The Oklahoma football schedule and where you can see the Sooners play has been a controversial topic among the OU faithful.
The 11 a.m. local kickoff had been the thorn in the side of OU fans in their final seasons in the Big 12, and at least two years into the SEC, it has been less of the thought throughout the fan base with more primetime matchups under the lights likely ahead. As we look forward, we are going to attempt to predict when and how you will be able to see the Sooners play this fall if you won't be at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
Predicting OU football's 2026 TV schedule
Week 1 vs UTEP - 5 p.m. CT on SEC Network+
The season opener is always an interesting spot to try and place a football game on the schedule. Oklahoma has played at least one game per season on either ESPN+ or SEC Network+ over the last several years, and I think for the second consecutive year, the Sooners will start the year on a platform that's a little more difficult to find.
This is the probably the best chance that the league will have to put OU on SEC Network+. UTEP was 2-10 last season and it's unknown how much that will improve in 2026, so I believe it is the perfect spot.
Week 2 at Michigan - 11 a.m. on FOX
This is one of the easiest games to place on OU's schedule. The two college football blue bloods faced off under the primetime lights in Norman last season. Now, the Sooners make the return trip to Ann Arbor. The Big Ten and FOX specifically have improved the Big Noon time slot, and this game slides right into that slot.
Week 3 vs New Mexico - 2:30 p.m. on SEC Network
This game could be one of the more surprising games on the entire schedule that might throw some Sooner fans for a loop. New Mexico made a huge jump in head coach Jason Eck's first season in 2025. From 5-7 in 2024 to 9-4 and a chance at a Mountain West title, New Mexico could be a team that could put some unwanted pressure to end the nonconference portion of OU's schedule.
Week 4 at Georgia - 6:30 p.m. on ABC
The Sooners and Bulldogs face off for the first time since the 2018 Rose Bowl as OU makes its first trip to Athens. Oklahoma matches up with another college football blueblood in what some people are predicting could be an SEC Championship Game preview and is the premier game in the conference to kick off SEC play, making it worthy of primetime.
Week 6 vs Texas - 2:30 p.m. on ABC
This game was for sure the easiest game to put into the schedule. After many years of kicking off the second Saturday in October at 11 a.m., the SEC has slid this game back into the 2:30 timeframe. The Red River Rivalry is setting up to be another big-time matchup between the two heated rivals.
Week 7 vs Kentucky - 11 a.m on ESPN
The week after the Red River Rivalry has the ability to be a giant let down after a massive win, or it could be a quick bounceback after a heartbreaking defeat against a rival. Kentucky will have a new look under first-year head coach Will Stein, who makes his way to Lexington after spending the past three seasons as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Oregon.
Week 8 at Mississippi State - 2:30 p.m. on ESPN2
The first matchup between Brent Venables and Jeff Lebby is one of the under-the-radar matchups in the week that's headlined by Texas A&M heading to Alabama and Ole Miss making its way to Austin to take on the Longhorns. The two head coaches are familiar with each other in this one and it will be interesting to see how the two sides adjust to each other and try to limit each other's strengths.
Week 9 vs South Carolina - 3 p.m on SEC Network
The two meetings between Oklahoma and South Carolina have both had completed one-sided victories by the road teams after the Sooners controlled last season's contest from start to finish on their way to a 26-7 takedown in Columbia. LaNorris Sellers returns at quarterback for the Gamecocks and his ability to take over a game could be needed for them to when this one. Shane Beamer enters the season on the hot seat and a slow start could mean an interim head coach bringing the Gamecocks into Norman.
Week 10 at Florida - 11 a.m on ABC
Oklahoma and Florida have faced off only two times in the history of their football programs. They took the field against each other in two different bowl games, but they meet in a regular-season environment for the first time when the Sooners make their way to Gainesville to kick off the month of November.
Week 11 vs Ole Miss - 2:30 p.m. on ABC
Lane Kiffin may be gone, but the disdain between the Sooners and Rebel will be reborn when Ole Miss returns to Norman for the second straight season. Trinidad Chambliss returns at quarterback and last year's matchup was almost a perfect display of the entire season with the offense showing glimpses of hope while not being able to carry it across the finish line, and then continuing to throw the defense out on the field and wearing it out to where it isn't as productive. If both fan bases get their way, this could have a huge impact on who's heading to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game.
Week 12 vs Texas A&M - 6:30 p.m. on ABC
The first meeting between the Sooners and Aggies since the 2013 Cotton Bowl gets the primetime spotlight during "Cupcake Week" of SEC play. Both teams come into 2026 off a College Football Playoff appearance and are looking to make a return. Texas A&M has made its way among the top of the SEC under head coach Mike Elko.
Week 13 at Missouri - 6 p.m. on ESPN
Oklahoma and Missouri is the new end-of-season rivalry matchup and it has built up a lot of mixed feelings from both fan bases. Sooner fans aren't' really feeling the rivalry, while Missouri fans have their hatred at an all-time high. The last time these teams met in Columbia, it was a disaster for OU. The Sooners got their redemption last season in Norman, but a victory in Columbia to end the regular season could be a huge momentum boost into the postseason.