The Oklahoma Sooners will open the 2024 season with the Temple Owls. Oklahoma is 1-1 vs. the Owls, with Temple owning the last win in 1942, beating the Sooners 14-7. It’s been tough sledding for Temple, having gone 3-9 each of the last two seasons.

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This was the date originally slotted for the Georgia Bulldogs. With the move to the SEC, the home-and-home series with the defending national championships was cancelled. Now that Oklahoma knows they’ll play just an eight-game conference schedule, they have a pair of open nonconference dates.

Given the requirement that each SEC team is required to play at least one Power Five or major independent, the Sooners have to find a way to get a Power Five team on their schedule.

The Houston Cougars only have two nonconference games on the schedule at the moment. They last played in 2019, a 49-31 win for the Sooners. There’s a recent relationship with the athletic departments that could help Oklahoma satisfy their Power Five nonconference opponent.

NORMAN, OK – SEPTEMBER 4: Running back Kennedy Brooks #26 of the Oklahoma Sooners runs with the ball pursued by safety Larry Brooks #31 of the Tulane Green Wave at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in the second quarter on September 4, 2021 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma won 40-35. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

Oklahoma and Tulane have only played twice. Both games have come since 2017 and both were Oklahoma wins. Tulane has become one of the better Group of Five schools in recent years, creating buzz around the school when people discuss expansion.

The Green Wave gave the Sooners a scare back in 2021 when they rallied from a big halftime deficit to make it a five-point game at the end.

Dec 29, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Jovantae Barnes (2) scores a touchdown against the Florida State Seminoles during the second half in the 2022 Cheez-It Bowl at Camping World Stadium. Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports

What better way to kick off Oklahoma’s time in the SEC than a trip to Fayetteville to begin building what could be a really fun regional rivalry? Even if it’s just two games every four years, Oklahoma vs. Arkansas is going to provide a lot of fun for fans with the short travel distance between the two schools. No school in the SEC is closer than Arkansas. The two sides haven’t played since a 10-3 Oklahoma win in 2002.

Jan 1, 2018; Pasadena, CA, USA; Oklahoma Sooners tight end Mark Andrews (81) is tackled by Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Lorenzo Carter (7) in the 2018 Rose Bowl college football playoff semifinal game at Rose Bowl Stadium. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The cancellation of the Georgia series was a bummer. We’re going to presume that the SEC gets the Bulldogs to Norman early in the Sooners’ SEC tenure to make up for the canceled nonconference game.

Nov 19, 2022; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) throws a pass against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during a game at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Bryan Terry-USA TODAY Sports

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There are several Oklahoma ties throughout the conference, but none is closer to home than Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops. Mark never spent time coaching in Norman, but as brother to Bob and Mike, Mark is someone Sooner fans have will an appreciation for.

Oct 9, 2021; Dallas, Texas, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Billy Bowman (5) and defensive back Justin Broiles (25) tackle Texas Longhorns running back Bijan Robinson (5) during the first half at the Cotton Bowl. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Whatever the SEC schedule looks like in 2024 and beyond, one thing is certain, the conference isn’t going to miss out on OU-Texas every year and the interest it brings. This game has been played at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas since 1932 and there’s no reason to change things up. Having the game during the State Fair of Texas just adds to the buzz and build-up of one of the greatest rivalries in all of sports.

Quarterback Jackson Arnold goes through drills as the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) college football team holds spring practice outside of Gaylord Family/Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on March 21, 2023 in Norman, Okla. [Steve Sisney/For The Oklahoman]

After going to the Cotton Bowl and seven weeks into the season, it feels like a great time to give the Sooners a bye week.

Sep 6, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Mississippi Rebels offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby and the players hold up the old leather helmet after winning the Chick-fil-A Kickoff game against the Louisville Cardinals at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Jeff Lebby gets a chance to return to his old stomping grounds with his Oklahoma Sooners offense to face the Ole Miss Rebels. The Sooners are 0-1 all-time against the Rebels. Year one in the SEC feels like a good time to right that wrong.

Dec 30, 2020; Arlington, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Marvin Mims (17) makes a touchdown catch past Florida Gators defensive back Donovan Stiner (13) during the first half at AT&T Stadium. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

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When the SEC was considering a nine-game conference schedule with three permanent opponents, there was talk that Florida would be one of the three, along with Texas and Missouri.

So why not put them together in a late-season matchup in 2024.

Bob Stoops was a huge part of both teams’ success. He was the defensive coordinator at Florida when the Gators won the national championship in 1997.

Oct 15, 2022; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables reacts during the first half against the Kansas Jayhawks at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

“When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”

SEC schools love to schedule late-season tune-up games with FCS opponents. Currently, Texas A&M Commerce of the Southland Conference has just three nonconference games on its 2024 calendar. Looks like there’s room for one more.

CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 26: Head coach Shane Beamer of the South Carolina Gamecocks celebrates after defeating the Clemson Tigers at Memorial Stadium on November 26, 2022 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

Let’s go ahead and welcome back Shane Beamer, a beloved former assistant from his time with the Oklahoma Sooners. This would mark the first meeting between the two programs in the history of the sport.

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The Oklahoma Sooners and the Missouri Tigers have a history 96 games long dating back before their days in the Big 8. But the two haven’t played since 2011. It’s not a rivalry in the same sense that OU-Texas or even Bedlam are, but given the relative regional interest in the matchup and the history, this is a game that has rivalry potential. The Red River Showdown won’t move out of the second weekend in October, so we’ll put the Tigers vs. Sooners during rivalry week.

Nov 13, 2021; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; A detailed view of the Southeastern Conference SEC logo at Tiger Stadium. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Every year in the SEC is going to be a challenge. The conference is tough and each week will be a gauntlet. Conference title game appearances will be tougher to come by, but the Sooners should still be able to contend for the College Football Playoff when it expands to 12 in 2024.

Presumably, 2024 will be Jackson Arnold’s first year as a starter. If all goes well, the defense will be ready to roll to take some of the pressure off of their five-star quarterback.

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