The Oklahoma Sooners men’s basketball program, fresh off its initial foray into the Southeastern Conference in 2025, has now received its full slate of conference opponents for the 2026 season. Announced on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, by the SEC office, this schedule provides a clear roadmap for Porter Moser’s team as they continue their integration into one of the nation’s most competitive basketball leagues. The 2026 schedule is designed to be a true test, featuring a demanding mix of perennial powerhouses, defending champions, and the rekindling of storied rivalries, ensuring that the Sooners’ second year in the SEC will be anything but easy.
The SEC’s basketball scheduling format for the expanded 16-team league dictates that each team plays the other 15 teams at least once during conference play. Crucially, three teams will be played a second time – two of these are designated as “permanent opponents” to preserve historical rivalries, and one is a “rotating opponent” that changes annually. This structure ensures a challenging 18-game conference schedule for every team. League play is set to tip off on Saturday, January 3, 2026, and will run through Saturday, March 7, concluding just before the SEC Tournament, which returns to Nashville, Tenn., at Bridgestone Arena from March 11-15, 2026.
For the Oklahoma Sooners, their 2026 SEC schedule offers a fascinating blend of familiar faces and formidable new challenges, both at home in the Lloyd Noble Center and on the road.
- Missouri: This continues a long-standing rivalry from their Big 12 days, bringing intense, familiar matchups back into the fold. These games always carry extra weight for both fanbases.
- Texas: The bitter rivalry with Texas, now intensified by their simultaneous move to the SEC, means two guaranteed contests against their traditional adversaries. These games will undoubtedly be among the most anticipated matchups on the schedule.
- Texas A&M: Another former Big 12 foe, Texas A&M provides a familiar opponent that Oklahoma knows well, adding another layer of established competition to their SEC slate.
The Sooners are set to host a formidable lineup of SEC powerhouses at home, promising a series of high-profile games for the Norman faithful. These matchups mark the first time the Sooners have hosted some of these programs at Lloyd Noble Center since joining the SEC, adding to the excitement. The home slate for 2026 includes:
- Alabama: A formidable opponent from the football side, Alabama’s basketball program has also been on the rise, making this a marquee home game.
- Arkansas: The Razorbacks bring a tough, physical brand of basketball, ensuring a hard-nosed contest in Norman.
- Auburn: Fresh off a strong 2025 season that saw them reach the Final Four, Auburn will provide one of the toughest tests at home.
- Florida: Critically, the defending national champion Florida Gators are set to visit Norman. This will be an immense challenge and a highlight of the home schedule, showcasing the level of competition in the SEC.
- Georgia: A solid SEC competitor that will test the Sooners’ resolve.
- Ole Miss: Always a tough matchup, Ole Miss will provide another opportunity for the Sooners to establish dominance at home.
Oklahoma’s road schedule is equally daunting, requiring them to face some of the most iconic and hostile environments in college basketball. These road trips will be a true measure of the Sooners’ ability to perform under pressure away from home. The away slate includes:
- Kentucky: In a historic moment for the program, this season will mark Oklahoma’s first-ever trip to Rupp Arena to battle the Wildcats. Facing one of college basketball’s true blue bloods in their legendary home arena will be an unparalleled experience and a monumental test.
- LSU: A challenging road environment against a talented LSU squad.
- Mississippi State: A physical matchup on the road.
- South Carolina: A tough road test against a resilient Gamecocks team, marking a first-ever trip for the Sooners to South Carolina in SEC play.
- Tennessee: Always a strong contender, facing the Volunteers on the road will be a significant challenge.
- Vanderbilt: Another first-time road trip for the Sooners in SEC play, presenting a unique environment.
This 2026 schedule underscores the brutal reality of competing in the SEC. Every team is formidable, and there are no easy outs. The inclusion of the defending national champion Florida Gators at home, along with a road trip to Rupp Arena to face Kentucky, immediately jumps out as marquee matchups. These are the kinds of games that will test Oklahoma’s mettle, elevate their program’s profile, and potentially provide signature wins.
The return of classic rivalries with Missouri, Texas, and Texas A&M as home-and-away opponents ensures a familiar, intense flavor to the schedule. These games, steeped in history, will undoubtedly be circled on the calendar for both players and fans. The SEC is clearly prioritizing the preservation of these rivalries for the incoming members.
For Porter Moser’s team, who posted a 20-14 overall record in 2024-25, including a 6-12 record in SEC play, and made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021 (falling in the Round of 64), the 2026 schedule presents both immense challenges and tremendous opportunities. To improve on their inaugural SEC record, the Sooners will need to leverage their home court advantage against the likes of Auburn and Florida, and find ways to steal critical road wins against the conference’s traditional powers.
The full non-conference schedule, as well as specific dates, times, and television information for each of these SEC contests, will be announced at a later date. However, the framework is now set, and it promises a thrilling and demanding 2026 campaign for Oklahoma men’s basketball as they continue to solidify their place in the new-look Southeastern Conference. The “Stepping into the Fire” journey continues, and the Sooners are ready for the challenge.
