In case you somehow missed it, the SEC officially announced the opponents for all 16 SEC teams, including home and away designations. No official dates have been set yet, but college football is a money-generating machine, and the mere announcement of opponents was sure to have the college football world buzzing in the middle of June.
The full breakdown announced tonight:
Oklahoma lands home games against Alabama, South Carolina, and Tennessee, with the annual Red River Shootout designated as a home game in 2024. With the Tide and the Vols coming to town, it’s sure to be a shot of adrenaline for the city of Norman, a town that hasn’t landed a marquee matchup like Alabama since 2021 when the future Cotton Bowl Champ Tulane swept through the town. Or was it Houston in 2019? Army was a barn-burner in 2018. In all seriousness, you would have to go all the way back to 2016’s marquee matchup with Ohio State when the Buckeyes thumped OU 45-24 behind Noah Brown’s four touchdown receptions from JT Barrett to find a matchup like the one upcoming with Nick Saban. Eight full seasons waiting on a National Championship contender to invade Sooner Nation.
While we have a full season of Big 12 opponents to play this fall, it’s never too early to take a casual glance at what Oklahoma will face after OU joins Texas in the transition to the greatest conference in college football.
We’re heading to the land of sundresses and soul food, get your pom-poms and bourbon ready.
Alabama
Hometown: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Stadium: Bryant-Denny Stadium Capacity: 101,821
Head Coach: Nick Saban, 17th season, 189–27 (.875) Overall
Overall Record: 953–335–43 (.732) Bowl Record: 46–27–3 (.625)
Playoff Appearances: Seven Playoff Record: 9-4
National Championships: 18 Claimed Last: 2020
Conference Championships: 33 (Southern: 4; SEC: 29) Last: 2021
2022 Record: 11–2 (6–2 SEC)
Last 3 Years: 37-4 (.902), 25-4 SEC (.862)
2023 QB: Jalen Milroe (SO) OR Ty Simpson (RS FR) OR Tyler Buchner (SO/TR)
Projected 2024 QB: Jalen Milroe (JR) OR Ty Simpson (RS SO) OR Tyler Buchner (JR) OR Eli Holstein (RS FR)
Last 3 Recruiting Classes: 2023: 1st, 327.65 Points | 2022: 2nd, 322.25 Points | 2021: 1st, 327.80 Points
Average Class Finish: 1st Overall, 325.90 Points, 1st for OU’s 2024 SEC Opponents
Last 3 Transfer Classes: 2023: 56th | 2022: 10th | 2021: 16th | 27th Average
South Carolina
Hometown: Columbia, South Carolina
Stadium: Williams-Brice Stadium Capacity: 77,559
Head Coach: Shane Beamer, 3rd season, 15–11 (.577) Overall
Overall Record: 630–605–44 (.510) Bowl Record: 10–15 (.400)
Playoff Appearances: Zero Playoff Record: 0-0
National Championships: Zero Claimed Last: n/a
Conference Championships: 1 (ACC: 1; SEC: 0) Last: 1969
2022 Record: 8-5 (4-4 SEC)
Last 3 Years: 17-19 (.472), 9-16 SEC (.360)
2023 QB: Spencer Rattler (SR)
Projected 2024 QB: Luke Doty (SR) OR LaNorris Sellers (RS FR)
Last 3 Recruiting Classes: 2023: 17th, 255.88 Points | 2022: 24th, 220.16 Points | 2021: 80th, 160.33 Points
Average Class Finish: 40th Overall, 212.12 Points, Last for OU’s 2024 SEC Opponents
Last 3 Transfer Classes: 2023: 35th | 2022: 8th | 2021: 8th | 17th Average
Tennessee
Hometown: Knoxville, Tennessee
Stadium: Neyland Stadium Capacity: 101,915
Head Coach: Josh Heupel, 3rd season, 18–8 (.692) Overall
Overall Record: 867–410–53 (.672) Bowl Record: 30–25 (.545)
Playoff Appearances: Zero Playoff Record: 0-0
National Championships: 6 Claimed Last: 1999
Conference Championships: 16 (13 SEC, 2 Southern, 1 SIAA) Last: 1998
2022 Record: 11-2 (6-2 SEC)
Last 3 Years: 21-15 (.583), 13-13 SEC (.500)
2023 QB: Joe Milton, III (SR)
Projected 2024 QB: Nico Iamaleava (RS FR)
Last 3 Recruiting Classes: 2023: 10th, 277.35 Points | 2022: 17th, 233.22 Points | 2021: 22nd, 219.04 Points
Average Class Finish: 16th Overall, 243.20 Points, 4th for OU’s 2024 SEC Opponents
Last 3 Transfer Classes: 2023: 40th | 2022: 50th | 2021: 23rdh | 38th Average
Auburn
Hometown: Auburn, Alabama
Stadium: Jordan-Hare Stadium Capacity: 87,451
Head Coach: Hugh Freeze, 1st Season, 0-0 (83-43 (.659) Career at Arkansas State, Ole Miss, Liberty)
Overall Record: 785–452–47 (.630) Bowl Record: 24–20–2 (.543)
Playoff Appearances: Zero Playoff Record: 0-0
National Championships: 2 Claimed Last: 2010
Conference Championships: 16 (8 SEC, 7 SIAA, 1 Southern) Last: 2013
2022 Record: 5-7 (2-6 SEC)
Last 3 Years: 17-19 (.472), 11-15 SEC (.500)
2023 QB: Payton Thorne (SR TR) OR Robby Ashford (RS SO)
Projected 2024 QB: Robby Ashford (RS JR) OR Holden Geriner (RS SO)
Last 3 Recruiting Classes: 2023: 18th, 241.76 Points | 2022: 21st, 229.35 Points | 2021: 19th, 226.67 Points
Average Class Finish: 19th Overall, 232.59 Points, 5th for OU’s 2024 SEC Opponents
Last 3 Transfer Classes: 2023: 3rd | 2022: 23rd | 2021: 7th | 11th Average
LSU
Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Stadium: Tiger Stadium Capacity: 102,321
Head Coach: Brian Kelly, 2nd season, 10–4 (.714) (176-66 (.727) Career at Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Notre Dame)
Overall Record: 831–430–47 (.653) Bowl Record: 30–24–1 (.555)
Playoff Appearances: 1 Playoff Record: 2-0
National Championships: 4 Claimed Last: 2019
Conference Championships: 16 (12 SEC, 3 SIAA, 1 SoCon) Last: 2019
2022 Record: 10-4 (6-3 SEC)
Last 3 Years: 21-16 (.568), 14-13 SEC (.519)
2023 QB: Jayden Daniels (SR)
Projected 2024 QB: Garrett Nussmeier (RS JR)
Last 3 Recruiting Classes: 2023: 6th, 288.43 Points | 2022: 12th, 245.76 Points | 2021: 3rd, 295.97 Points
Average Class Finish: 7th Overall, 276.72 Points, 3rd for OU’s 2024 SEC Opponents
Last 3 Transfer Classes: 2023: 2nd | 2022: 3rd | 2021: 17th | 7th Average
Ole Miss
Hometown: Oxford, Mississippi
Stadium: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium Capacity: 64,038
Head Coach: Lane Kiffin, 4th Season, 23–13 (.639)
Overall Record: 678–528–35 (.560) Bowl Record: 24–15 (.615)
Playoff Appearances: Zero Playoff Record: 0-0
National Championships: 3 Claimed Last: 1962
Conference Championships: 6 (6 SEC) Last: 1963
2022 Record: 8-5 (4-4 SEC)
Last 3 Years: 23-13 (.639), 14-11 SEC (.560)
2023 QB: Jaxson Dart (JR) OR Spencer Sanders (SR TR)
Projected 2024 QB: Jaxson Dart (SR) OR Walker Howard (RS SO)
Last 3 Recruiting Classes: 2023: 28th, 221.10 Points | 2022: 27th, 217.92 Points | 2021: 17th, 236.71 Points
Average Class Finish: 24th Overall, 225.24 Points, 6th for OU’s 2024 SEC Opponents
Last 3 Transfer Classes: 2023: 5th | 2022: 2nd | 2021: 53rd | 20th Average
Missouri
Hometown: Columbia, Missouri
Stadium: Memorial Stadium Capacity: 61,620
Head Coach: Eliah Drinkwitz, 3rd Season, 17–18 (.486)
Overall Record: 701–585–52 (.543) Bowl Record: 15–20 (.429)
Playoff Appearances: Zero Playoff Record: 0-0
National Championships: Zero Claimed Last: n/a
Conference Championships: 15 (3 WIUFA, 12 Big Eight) Last: 1969
2022 Record: 6-7 (3-5 SEC)
Last 3 Years: 17-19 (.472), 11-15 SEC (.423)
2023 QB: Jake Garcia (SO TR)
Projected 2024 QB: Jake Garcia (JR)
Last 3 Recruiting Classes: 2023: 33rd, 211.13 Points | 2022: 15th, 239.35 Points | 2021: 26th, 214.53 Points
Average Class Finish: 25th Overall, 221.67 Points, 7th for OU’s 2024 SEC Opponents
Last 3 Transfer Classes: 2023: 41st | 2022: 18th | 2021: 19th | 26th Average
Texas
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Stadium: Darrell K. Royal Memorial Stadium Capacity: 100,119
Head Coach: Steve Sarkisian, 3rd season, 13–12 (.520) Overall
Overall Record: 936–389–33 (.701) Bowl Record: 46–27–3 (.625)
Playoff Appearances: Zero Playoff Record: 0-0
National Championships: 4 Claimed Last: 2005
Conference Championships: 32 (0 SEC) Last: 2009
2022 Record: 8-5 (6-3 Big 12**)
Last 3 Years: 20-15 (.571), 14-12 Big 12** (.538)
2023 QB: Quinn Ewers (RS SO)
Projected 2024 QB: Quinn Ewers (RS JR) OR Arch Manning (RS FR)
Last 3 Recruiting Classes: 2023: 3rd, 306.32 Points | 2022: 5th, 289.04 Points | 2021: 15th, 248.65 Points
Average Class Finish: 8th Overall, 281.34 Points, 2nd for OU’s 2024 SEC Opponents
Last 3 Transfer Classes: 2023: 52nd | 2022: 7th | 2021: 32nd | 30th Average
Team Talent Comparison
Through the 2023 recruiting classes (and 2023 transfer classes), here is the team talent comparison for the last three full recruiting cycles. We will update at the conclusion of the 2024 recruiting cycle prior to the 2024 season.
We realize these numbers do NOT include players who have already left these respective programs, and transfer rankings are fairly arbitrary, especially compared to high school rankings. However, it serves as a good statistical assumption of team talents of the estimated Sophomore, Junior, and Senior classes for each school heading into 2024.
| TEAM | 23 Class | 23 Points | 3y Avg Rk | 3y Avg Pt | 23 Tr Rk | 3y Tr Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1st | 327.65 | 1st | 325.90 | 56th | 27th |
| Texas | 3rd | 306.32 | 8th | 281.34 | 52nd | 30th |
| LSU | 6th | 288.43 | 7th | 276.72 | 2nd | 7th |
| OU | 4th | 289.03 | 7th | 274.90 | 8th | 4th |
| Tennessee | 10th | 277.35 | 16th | 243.20 | 40th | 38th |
| Auburn | 18th | 241.76 | 19th | 232.59 | 3rd | 11th |
| Ole Miss | 28th | 221.10 | 24th | 225.24 | 5th | 20th |
| Missouri | 33rd | 211.13 | 25th | 221.67 | 41st | 26th |
| South Carolina | 17th | 255.88 | 40th | 212.12 | 35th | 17th |
Alabama is clearly a level above the rest, and their recent history as a program should leave no doubt about their team talent level and ability to procure elite classes. It is notable that the next three teams (Texas, LSU, and OU) are all within 7 points by average scores of the last three classes. While Texas is struggling on the trail, history shows they will likely end up with a top 10 class. OU is seemingly recruiting well, and could get close or pass last year’s 4th overall class (289.03 points). And you can always pencil LSU in for a top 8 class. Tennessee is the real wildcard, sitting a full 30 points behind OU. Can they capitalize on their 2022 on-field success? Will they match that level on the field in 2023?
One thing is for certain. Regardless of conference affiliation, Oklahoma and Texas are building rosters to compete with just about anyone in the SEC. How that translates remains the big question. Only 15 months to start finding out.
