NORMAN — The Oklahoma Sooners opened the 2025 college football season in dominant fashion, cruising to a 35-3 win over Illinois State on Saturday at Gaylord Family–Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
The Sooners unveiled a new-look offense under first-year offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, and the debut did not disappoint. Washington State transfer and starting quarterback John Mateer delivered a record-breaking performance, throwing for 392 yards on 30 completions with four total touchdowns. His effort surpassed Baker Mayfield’s mark for the most passing yards by an OU quarterback in a debut.
This season’s opening win against the Redbirds comes as Oklahoma looks to rebound from a disappointing 6-7 finish last season. Saturday’s performance was a strong first step, but the Sooners face a major test this weekend against the Michigan Wolverines.
The Wolverines started their season with a victory as well, defeating New Mexico 34-17. True freshman quarterback and former 5-star recruit Bryce Underwood showed poise in his first outing, completing 21 passes for 251 yards and a touchdown. Alabama transfer Justice Haynes capped off an impressive night on the ground for the Wolverines with 159 yards on 16 carries and three total touchdowns.
The matchup between Oklahoma and Michigan carries historic weight, as the two storied programs have only met once before. That meeting came in the 1976 Orange Bowl, when the Sooners earned a 14-6 win. With a large national media presence already in Norman via ESPN’s College GameDay, this game shines a spotlight on two programs looking to prove many of their doubters wrong.
Kickoff is set for 6:30 PM this Saturday, September 6th, and will air on ABC.