OU Football Opens 2025 Season vs Illinois State: TV, Kickoff Time, Preview
The 2025 season kicks off Saturday evening as No. 18/RV Oklahoma begins its second year in the Southeastern Conference under head coach Brent Venables. The Sooners will host Illinois State, the sixth-ranked team in the FCS preseason polls, at 5 p.m. CT inside Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. The game will stream live on SEC Network+ and ESPN+ with Richard Cross, Tyoka Jackson, and Madison Hock on the call.
Related: Top 5 storylines for OU vs Illinois State
Oklahoma Season Outlook
The matchup marks the 131st season of Sooner football and the 1,352nd game in program history. OU, 950-348-53 all-time (.723), enters with one of the nation’s most decorated traditions, including 50 conference championships, seven AP national titles, and seven Heisman winners.
The Sooners are looking to bounce back from a 6-7 (2-6 SEC) finish last fall, capped by a narrow Armed Forces Bowl loss to Navy. But they showed promise at home, ending the 2024 campaign with a commanding 24-3 win over then-No. 7 Alabama.
A new-look offense will be led by redshirt junior quarterback John Mateer, ranked by ESPN as the No. 1 transfer in college football, and Cal transfer Jaydn Ott, a dynamic senior running back with more than 2,500 career rushing yards. First-year offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, who followed Mateer from Washington State, takes over play-calling duties after leading a top-25 Cougar attack.
Defensively, Venables returns six starters from a unit that ranked 19th nationally in total defense last season and top-10 in both tackles for loss and fumble recoveries.
Toby Rowland Preview: Sports Director Toby Rowland sits down with Voice of the Redbirds John Fitzgerald to talk about the state of both teams heading into the season opener on Saturday in Norman.
Illinois State at a Glance
Illinois State arrives in Norman with confidence after a 10-4 finish in 2024, including a trip to the second round of the FCS playoffs. Veteran head coach Brock Spack (111-74) enters his 17th season and has built the Redbirds into a perennial contender in the rugged Missouri Valley Football Conference.
The Redbirds return 12 starters and boast six preseason All-Americans. Key names include QB Tommy Rittenhouse, a dual-threat leader under center, RB Wenkers Wright, and WR Daniel Sobkowicz. On defense, LB Tye Niekamp anchors a unit looking to replace multiple All-American departures.
Key Storylines
- First-Ever Meeting: Saturday marks the first game between Oklahoma and Illinois State.
- New-Look Sooners: Nearly half of OU’s roster (45 of 111 players) are newcomers, including 22 transfers with more than 200 combined career starts.
- Fresh Competition: Position battles remain open across the defense and offensive line, with multiple “OR” designations on the depth chart.
- Home Field Advantage: OU has won 18 straight home openers and owns a 145-15 home record since 1999.
How to Watch
- Opponent: Illinois State (FCS No. 6)
- Date: Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025
- Kickoff: 5:00 p.m. CT
- Location: Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (Norman, OK)
- Broadcast: SEC Network+ / ESPN+