Josh Pate Predicts OU Faces One of CFB's Toughest 2026 Schedules

The Sooners will be tested early and often, including trips to Michigan and Georgia before the Red River Rivalry.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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College football analyst Josh Pate believes the Oklahoma Sooners will face one of the most difficult schedules in the nation for the 2026 season. The Sooners' slate includes an early-season matchup at Michigan, a road trip to Georgia, and the annual Red River Showdown against Texas, all within the first six weeks of the season. Pate also highlighted Oklahoma's challenging finish to the year, with back-to-back-to-back games against South Carolina, Florida, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and Missouri.

Why it matters

As Oklahoma continues its transition to the SEC, the Sooners will be tested by a brutally tough schedule year after year. This 2026 slate could serve as a springboard to the College Football Playoff if Oklahoma can navigate it successfully, just as they did in 2025 despite facing one of the nation's most difficult schedules.

The details

In the first six weeks of the 2026 season, Oklahoma will face UTEP, Michigan, New Mexico, Georgia, and Texas. Pate noted that the Sooners will have already played in Ann Arbor and Athens before their bye week, setting up a crucial Red River Rivalry matchup with Texas coming out of the break. The Sooners' final five games are also daunting, with South Carolina, Florida, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and Missouri all on the schedule.

  • The Sooners open the season against UTEP.
  • In Week 2, Oklahoma travels to Michigan.
  • Oklahoma hosts New Mexico in Week 3.
  • The Sooners visit Georgia in Week 4.
  • Oklahoma has a bye week in Week 5 before facing Texas in the Red River Showdown.

The players

Josh Pate

The host of "Josh Pate's College Football Show" who identified Oklahoma as having one of the toughest schedules in the nation for the 2026 season.

Brent Venables

The head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners, who will need to navigate the team's challenging 2026 schedule.

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What they’re saying

“I think Oklahoma's got a tough schedule too. Oklahoma, just like Texas, plays a huge Big Ten out of conference opponent in the first couple of weeks when they go to Michigan in Week 2. They go to Georgia in Week 4. So, by the time OU gets to their bye week, they will have already played in Ann Arbor and Athens, and then they've got to go to Dallas to play Texas coming out of the bye week.”

— Josh Pate, Host, "Josh Pate's College Football Show" (Yahoo Sports)

“Look at their final five games, because they've got to play eight in a row to finish the year, too. Their final five, it's South Carolina and then at Florida, and those are two total wild-card teams. They could be five-win teams, could be nine-win teams, and neither would really surprise me. Ole Miss, Texas A&M, at Missouri back-to back-to-back, and really those five games back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back, it just makes it a really, really tough finish to the season.”

— Josh Pate, Host, "Josh Pate's College Football Show" (Yahoo Sports)

What’s next

The Sooners will look to build on their 2025 College Football Playoff appearance by navigating another challenging schedule in 2026.

The takeaway

Oklahoma's transition to the SEC has brought with it consistently tough schedules, and 2026 will be no exception. The Sooners' ability to succeed despite facing one of the nation's most difficult slates could once again serve as a springboard to the College Football Playoff.