The wait is over. Oklahoma football fans can finally start marking their calendars—and planning their Saturdays—as four of the Sooners’ 2025 regular season kickoff times have officially been announced. And among them are two blockbuster matchups that are already generating national buzz: a long-anticipated SEC clash against Michigan and the annual Red River Showdown versus Texas.
As Brent Venables enters his fourth season at the helm, the Sooners are looking to make a major statement in their first year as full-time members of the Southeastern Conference. The newly released kickoff times give fans a clearer picture of the rhythm and tone of the season, including where—and when—some of the sport’s most compelling moments could unfold.
One thing is certain: Oklahoma is stepping into the spotlight in 2025 with prime time exposure and a championship mindset.
The Sooners will open their season at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium against Temple on Saturday, August 30, with a 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2, setting the tone for what should be a confidence-building opener in Norman. While Temple may not carry the same national recognition as other upcoming opponents, the Owls have been known to punch above their weight in early-season matchups. For Oklahoma, it will be a chance to debut new offensive wrinkles, test the depth chart, and establish tempo before SEC play begins.
But things escalate quickly. Just two weeks later, on Saturday, September 13, the Sooners will play host to the Michigan Wolverines in a game that has already been circled by analysts, pundits, and fans alike. Kickoff is slated for 6:00 p.m. CT under the lights in Norman, and it will be nationally televised on ABC’s Saturday Night Football. This matchup between two blue-blood programs, each with passionate fanbases and championship aspirations, is expected to be one of the marquee non-conference games of the 2025 college football season.
Michigan, coming off a recent College Football Playoff appearance and led by a retooled but still dangerous roster, represents a formidable early test for Venables’ squad. The Wolverines have long been defined by physicality, discipline, and elite trench play. For Oklahoma, this contest will be an early referendum on the program’s ability to hang with the SEC’s elite and Big Ten powers alike in what’s now a sprawling, coast-to-coast playoff landscape.
More importantly, this game will serve as a litmus test for Oklahoma’s identity in 2025. Will the Sooners boast the kind of front-seven depth and quarterback play to handle Michigan’s punishing style? Will their speed at the skill positions provide the kind of matchup advantage that tips the balance at home? It’s a game laced with storylines, from recruiting battles to national playoff implications.
Then there’s the game that never needs hype: the Red River Showdown. Oklahoma and Texas will once again clash in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas on Saturday, October 11, and the game will kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS. It will be the first time the storied rivalry is broadcast on CBS as part of the network’s new SEC contract, and there’s little doubt this matchup will deliver fireworks.
Oklahoma-Texas always carries weight, but in 2025, it might carry even more. Both programs are projected to start the season in the top 10, and both are loaded with NFL-caliber talent and high expectations. The Longhorns, fresh off a Big 12 title and a deep playoff push in their final season before joining the SEC, return with a roster that blends youth and experience—led by a dynamic backfield and a defense that’s more athletic than it’s been in years.
The Sooners, meanwhile, have added key transfers and boast one of the country’s most exciting young quarterback prospects. This year’s edition of the Red River game will not only shape the SEC title race but could also serve as a Playoff elimination game. Last year’s game saw Oklahoma storm back late to win in thrilling fashion; this time, Texas will be hungry for revenge.
Regardless of the result, it promises to be one of the sport’s most memorable games of the season—and a showcase of how both programs are adapting to life in the nation’s most competitive conference.
The fourth announced kickoff time is a November 15 road showdown at Ole Miss, with the game scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. CT and air on ESPN. While not quite the headliner that Michigan or Texas presents, this game will be critical for Oklahoma in the back stretch of the SEC schedule. Lane Kiffin’s Rebels are always dangerous, and playing in Oxford brings its own set of challenges—especially with SEC title hopes potentially hanging in the balance.
It’s also worth noting that the early kickoff time in that environment could test the Sooners’ focus and maturity. With playoff rankings likely beginning to crystalize by mid-November, every game will carry outsized importance. The trip to Ole Miss is no exception.
For Oklahoma fans, the partial unveiling of the 2025 schedule provides a mix of tradition, novelty, and high-stakes football. These four games offer a snapshot of what’s to come: a balance between marquee matchups and potential trap games, moments to shine on the national stage, and weeks where every snap could swing the direction of the entire season.
While kickoff times for the rest of the season have yet to be announced, the Sooners are also slated to face Florida, LSU, South Carolina, and Alabama in a brutally difficult SEC gauntlet. Add in a potential SEC Championship appearance in Atlanta, and the stakes have never been higher for the program.
For Brent Venables and his coaching staff, the focus now shifts to preparation. Every minute of offseason development, every rep in fall camp, and every strategic tweak will be geared toward delivering under the bright lights of these critical contests. Venables has slowly rebuilt Oklahoma’s defensive identity and has made clear that he’s aiming for toughness, versatility, and playoff-level execution. These games will demand nothing less.
The announcement of the kickoff times also underscores the increased visibility and branding power that comes with joining the SEC. Oklahoma is no stranger to national TV, but now every game feels like a showcase. The program is no longer just competing for conference dominance—it’s battling for control of prime TV slots, the attention of recruits, and a seat at the national table.
That visibility will only grow with the Texas and Michigan games, two contests that could realistically each draw more than 10 million viewers. They’re the kind of moments that define programs, shape legacies, and sway the hearts and minds of future stars watching from afar.
And for the players, these are the games they dream about. There’s no need for motivational speeches when you’re playing under the lights against Michigan or walking into the Cotton Bowl surrounded by 90,000 screaming fans wearing crimson or burnt orange. Every one of those games is a career-defining opportunity.
In the coming months, there will be position battles, transfer portal updates, injury reports, and rising expectations. But now, there’s also a clear sense of timing. Oklahoma knows when the biggest moments will arrive. The countdowns can begin.
August 30. September 13. October 11. November 15.
Circle them. Highlight them. Prepare for them. Because when the Sooners take the field, the eyes of the college football world will be watching. And if Oklahoma can seize those moments, they won’t just be surviving their SEC debut season—they’ll be thriving, charging full speed into a new era, and reminding everyone that the crimson and cream belong among the sport’s elite.
