OU Football 2025 Schedule, Rising Stars & Playoff Odds: What Sooners Fans Need to Know

NORMAN, Okla. — OU football fans holding their breath through the program’s first year in the SEC got another jolt of drama Saturday as the No. 18 Oklahoma Sooners took a 16-10 halftime lead on the road against Tennessee, despite being out-gained 255-99 in total offense. Halftime update: defense keeps the Sooners alive • Defensive touchdown: Billy Bowman’s 47-yard scoop-and-score flipped momentum in the first quarter. • Special-teams edge: Will Shepard drilled field goals of 52 and 54 yards, the latter as time expired before the break. • Turnover margin: OU forced three Volunteer giveaways, the primary reason Brent Venables’ squad holds the advantage with fewer than 100 offensive yards. Why this game matters in the SEC race At 6-2 overall and 2-2 in league play, Oklahoma entered November sitting just outside the SEC West driver’s seat. A road win tonight would vault the Sooners into a four-team logjam that includes Alabama and LSU, keeping a path open to Atlanta and, by extension, the 12-team College Football Playoff debuting this season. Key story lines every Sooner fan should watch 1. Quarterback health: Jackson Arnold, already nursing a tender ankle, was sacked three times in the first half. Venables cannot afford to lose his sophomore signal-caller with Alabama looming. 2. Run-game resurgence: Star tailback Gavin Sawchuk managed just 18 yards on seven carries before halftime. Establishing balance will be critical to salt away the clock if OU protects a late lead. 3. Cornerback depth: Freshman Gentry Williams replaced the injured Woodi Washington and immediately intercepted Joe Milton III, showcasing OU’s upgraded secondary depth. Remaining 2025 schedule sets up high-stakes November • Nov. 15 at Alabama (TBA) – likely prime-time showdown in Tuscaloosa. • Nov. 22 vs. Missouri (11 a.m. CT) – final home game and senior day in Norman. Win out, and the Sooners would finish 9-2 with a tiebreaker over the Crimson Tide, a résumé strong enough for CFP committee debate even without an SEC Championship appearance. Slip up, and OU’s postseason ceiling likely becomes the Citrus Bowl. How to watch the second half The Tennessee clash is airing nationally on ESPN; authenticated subscribers can stream via the ESPN App. Radio coverage is available on the Sooner Sports Network, flagship KREF 1400 AM/99.3 FM in Oklahoma City. SEO takeaways for Sooner Nation Search interest for “OU football,” “Oklahoma Sooners schedule,” and “Sooners vs Tennessee score” surged this week as fans track the program’s first November SEC stretch. Bookmark this page for live updates, injury news, and playoff projections as Brent Venables navigates the toughest closing slate OU has faced in a decade.