Oklahoma adds Utah State to 2027 schedule

Brent Venables and the Oklahoma Sooners will host Utah State in 2027.

The Oklahoma Sooners have officially added to their 2027 football schedule.

OU will host the Utah State Aggies at [autotag]Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium[/autotag] in Norman on Saturday, September 4th, 2027. FBSchedules.com took to social media to announce the scheduling of the game.

Oklahoma and Utah State have met five times previously, with the first matchup taking place in 1972. The Sooners are undefeated against the Aggies, including a 31-24 win in their most recent matchup in 2010.

Utah State joins SMU (away) and San Diego State (home) on Oklahoma’s current non-conference schedule for the 2027 season.

If the [autotag]SEC[/autotag] stays at eight conference games, the Sooners will still need to find one more non-conference game to fill out the schedule. However, if the SEC moves to nine conference games by then, OU’s non-conference slate for 2027 would be complete.

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Legendary quarterback Peyton Manning coming to Norman for Tennessee game

Former Tennessee QB Peyton Manning will be at Oklahoma for Sooners vs. Volunteers.

One of the most anticipated games on the 2024 schedule for the Oklahoma Sooners comes Sept. 21. It’s the first conference game in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag] for OU and one of the most storied programs in college football will come to town. The Tennessee Volunteers will be in Norman, and one of their most famous alumni will apparently be there as well.

NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning led the Volunteers before becoming the No. 1 pick in the 1998 NFL draft. He told his former NFL teammate Pat McAfee on “The Pat McAfee Show” that he’ll be in attendance at [autotag]Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium[/autotag].

“I’m going to the Tennessee-Oklahoma game in Norman this year,” the two-time Super Bowl champ said. “I think it’s Oklahoma’s first [autotag]Southeastern Conference[/autotag] game, they’re playing my Tennessee Vols in Norman, not too far from Denver (where Manning lives.)”

Manning went on to say he’s excited for the Sooners and the Texas Longhorns to join the SEC and thinks they’ll both fit into the conference. He also said he was excited for the new rivalries that will be created in the league.

Oklahoma-Tennessee will be a big game for plenty of reasons, as the SEC finally comes to [autotag]Owen Field[/autotag] in conference action. Tennessee head coach [autotag]Josh Heupel[/autotag] quarterbacked the Sooners to the national championship in 2000 (while [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] coached a suffocating defense), and was OU’s offensive coordinator from 2011 to 2014. Since being fired, he has made quite the career for himself, landing on Rocky Top, where he’s reinvigorated a sleeping giant in Knoxville.

Expect fireworks that evening in Norman. Two electric offenses will be led by first-year starters [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] and Nico Iamaleava. Both were five-star recruits in the 2023 class.

Maybe one (or both) of those QBs will have a magical performance in front of one of the best quarterbacks to ever put on a chinstrap.

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Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in ESPN’s top 25 stadiums

Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium is one of the most iconic settings in all of sports.

College football is all about the pride, passion, and pageantry of the sport, which is unmatched by anything else. The fans, the atmospheres, and the moments can’t be topped by any other sport, college, or professional.

ESPN took the time this week to rank their Top 25 college football stadiums as the 2024 season approaches in a month and a half.

We asked 14 of our college football writers to rank the best stadiums in the sport. No parameters, no criteria. Writers were asked to submit their top 20 stadiums in order. We then awarded points: 20 for first-place votes, 19 for second and all the way down to 1 point for a stadium voted No. 20. – ESPN

The Oklahoma Sooners play in one of the best stadiums in college football, and ESPN agreed, putting them in the Top 25. [autotag]Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium[/autotag] ranked No. 24 on their list.

Here’s what ESPN’s Dave Wilson had to say about the iconic stadium:

Also known as the “Palace on the Prairie,” the Sooners’ stadium is surrounded by reminders of Oklahoma’s football glory. Outside the south end zone, there are statues of coaching legends [autotag]Bennie Owen[/autotag], [autotag]Bud Wilkinson[/autotag], [autotag]Barry Switzer[/autotag] and [autotag]Bob Stoops[/autotag]. On the east side, Heisman Park is packed with seven of the Sooners’ [autotag]Heisman Trophy[/autotag] winners: [autotag]Billy Vessels[/autotag] (1952), [autotag]Steve Owens[/autotag] (1969), [autotag]Billy Sims[/autotag] (1978), [autotag]Jason White[/autotag] (2003), [autotag]Sam Bradford[/autotag] (2008), [autotag]Baker Mayfield[/autotag] (2017) and [autotag]Kyler Murray[/autotag] (2018). Amid the Gothic architecture of the surrounding campus, “BOOMER” and “SOONER” ring out, as the Sooner Schooner glides across the field, forming one of the most quintessentially college settings in the country. Wilson, ESPN

ESPN also gave their ranking criteria for the list, as Oklahoma finished with 40 points, two ahead of Texas‘ Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

In addition, Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium turns 100 years old this season, and the university has a number of different themes and promotions planned out for its centennial season.

The Sooners will begin the season in their home stadium on Friday, August 30th, when they take on the Temple Owls.

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Where did CBS Sports rank the ‘Palace on the Prairie’ among SEC Stadiums?

CBS Sports ranked all 16 SEC football venues, so where does Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium rank?

The Oklahoma Sooners have been incredible at home over the course of their 115 seasons. Inside Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, they’ve been downright dominant, boasting a record of 418-86-15 (.820 win percentage).

In 2024, the Sooners went 6-0 at home with wins over Arkansas State, SMU, Iowa State, UCF, West Virginia and TCU. At home, they averaged 537 yards per game of total offense and 51 points per game. On the road, those numbers dropped to 34.8 points per game and 464 yards per game.

Defensively, the Sooners were better at home than they were on the road, but the numbers aren’t drastically different. They allowed 22.4 points per game at home and 23.4 points per game on the road.

It’s a clear advantage for the offense, which is better able to communicate against the low hum of the home crowd instead of the raucous environment it faces as the road team.

In the first year in the SEC, in addition to the strength of teams Oklahoma will face on the schedule, the Sooners will walk into some of the more difficult road environments in the country. But how does [autotag]Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium[/autotag] stack up against the hallowed grounds of some legendary venues in the SEC?

David Cobb of CBS Sports ranked the Sooners’ home as the No. 9 venue in the SEC heading into 2024.

If this was 2023 and we were ranking the best Big 12 stadiums, “The Palace on the Prarie” would likely sit at No. 1. But the Sooner faithful will have to prove that OU’s home-field advantage is better than that of the SEC’s legacy programs. Visits from Tennessee and Alabama in 2024 will give the Sooners a chance to set the record straight. – Cobb, CBS Sports

Oklahoma will visit the teams that ranked No. 1 (LSU), No. 5 (Auburn), No. 13 (Ole Miss) and No. 14 (Missouri).

If there’s some consolation to being ninth, the Oklahoma Sooners will have an opportunity to show out this year with big home games against Tennessee, South Carolina and Alabama. Win those three, and Cobb will be forced to rethink where Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium ranks.

Oklahoma also comes in one spot ahead of the Texas Longhorns for best home venue.

The Red River Rivals will host the two teams that have been running the conference for the better part of the last 15 years. The Crimson Tide roll into Norman, and Texas welcomes the Georgia Bulldogs.

If the Sooners can knock off Kalen DeBoer’s crew in November, it will go a long way to establishing the “Palace on the Prairie” as one of the best in the SEC.

More: SEC Stadium Capacities Ranked

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Oklahoma announces celebration information for official SEC move

The Sooners are a matter of days away from officially being a member of the SEC. The university has plenty of events planned to celebrate joining OU’s new conference.

The Oklahoma Sooners will officially join the [autotag]Southeastern Conference[/autotag] on July 1. OU has been working toward this day since the summer of 2021. The university plans to celebrate the big day with plenty of activities. Details for the event can be found at SoonerSports.com.

According to the school, “The celebration will feature a full slate of fun activities for fans of all ages on OU’s Norman campus, including SEC Network programming, the athletics department’s popular summer equipment sale and open houses at the Barry Switzer Center and Love’s Field, with additional morning events in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. It will culminate with a free and family-friendly “Party In The Palace from 5-10 p.m. inside [autotag]Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium[/autotag], with live music, appearances from SEC Commissioner [autotag]Greg Sankey[/autotag], OU President [autotag]Joseph Harroz Jr.[/autotag] and OU Vice President and Director of Athletics [autotag]Joe Castiglione[/autotag] and a drone show above [autotag]Owen Field[/autotag].”

President Harroz Jr. expressed his excitement about the Sooners finally making the move to the SEC:

“Entering the Southeastern Conference marks a transformative new era for the University of Oklahoma and all of Sooner Nation,” said Harroz Jr. “This day of celebration is a tribute to our iconic traditions, relentless pursuit of excellence and the indomitable spirit of Sooner Magic. We can’t wait to bring our passion and pride to the SEC, and this event provides the perfect opportunity for the OU Family to come together and celebrate all that lies ahead.”

Castiglione also addressed the exciting time surrounding the athletic department and the school as a whole:

“This day is years in the making, so it’s appropriate for us to come together and celebrate,” added Castiglione. “We couldn’t be more excited to join the SEC. Our teams are poised for success and look forward to the competition with many of America’s most outstanding universities. At Oklahoma, we have a story to tell, and we’re invigorated by the opportunity with which we’re presented to share with the world what makes OU so special. Our resolute commitment to our student-athletes and their success and to our fans and their experience will only strengthen with this move. We can’t wait to welcome thousands of new people to our community as well as spread Sooner Magic throughout the SEC.”

In addition, the university has planned a “Race to the SEC 5K Glow,” which begins on June 30. There’s a “Midnight Madness Sale,” during which fans can get SEC-licensed merchandise, and a “Shop and Hop Challenge,” in which businesses that participate will sell OU/SEC merchandise for the first time. Each business will contribute a $25 gift card for a customer drawing.

The university has also announced that parking will be free to the public in certain areas. Students are encouraged to participate, with more details about a celebratory event featuring a musical artist scheduled near the start of the fall semester coming in the near future.

Head to SoonerSports.com for the full list of events happening June 30 and July 1 to commemorate Oklahoma moving into the SEC.

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Oklahoma makes EA Sports’ list of toughest places to play

Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium is one of the toughest places to play, according to “College Football 25.”

The highly-anticipated release of [autotag]EA Sports[/autotag]’ new college football video game is less than a month away. News continues to trickle out about what the game will look and feel like.

[autotag]College Football 25[/autotag] will be released on July 19, and the company has been relentlessly marketing the game on social media.

On Tuesday, “CFB 25” released their rankings of the top ten toughest places to play in college football. The Oklahoma Sooners found their way onto the list.

[autotag]Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium[/autotag] was ranked as the eighth-toughest environment in college football. Oklahoma also ranked No. 5 out of six [autotag]SEC[/autotag] teams to make the top ten.

According to EA Sports, homefield advantage will play a pivotal role in the game, as the creators try to make it as immersive and realistic as possible. It’s a pleasant surprise that playing as the Sooners on Owen Field will give players a leg up on their competition.

These rankings will certainly be met with plenty of logic and rational thinking. Surely, no one will disagree on the order of the teams included.

For comparison, Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium ranked a full eleven spots above Texas‘ Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on the list. Out of the Top 25, only three stadiums made the list that are west of the I-35 corridor. Oregon‘s Autzen Stadium, Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium and Boise State’s Albertsons Stadium claim the best environments of the country’s western half. Texas A&M‘s Kyle Field was a controversial choice to top the list at No. 1.

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How do Big 12 stadiums rank in capacity heading into 2023?

A look at how each Big 12 stadium stacks up in capacity heading into the 2023 season.

The 2023 college football season is nearly upon us. Week zero opens next Saturday. Schools in the Big 12 will begin their season in two weeks.

The league is welcoming four new teams, and four new venues into the Big 12 footprint for the season. BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF join the league adding new venues.

Here’s a look at how the 14 Big 12 stadiums rank in capacity heading into 2023.

Oklahoma Sooners Spring Game ushers in a new era in Norman

Nothing but good omens shined down on Norman, Oklahoma as the Sooners ushered in a new era of Oklahoma Football in front of more than 75,000 fans.

The minute I got off work, I got onto I-35 and drove to Norman as fast as possible. While exhausted from a lack of sleep and dealing with a nasty cold, there was no way I was going to miss the OU Spring Game.

I finally arrived about three minutes into the first quarter wearing my crimson Baker Mayfield jersey. I almost couldn’t believe it as I looked around: we really did it. We packed the palace.

75,000 Sooners fans showed up for an exhibition. [autotag]Baker Mayfield[/autotag]’s statue “reveal” got the audience it deserved.

It was overcast for the entirety of the first half. I hadn’t seen the sun all day.

And then Baker Mayfield came out.

You’d think I’m making this up, but I’m not. The second Baker’s feet touched Owen Field, the sun started to shine through the thick sheet of clouds covering Norman, Oklahoma.

The Southern sun shined on Baker Mayfield and Brent Venables as they gave speeches that had the 75,000 Sooners fans ready to run through a wall. He finished his speech with a nod toward his former backup QB Kyler Murray, who will join him in Heisman Park.

Venables did precisely what the head coach of a football program should do; provide some shine for the other programs on campus. The way he shouted out other OU teams was just fantastic.

I don’t know how much energy this guy has, but he brings it every time he speaks.

There’s a new feeling surrounding this team. The camaraderie seemed like something out of a movie.

That game will end up doing wonders for this program. The recruits all saw firsthand the kind of passion that Oklahoma fans bring to the palace.

Venables packed the palace with a challenge to OU fans. On Saturday, Venables gave Sooner Nation another challenge. Make Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial a nightmare for the rest of college football. Let’s rise to the occasion once more and answer the call this fall.

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Oklahoma ranks in top 10 for football facilities

The Oklahoma Sooners football facilities rank in the top 10 in the country. The Barry Switzer Center is a huge reason why.

One of the reasons that athletes have come to Norman, Oklahoma, to pursue their football careers has to be due to facilities. 247Sports called the Barry Switzer Center ‘one of the most futuristic pads.’ Where does it rank among the nation’s best? Brad Crawford of 247Sports put it in his top 10. Facilities are a major draw for top prospects along with what the football program offers. Given that the Sooners are consistently recruiting the top talent it seemed a given.

No. 10: Oklahoma Sooners 

Oklahoma’s updated Barry Switzer Center is one of the nation’s most futuristic pads with an ambience second to none in the Big 12. There’s the Red Room — meeting room with ‘Boomer’ and ‘Sooner’ decorating the walls, a Heisman hallway and snack bar with unlimited options. The Sooners’ recovery pool even has mood lighting. Oklahoma also introduced an upgraded video board this fall, and at 2,356 square feet (38 feet high by 62 feet wide), the north board is more than three times larger than its previous look.

According to Joe Castiglione, OU’s vice president and athletics director, Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium’s upgrades for 2019 included expanded Wi-Fi access and improved accessibility, giving the venue a “first-rate technological experience.”

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