The advantage of a tough college football schedule is that if you win, it helps your argument for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

No has accused Oklahoma of dodging hard games and that is part of the reason the Sooners have been in four of the first five playoffs.

OU likes to schedule home-and-home games with top teams and the latest announcement is about The University of Georgia.

Oklahoma’s series against Georgia will be the second and third games between the schools. The Bulldogs edged the Sooners 54-48 in double-overtime at the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl in the 2017 season.

Now, Oklahoma will host Georgia on September 9, 2023, and will travel to Athens, Georgia, for a September 13, 2031, game.

“We are especially excited about this series because it helps us celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in 2023,” said OU Athletics Director and Vice President Joe Castiglione. “Greg McGarity and his staff at Georgia helped us navigate an unusual scheduling circumstance and we are grateful for the diligence and patience.

“We understand the return game date is later than usual, but very much look forward to taking our program to Athens to play in one of the country’s great venues. As we have said on many occasions, we understand our responsibility to college football fans and tradition to play iconic games. We welcome opportunities such as this one that reinforce our brand and celebrate the historically great programs.”

A member of the Southeastern Conference, Georgia boasts a strong football tradition with an 819-423-54 (.653) all-time record, two consensus national championships (1942 and 1980), 13 SEC titles, a 31-21-3 (.591) bowl record, two Heisman Trophy winners and 33 consensus All-Americans. It has finished in the top 10 of the final AP poll 23 times.

“Lincoln’s doing a great job and we look forward to building on what was a great matchup in the Rose Bowl,” said UGA head coach Kirby Smart.  “Oklahoma and Georgia are two of the biggest name brands in college football and these will be great games in Norman and Athens.”

“Oklahoma has a great football tradition and success over a very long period of time,” said UGA J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Greg McGarity.  “It will be a great intersectional game that I¹m sure will excite the fan bases of both institutions.  In addition, playing the Sooners certainly adds to our continuing efforts at scheduling quality opponents outside the SEC.”

Oklahoma has scheduled home-and-home series against Alabama and Clemson. OU will face the Crimson Tide in 2032 (Norman) and 2033 (Tuscaloosa), and the Tigers in 2035 (Clemson) and 2036 (Norman). Other future home-and-home series opponents include LSU, Michigan, Nebraska, Temple and Tennessee.

Over the last 20 years, the Sooners have played non-conference series against Alabama, Florida State, Miami (Florida), Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Tennessee, UCLA and Washington.

Last year, Georgia played three home games against opponents from outside the five power conferences: Austin Peay, Middle Tennessee and Massachusetts. The Bulldogs won those games by a cumulative score of 160-34 – which didn’t help them with the College Football Playoff selection committee.

Georgia’s previously announced home-and-home series with Power 5 non-conference opponents include two with Clemson (2029 at Clemson and 2030 in Athens, and 2032 in Athens and 2033 at Clemson);  Texas (2028 at Austin and 2029 in Athens); UCLA (2025 in Pasadena and 2026 in Athens); and Florida State (2027 in Tallahassee and 2028 in Athens).

Oklahoma opens the 2019 season on Sunday, September 1 at home against Houston. The game will kick off at 6:30 p.m.

OU’s Marquee Nonconference Games Since 1999

  • 1999 at Notre Dame, L, 30-34
  • 2001- North Carolina, W, 41-27
  • 2001 at Air Force      W, 44-3
  • 2002 – Alabama, W, 37-27
  • 2003 at Alabama, W, 20-13
  • 2003 – UCLA. W, 59-24
  • 2004 – Oregon, W, 31-7
  • 2005 at UCLA, L, 24-41
  • 2006 – Washington, W, 37-20
  • 2006 at Oregon, L, 33-34
  • 2007 – Miami  W, 51-13
  • 2008 at Washington, W, 55-14
  • 2009 vs. BYU (at Dallas) L, 13-14
  • 2009 at Miami, L, 20-21
  • 2010 – Florida State, W, 47-17
  • 2010 – Air Force, W, 27-24
  • 2011 at Florida State, W, 23-13
  • 2012 – Notre Dame, L, 13-30
  • 2013 at Notre Dame, W, 35-21
  • 2014 – Tennessee, W, 34-10
  • 2015 at Tennessee,  W,31-24 (2OT)
  • 2016 vs. Houston,      L, 23-33
  • 2016 – Ohio State, L, 24-45
  • 2017, at Ohio State, W, 31-16
  • 2018 – UCLA, W, 49-21
  • 2018 – Army, W, 28-21 (OT)