SEC schedule release: OU football set to host Alabama, South Carolina & Tennessee in 2024

Ryan Aber, Oklahoman
·2 min read

NORMAN — In one corner of Rudy’s Country Store hangs reminders of what OU is leaving.

Flags of the Sooners and each of their Big 12 brethren — at least before this year’s additions — hang over where patrons order their barbecue.

In the other corner, there was a reminder Wednesday night of what lies ahead.

The SEC Network and the Paul Finebaum show played on the television above where Toby Rowland, Gabe Ikard and Teddy Lehman prepared to break down the Sooners’ inaugural 2024 football slate.

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OU football coach Brent Venables lines up with player before facing Kent State at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman on Sept., 10, 2022.
OU football coach Brent Venables lines up with player before facing Kent State at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman on Sept., 10, 2022.

Fans packed into Rudy’s for the announcement, mixing bites of barbecue with chants of “Boomer Sooner.”

The Ruf/Neks were on hand for the announcement. So were the Sooners’ cheerleaders.

Fans didn’t have to wait long to see the announcement, as OU’s was the first schedule revealed as the show began with the announcement of the Sooners’ and Texas’ opponents.

Every established team in the SEC will take on either OU or the Longhorns in the first season with none facing both.

“Obviously it’s a year away, but it really brings everything into reality,” Sooners coach Brent Venables said at the announcement gathering.

The Sooners will travel to Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss and Missouri.

However, OU has an intriguing slate at home.

More: How have Oklahoma Sooners fared vs. SEC football opponents over the years?

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel, front right, talks with quarterback Joe Milton III (7) during the Orange Bowl against Clemson on Dec. 30, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel, front right, talks with quarterback Joe Milton III (7) during the Orange Bowl against Clemson on Dec. 30, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Fla.

OU will host Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee while the annual showdown with Texas in Dallas will also be a home game for the Sooners.

The Crimson Tide are college football’s behemoth, with Nick Saban in charge.

South Carolina and the Sooners have never met, and the Gamecocks are coached by former OU assistant Shane Beamer.

Tennessee is coached by Josh Heupel, the quarterback of the Sooners’ 2000 national championship team. Heupel was also a longtime Sooners assistant from 2006-14 before being fired by Bob Stoops after OU’s offensive production slipped.

Game dates will be announced at a later date.

OU has two nonconference games on the books for 2024 — home games against Temple (Aug. 31) and Tulane (Sept. 14) — leaving a void for two more nonconference games.

More: SEC announces football schedule for 2024 with Oklahoma, Texas joining league

OU's 2024 SEC foes

Here's a look at the eight schools the Sooners will play during their first football season in the SEC in 2024:

HOME: Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas (Red River Rivalry in Dallas)

ROAD: Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, Missouri

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football set to host Alabama in 2024 SEC schedule release

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