The 2026 Oklahoma Sooners football team represents the University of Oklahoma in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season, the 132nd season for the Oklahoma Sooners. They are led fifth-year head coach Brent Venables and play their home games at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma.
Schedule Oklahoma and the SEC announced the 2026 conference schedule on December 11, 2025. The 2026 schedule consists of six home games, five away games, and one neutral-site game in the regular season. The Sooners will host two non-conference games against UTEP and New Mexico and will travel to Michigan. The Sooners will host four SEC conference opponents against Kentucky, South Carolina, Ole Miss and Texas A&M, and will travel to four SEC conference opponents against Georgia, Mississippi State, Florida, and Missouri. The Sooners will face Texas in Dallas at the Cotton Bowl in the 122nd Red River Rivalry.
Rankings
Preseason Award watch lists + Lott Trophy Peyton Bowen DBSr.Taylor WeinDLSr.Dodd TrophyBrent Venables HCMaxwell AwardJohn MateerQB Sr.
Game summaries
vs UTEP
On September 4, No. 10 Oklahoma defeated UTEP 51-0 before a crowd of 84,315 at Owen Field. The game started with a 5:39 drive that ended in a 1-yard touchdown run by Lloyd Avant. On the next drive, UTEP went three-and-out, setting up an 88-yard punt return for Isaiah Sategna III. On UTEP's next drive, they reached the Oklahoma 15-yard line before missing a field goal wide right. On the next drive, Oklahoma scored on a 40-yard pass from John Mateer to Rocky Beers, and led 21–0 at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter saw a lot of stagnation, with UTEP missing another field goal to start the second. Oklahoma would only score two field goals in the second by Tate Sandell. UTEP started the second half with the ball, but turned it over on a forced fumble by Peyton Bowen. Oklahoma scored two passing touchdowns in the third, including a 48-yard pass to Trell Harris. Oklahoma tacked on a late third-quarter field goal by Liam Evans to go up 44–0. Oklahoma scored its last touchdown on a three-yard rushing touchdown by backup quarterback Whitt Newbauer.
The 51–0 win over UTEP marked the first time since 2024 that Oklahoma scored 50 or more points, when they defeated Maine 59–14 on November 2, 2024.
Statistics UTEPOU First downs 10 18 Plays–yards 56–198 58–401 Rushes–yards 38–112 39–170 Passing yards 86 231 Passing: –– 10–18–0 12–19–0 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 29:28 30:32 Team Category Player Statistics UTEP Passing EJ Colson Jr. 6/12, 52 yards Rushing Raymond Moore III 9 carries, 49 yards Receiving Tavorus Jones 3 receptions, 22 yards Oklahoma Passing John Mateer 11/17, 225 yards, 3 TD Rushing Lloyd Avant 15 carries, 79 yards, TD Receiving Isaiah Sategna III 4 receptions, 76 yards, TD
at Michigan
On September 12, No. 11 Oklahoma was defeated by Michigan 10-17 before a crowd of 111,240 at Michigan Stadium. Bryce Underwood scored the first touchdown on a 38-yard run late in the first quarter. Michigan scored again late in the second with a 40-yard field goal by Trey Butkowski, leading 10-0 at halftime. Michigan received the ball after the half and went three-and-out. Oklahoma scored its first touchdown eight plays into its first second-half drive on a 22-yard pass from John Mateer to Mackenzie Alleyne. Oklahoma stopped Michigan again, and Tate Sandell tied it early in the fourth quarter with a 34-yard field goal. With 8:49 remaining, John Mateer threw an interception to Jyaire Hill, who returned it to the Oklahoma six-yard line. Jordan Marshall scored a one-yard rushing touchdown two plays later, putting Michigan up 17-10. Oklahoma failed to score on three successive drives, including a punt, a turnover on downs, and a drive that ended with a sack by Michigan defensive end Nate Marshall as time expired.
Oklahoma's loss to Michigan was the first time the school lost to the team after two previous meetings. This game also marked the first time Oklahoma was shut out in any half since October 11, 2025, when Texas beat Oklahoma 23-6 in the Red River Rivalry that year. Statistics OUMICH First downs 17 14 Plays–yards 62−289 58−263 Rushes–yards 29−100 41−152 Passing yards 189 111 Passing: –– 17−33−1 9−17 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 26:43 33:17 Team Category Player Statistics Oklahoma Passing John Mateer 17/33, 189 yards, TD, INT Rushing John Mateer 13 carries, 45 yards Receiving Rocky Beers 6 receptions, 94 yards Michigan Passing Bryce Underwood 9/17, 111 yards Rushing Bryce Underwood 18 carries, 87 yards, TD Receiving JJ Buchanan 2 receptions, 48 yards
vs New Mexico
On September 19, No. 24 Oklahoma defeated New Mexico 14-6 in a close match. Oklahoma got the ball to start, but it ended in an interception three plays in. Neither team scored in the first quarter. Oklahoma struck first with a 29-yard pass from John Mateer to Hayden Hansen for a touchdown. New Mexico tacked on two field goals late in the second quarter that were aided by a punt by Oklahoma deep in their own territory, and another interception by John Mateer with just over three minutes in the second quarter. Oklahoma drove to the New Mexico 23-yard line with under a minute left, but chose to chew the clock to set up a 41-yard field goal by Tate Sandell that missed to the right. Many fans booed the team during the first half and heading into the locker room, including after John Matter's two interceptions and the poor sequence of plays that ended the first half with the missed field goal.
New Mexico got the ball starting the second half down 6-7. New Mexico reached the Oklahoma 48-yard line, but a sack and a holding penalty pushed them back, forcing them to punt. On the ensuing drive, Oklahoma scored a touchdown on a 53-yard pass from John Mateer to Isaiah Sategna III in five plays. It was the last time either team scored. Oklahoma's two fourth-quarter drives ended in punts. New Mexico's last drive was hopeful after driving into Oklahoma's red zone and converting on three third-down conversions. It ended on a fourth-down stop by David Stone with under three minutes remaining. Oklahoma exhausted New Mexico's timeouts, got a first down, and knelt the ball to end the game.
The matchup marked the first time Oklahoma and New Mexico met in football since 1935. Oklahoma's win over New Mexico 14-6 also marked the lowest amount of points Oklahoma scored in a game they won since October 9, 2004, when they defeated Texas 12-0 in that year's Red River Rivalry. Statistics UNMOU First downs 12 14 Plays–yards 57−185 58−299 Rushes–yards 38−69 32−61 Passing yards 116 238 Passing: –– 8−19 19−26−2 Time of possession 34:08 25:52 Team Category Player Statistics New Mexico Passing Toa Fa'Avae 4/10, 79 yards Rushing Kieffer Sibley 9 carries, 41 yards Receiving Cade Keith 5 receptions, 78 yards Oklahoma Passing John Mateer 19/25, 238 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Lloyd Avant 8 carries, 27 yards Receiving Isaiah Sategna III 6 receptions, 101 yards, TD
at No. 2 Georgia
Oklahoma was defeated by Georgia, 41–13, the Sooners worst loss since the 31-point defeat by Texas on October 12, 2024. Brent Venables considered benching John Mateer.
Statistics OUUGA First downs 16 12 Plays–yards 69−296 53−308 Rushes–yards 35−65 26−131 Passing yards 231 177 Passing: –– 25−34−1 15−27−1 Time of possession 35:27 24:33 Team Category Player Statistics Oklahoma Passing John Mateer 25/34, 231 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing Lloyd Avant 10 carries, 23 yards Receiving Rocky Beers 8 receptions, 84 yards, TD Georgia Passing Gunner Stockton 14/25, 171 yards, TD, INT Rushing Dwight Phillips Jr. 8 carries, 84 yards, TD Receiving Talyn Taylor 4 receptions, 110 yards, TD
vs. No.1 Texas (Red River Rivalry)
Statistics TEXOU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Texas Passing Rushing Receiving Oklahoma Passing Rushing Receiving
vs Kentucky
Statistics UKOU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Kentucky Passing Rushing Receiving Oklahoma Passing Rushing Receiving
at Mississippi State
Statistics OUMSST First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Oklahoma Passing Rushing Receiving Mississippi State Passing Rushing Receiving
vs South Carolina
Statistics SCOU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics South Carolina Passing Rushing Receiving Oklahoma Passing Rushing Receiving
at Florida
Statistics OUFLA First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Oklahoma Passing Rushing Receiving Florida Passing Rushing Receiving
vs Ole Miss
Statistics MISSOU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Ole Miss Passing Rushing Receiving Oklahoma Passing Rushing Receiving
vs Texas A&M
Statistics TAMUOU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Texas A&M Passing Rushing Receiving Oklahoma Passing Rushing Receiving
at Missouri (rivalry)
Statistics OUMIZ First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Oklahoma Passing Rushing Receiving Missouri Passing Rushing Receiving
Personnel Coaching staff + Brent Venables Head coach 5th Ben Arbuckle Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks 2nd Todd Bates Associate head coach/Defensive coordinator/Run defense/Defensive tackles 5th Bill Bedenbaugh Offensive line 14th Miguel Chavis Defensive ends 5thDoug Deakin Special Team Coordinator 2ndNate Dreiling Inside Linebackers Coach 2nd Wes GoodwinAssistant Linebackers/Outside Linebackers 2nd Brandon Hall Safeties 5th Emmett Jones Passing game coordinator/Wide receivers 4th John Kuceyeski Quarterbacks coach 1st Deland McCullough Running backs 1st LaMar Morgan Cornerbacks 1st Jason Witten Tight ends 1st James Dobson Director of sports enhancement & strength and conditioning 1stSource: 2025 Oklahoma Sooners Roster
Roster 2026 Oklahoma Sooners footballQuarterback
8 Bowe Bentley – freshman (6'1, 208) 10 John Mateer – senior (6'1, 224) 15 Jett Niu – freshman (6'2, 205) 16 Whitt Newbauer – sophomore (6'6, 237)
Running back 6 Tory Blaylock – sophomore (5'11, 212) 9 Lloyd Avant – junior (5'10, 212) 20 Jonathan Hatton Jr. – freshman (6'1, 235) 21 Xavier Robinson – junior (6'0, 235) 23 Ben McCreary – senior (5'9, 215) 25 Andy Bass – sophomore(5'11, 210) 28 DeZephen Walker – freshman (5'10, 215) 29 Gabę Sawchuk – sophomore (5'10, 202)
Wide receiver 0 Manny Choice – sophomore (6'4, 210) 1 Isaiah Sategna III – senior (5'10, 185) 2 Jaheisear Rogers – freshman (5'11, 182) 3 Parker Livingstone – sophomore (6'3, 200) 4 Daniel Odom – freshman (6'2, 195) 5 Jer'Michael Carter – senior (6'4, 212) 7 Jacob Jordan – junior (5'9, 185) 11 Trell Harris – senior (6'0, 200) 13 Jayden Petit – freshman (6'4, 218) 14 Elijah Thomas – sophomore (6'1, 200) 17 Mackenzie Alleyne – sophomore (5'11, 184) 80 Eli Merck – junior (5'11, 203) 82 Ivan Carreon – junior (6'6, 238) 84 Xavier Okwufulueze – freshman (6'5, 217) 85 Trey Brown – junior (5'9, 178)
Tight end 12 Ryder Mix – freshman (6'3, 238) 18 Tyler Ruxer – freshman (6'4, 235) 19 Kade McIntyre – junior (6'3, 225) 22 Trynae Washington – freshman (6'3, 265) 44 John Locke Jr. – senior (6'4, 250) 81 Rocky Beers – senior (6'5, 240)