We've spent months predicting and analyzing the Oklahoma Sooners' 2025 season as a whole, but now, finally, we can just focus on the task at hand.
The Sooners will kick off Year 4 under Brent Venables against Illinois State at 5 p.m. CT Saturday at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman. The game will be on ESPN+ and SEC Network+.
Even with so much unknown about the Sooners, we at least know they should win their season opener, but by how much, and who will stand out?
Score prediction and more for Oklahoma vs. Illinois State
Score: Oklahoma 52, Illinois State 10
Illinois State is not your average FCS cupcake for a season opener, but the Sooners still have the talent that they should easily start the season with a win. Vegas agrees with a 36.5-point spread, according to FanDuel. ESPN's SP+ also gave OU a 98% win probability with almost zero belief in the Redbirds.
And I also agree. There's too much fire power from the Sooners for Illinois State. The hope is that the Sooners take off quick enough for starters to get some extra rest before hosting Michigan next week.
Offensive MVP: QB John Mateer
All it will take is for John Mateer to complete a pass over 10 yards for Sooner Nation to erupt. That alone could be enough to put him at MVP status after how rough last season was.
One thing we do already know about Mateer is that he's an emotional dude, so he'll be fired up for his first time playing in front of Sooner Nation no matter the opponent. The one knock on him has been the level of competition he's faced, but that won't be a concern on Saturday.
Mateer should be able to show off his dual-threat ability from the get-go, and spoiler alert for my bold predictions, I think he scores at least once via both air and ground.
Defensive MVP: DT Damonic Williams
Between two years at TCU and last season at OU, Damonic Williams has started every single game but one of his college career, and his senior campaign will begin with his 40th start, which I believe will be a bang.
OU should have one of the best defensive lines in the country this season, so I really could have picked anyone along the defensive front, but even if it's quietly, Williams, at 323 pounds, will be the force Illinois State just can't handle. He'll clog up holes to stop the run, and when the Redbirds need to throw, he'll be after the quarterback, too, even if it's forcing them to scramble for the edge rushers to tally the sacks.
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