in all of college football. Bryant-Denny Stadium is the fifth-largest in the SEC and ranks eighth in the United States. Over the last 10 seasons, only three opponents out of 69 have left Tuscaloosa with a road win.
The Crimson Tide will view the Oklahoma game as a get-even opportunity, and they no doubt will have a lot going in their favor and much to play for at the point in the season when this game is played.
For what it's worth, Oklahoma does have a winning record of 4-2-1 in the all-time series against Alabama.
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