Oklahoma: 3 games that will define 2026 season

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The Oklahoma Sooners had their best season under head coach Brent Venables in 2025, making the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2019.

The defense was the star of the show last season, carrying the team after quarterback John Mateer dealt with a broken bone in his throwing hand.

The offense should be better this fall with Mateer healthy and the arrival of wide receiver Parker Livingstone, Arch Manning’s former roommate at Texas.

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The Sooners have enough talent to stay in the CFP race. Here are the three games that will define Oklahoma’s season.

Oklahoma at Michigan (Sept. 12)

On paper, the matchup between Michigan and Oklahoma should be close. It’ll be the first big test for first-year Wolverines head coach Kyle Whittingham, who had enormous success during his two decades with Utah.

Oklahoma needs to avoid a non-conference loss before playing its nine-game SEC schedule as it jockeys for position in the CFP chase. The outcome could depend on how Venables plans to defend Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood, who should be dangerous in his second year.

Oklahoma vs Texas (Oct. 10)

In the last weekend of September, Oklahoma will travel to play Georgia. Then the Sooners will get a bye to prepare for their arch rival, Texas. The Longhorns arguably have the best roster in the nation.

During this stretch of the season, the Sooners must avoid dropping two games to the Dawgs and Longhorns at all costs.

A two-loss Texas team upset a previously unbeaten Oklahoma 23-6 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas last season. The Red River Rivalry is known for crazy outcomes, and the Sooners should have a good chance to steal one from Manning and Texas this season.

Texas A&M at Oklahoma (Nov. 21)

Big games come in bunches for Oklahoma this year. The Sooners will play Florida, Ole Miss and Texas A&M in back-to-back-to-back weeks near the end of the season.

The Aggies and Sooners could be fighting for a playoff spot during this game. Texas A&M has Texas to play on Nov. 27, but they can’t worry about the Longhorns with Oklahoma in front of them six days prior.

Depending on how earlier games go, this could be Oklahoma’s last shot to impress the CFP committee. If the Sooners have three to four losses by this point, a disappointing outcome against the Aggies would mean a failed season for Venables.

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