Predicting Red River revenge and every other game on Oklahoma's 2026 schedule

An offseason of predicting and wondering what the 2026 college football season has in store for the Oklahoma Sooners is almost over.

One thing has been made clear all offseason: the Sooners won't have it easy in 2026, especially early on with three ranked matchups in the first five games. But, with another elite defense under Brent Venables and what should be a much better offense, opponents might actually need to be the ones worried, not the Sooners. After all, like Danny Stutsman famously proclaimed, "Oklahoma only fears God."

I'm apparently chugging the Crimson Kool-Aid and even questioned myself when I saw that final record, but here are my game-by-game predictions for the Sooners to lock in.

Game-by-game predictions for the Sooners

Sept. 4 vs UTEP: W

This is by far the Sooners' easiest game on the schedule. The only concern is staying healthy and knocking rust off before heading to Michigan.

Sept. 12 at Michigan: W

A year after beating Michigan in Norman, the Sooners head to Ann Arbor for another likely top-20 matchup between college football blue bloods. The Wolverines get home-field advantage, albeit not much of one with a noon kickoff, and quarterback Bryce Underwood isn't making his first career road start like he was last season, but Brent Venables' elite defense and OU's stability will still prevail as Michigan is still figuring things out under new head coach Kyle Whittingham.

Sept. 19 vs New Mexico: W

The Sooners don't return from Michigan to take on a cupcake. New Mexico went 9-4 last season and just received a few votes in the preseason AP Top 25 Poll. Still, OU just has too much talent and depth for the Lobos to be able to hang. The Sooners still can't overlook this one, though, and let it be a catastrophic trap game.

Sept. 26 at Georgia: L

Georgia has everything to beat Oklahoma. The Bulldogs will have home-field advantage for what could end up being a night game, an elite defense, and a veteran quarterback in Gunner Stockton who has the experience and talent around him to handle whatever Brent Venables dials up. No matter how great I think the Sooners will be in 2026, no one is going undefeated in the SEC and this seems like OU's guaranteed loss.

Oct. 10 vs Texas: W

I refuse to ever put on paper that the Sooners will lose the Red River Rivalry. Texas definitely has a talented roster, but as usual, the Longhorns are overrated as a preseason top-5 team.

If my predictions are accurate, the Sooners won't only be angry after just suffering their first loss of the season, but they also absolutely have to avoid a third loss in a row to Texas after hearing all year how they haven't scored a touchdown the last two meetings. The Longhorns got the worst version of Oklahoma last year in John Mateer's first game back after surgery, but it still never got out of hand. If the Sooners are healthy in 2026, there's no way they make it three straight losses in the biggest game of the season.

Oct. 17 vs Kentucky: W

Kentucky is under new leadership with former Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein, and although he's confident in himself turning around the Wildcats, they still won't be on the Sooners' level yet (if ever), especially at Memorial Stadium.

Oct. 24 at Mississippi State: W

Jeff Lebby has Mississippi State headed upward, but it's a long ways up from the SEC basement. I think the Bulldogs will surprise some teams this season, but not the Sooners, even in Starkville.

Oct. 31 vs South Carolina: W

Shane Beamer has the hottest seat in the SEC and might not even still be South Carolina's coach by the time the Gamecocks come to Norman. Whether it's before or after Beamer is inevitably fired, it's still a home win for the Sooners.

Nov. 7 at Florida: W

The Swamp is a scary place to go, especially for the first time (just ask the Longhorns), but it still won't matter, even if it's not easy. Venables will put Florida's poor quarterback play in a blender and cause a lot more issues than that hostile environment will for the Sooners. Good thing defense travels, huh, Alabama?

Nov. 14 vs Ole Miss: W

The Rebels are about to drop off with Lane Kiffin now at LSU. Kiffin had Venables' number and that's why Ole Miss is 2-0 against OU in SEC play, but that Kryptonite is gone now.

Nov. 21 vs Texas A&M: W

Texas A&M coasted through a soft schedule to the CFP last year and return quarterback Marcel Reed, plus loads of other talent, but the Aggies still always underachieve. The Sooners keep beating Texas A&M as if neither ever left the Big 12.

Nov. 28 at Missouri: W

Missouri was barely ranked in the preseason AP Poll at No. 25, and that could be about where the Tigers peak. The Sooners again handle Mizzou to ultimately clinch a spot in the CFP.

Final regular-season record prediction: 11-1

At 11-1, the Sooners lock in a return to the CFP and likely set up a rematch with Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. I'll predict those outcomes once it's time.

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