Ranking OU’s remaining 10 games from easiest to toughest in 2025

The Sooners are off to a strong start for the 2025 season, with wins over Illinois State and Michigan. But what does the rest of the year have in store? Here's a ranking of OU's 10 remaining games this year, from easiest to toughest.

SEE ALSO: Oregon jumps to No. 4 in AP Top 25 behind Ohio St, Penn St, LSU; Oklahoma moves up

10) Kent State (October 4)

The Golden Flashes are 2-25 the last three seasons, but one of those wins came in this year’s opener when Kent State beat Merrimack. But they followed that up last week with a 62-14 loss at Texas Tech. This game falls the week before the Red River Rivalry on the schedule. Expect Oklahoma to not play many starters in the 2nd half.

RELATED: OU's John Mateer named SEC Offensive Player of the Week

9) at Temple (September 13)

Temple is better than they were a year ago. The Owls are 2-0 and have scored 97 points in their first two games. New Head Coach K.C. Keeler led both Delaware and Sam Houston State to National Championships at the FCS level. He has a plan in Philly, and I think he’ll get that program headed in the right direction. But this is a tall task to ask the Owls to corral an Oklahoma team with momentum coming off their victory over Michigan.

8) Missouri (November 22)

A major gap between 8 and 9. Missouri is ranked 25th in the AP poll this week after its comeback win over Kansas in the Border War. Quarterback Beau Pribula has completed 79% of his passes with five touchdowns and no interceptions in the first two games for the Tigers. The Sooners feel like they owe Mizzou one after the way last year’s game ended in Columbia. 

7) Auburn (September 20)

Former Sooner QB Jackson Arnold is off to a nice start on the Plains. Five total TDs and a 78% completion percentage in wins over Baylor and Ball State. That earned Auburn the #24 ranking in this week’s AP poll. Expect Owen Field to be electric again for this SEC Opener in two weeks. Unfortunately, it’s a 2:30 p.m. kickoff, and not another Primetime affair in the Palace.

>>> OU vs. Auburn, OSU vs. Tulsa kickoff times for Week 4 finalized

6) Ole Miss (October 25)

Another SEC team with a new QB, Austin Simmons, is now under center in Oxford. He’s been hit-and-miss so far, but his athleticism can certainly cause problems. Lane Kiffin lost a lot of talent off last year’s team. This is the only home game in a month stretch, and you can expect Owen Field will be hoppin’ to welcome the Rebels to town for the first time ever.

5) at Tennessee (November 1)

Josh Heupel came into Norman and left with a Vols victory a year ago. This is another game where the Sooners will have revenge on their mind. Joey Aguilar is the new quarterback in Knoxville. OU won at Neyland Stadium in 2015 thanks to Baker Mayfield’s heroics. Can they do it again a decade later in front of 100,000 fans with John Mateer?

4) at South Carolina (October 18)

Two things make this one difficult…1) LaNorris Sellers and 2) where it falls on the schedule. Sellers is the preseason 1st-Team pick in the SEC. He’s big, strong, athletic, and has a rocket for an arm. And this matchup comes the week after Red River. Going on the road against a good team will be tough. The Gamecocks jumped all over the Sooners early last year in Norman. Will the early kickoff affect either team in this one?

3) LSU (November 29)

I think LSU may be the best team on the Sooners' schedule this season. But the fact that OU gets them at home lands them at number three on this ranking of toughest remaining games. Garrett Nussmeier was the best QB I saw with my own eyes last season. Brent Venables' defense will have a stiff test in this one. It’s the regular season finale. It’s Thanksgiving weekend. And there will no doubt be significant ramifications on the line when Boomer Sooner and the Bayou Bengals collide.

2) Texas (October 11)

Despite Arch Manning’s struggles in the opener, it’s safe to expect he’ll have things ironed out before the annual clash of Red River Rivals. Texas was the preseason #1-ranked team in the country. They have a very talented defense. And the Horns hammered OU last year in the Cotton Bowl. No need to build this one up. By the time the 2nd Saturday in October rolls around, the hype for this one will be bigger than Big Tex.

1) at Alabama (November 15)

I know the Tide got licked in Week One in Tallahassee, but it’s still a road game at Alabama. And revenge is on the side of the opponents in this one. Oklahoma humiliated Bama a year ago in Norman. Going into Bryant-Denny Stadium is maybe the toughest task in all of college football. Escaping with a win over the Tide with over 100,000 fans in houndstooth hats in the stands will be OU's biggest challenge in 2025