Ranking OU's 2024 SEC schedule

OU’s 2024 SEC schedule is no longer unknown. Almost everybody is in agreement the Sooners are getting a major ‘welcome to the SEC’ schedule with how tough it is set out to be.

That’s what this move is supposed to be about, though. It’s time to embrace the challenges that will be coming the Sooners way.

Oklahoma owns a 76-30-1 (.715 winning percentage) combined record against the 2024 SEC schedule. That also includes the fact the Sooners have never played South Carolina.

“It brings everything into reality,” said head coach Brent Venables the night the schedule was announced. “The competitive depth, from top to bottom. That, to me, is what separates that conference. It’s incredibly exciting.

“Competing against the best of the best. It creates a vision for both the players and their families. It’s another ‘and’ for why OU, another reason.”

An early look at how the games stack up heading into the 2023 season.

No. 8 – at Missouri

All-time: OU 67-24-5.

It’ll be nice to go back to Mizzou, but it hasn’t exactly been gone long enough to really resonate. Perhaps the Tigers are playing at an even better level than what they’ve been in recent seasons. As is, though, a pretty easy choice to begin the rankings.

No. 7 – vs. South Carolina

All-time: First ever meeting.

We need a qualifier here. Because this is going into the 2023 season, we have zero idea whether South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler will be back in 2024. If he is, obviously, this gets ramped up another notch. Still, it’ll be fun to go against Shane Beamer and what he’s been able to do for South Carolina in such a short period of time.

No. 6 – at Ole Miss

All-time: Ole Miss 1-0.

Here’s something that’s going to be pretty consistent. For a lot of these matchups, it will be the first time OU is playing them on a campus. The Rebs are that way as the only other matchup was the 1999 Independence Bowl. Tailgating ranking would be a lot different, but on-field? Goes to show you how loaded the 2024 crop is.

No. 5 – at Auburn

All-time: OU 2-0.

Another one. The Sooners are 2-0 vs. Auburn in Sugar Bowl matchups but will be making their first trip to the Plains. Auburn has been in a state of transition, so this could rise in the rankings or fall a bit by the time 2023 is complete. It should make for a great environment, regardless.

No. 4 – vs. Texas (Dallas)

All-time: Texas 63-50-5.

Hello, old friend. A game that is usually No. 1 or No. 2 can barely crack the top half of the 2024 slate. OU and Texas are recruiting at such a high level right now. The 2023 Red River Showdown will give us an idea of how Venables stacks up vs. Steve Sarkisian. They’re changing conferences, but the rivalry will absolutely live on.

No. 3 – at LSU

All-time: LSU 2-1.

Baton Rouge at night? Imagine that? Venables joked maybe they should make that the 11 a.m. game, instead. These are the kinds of trips where OU will learn about itself. The team going into a hostile environment like that. And fans will get a taste of what being in the SEC and ‘It Just Means More’ actually means.

No. 2 – vs. Tennessee

All-time: OU 3-1.

It’s like OU played an imposter UT team in Norman in 2014. That didn’t feel big. This? This should, especially if Josh Heupel can come close to duplicating 2022’s success in 2023 with the Vols. A lot of the talk will certainly be about Heupel coming back to Norman for the first time since 2014, but the game itself should have plenty of intrigue.

No. 1 – vs. Alabama

All-time: OU 3-2-1.

When in the schedule is this going to land? Is this going to be one of those early conference games that show up like in the second week? Either way, there won’t be an empty seat as the Crimson Tide make their first trip to OU since 2002. These are the kinds of home games fans have been clamoring for, waiting for. Well, it’s here. Enjoy.