As we close out the month of May, we inch closer and closer to the start of the 2024 college football season. Oklahoma has completed its roster, and the team has begun summer workouts ahead of fall camp.
Oklahoma’s arrival to the SEC is official on July 1, when the Division I calendar for the 2024-25 academic season officially starts.
With the season just a few months away, we’ve learned several kickoff times for the fall. The most notable is the change in kickoff time of the Red River Rivalry game. Oklahoma will play the Texas Longhorns at 2:30 p.m. CT this October as opposed to what has traditionally been an 11 a.m. kick.
Oklahoma & Texas 1st Red River Rivalry as SEC members will kickoff at 3:30 p.m. ET Oct. 12 on ABC or ESPN, sources told @ActionNetworkHQ. OU-Texas is traditionally an 11 a.m. local kick, but moves back to 2:30 p.m. CT – giving fans more time in Dallas to, uhhh, get prepared
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) May 30, 2024
In many ways, the later kickoff makes a lot of sense. While it’s likely not a popular choice among fans on both sides, it allows the SEC to put the two new members in a marquee SEC time slot. After all, it was an afternoon kick for 23 straight years (1950-1972) per Ross Lovelace of AllSooners on SI.com. It will remain on ABC for the fourth consecutive year.
According to Greg Sankey, both Oklahoma and Texas wanted the game at 2:30 p.m. CT.
Greg Sankey says that both OU and Texas wanted the Red River Rivalry wanted the game to be at 2:30. Says that he can’t guarantee it will be 2:30 every year, but there is certainly more of a chance of it being played in that time slot more often. #Sooners
— George Stoia III (@GeorgeStoia) May 30, 2024
In addition, Oklahoma won’t have any 11 a.m. kickoffs to start the season. Their first three games are either night games or afternoon kickoffs. The Sooners will open the season on Friday night against Temple at 6:00 p.m. CT in week one. In week two, the Sooners get another primetime kick against Houston. at 6:45 p.m. CT. Then in week three, they’ll host Tulane for a 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff.
OU’s first three games of the season will all be afternoon/evening kickoffs, per sources.
Temple: 6 pm
Houston: 6:45 pm
Tulane: 2:30 pmTV details will be announced later. #Sooners
— George Stoia III (@GeorgeStoia) May 30, 2024
Much of the ire with the Big 12 was fueled by the games being so early, and in short order, the SEC helped rectify that. The Sooners start the season with two non-conference night games and an afternoon kickoff at home versus Tulane. And it’s likely those aren’t the only afternoon or primetime kickoffs on the schedule for the Sooners this fall.
The remainder of the schedule, including TV details, will be released later this summer.
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