NORMAN — A pivotal OU football season opens Saturday when the Sooners host FCS Illinois State at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
The game will be the debut for John Mateer at quarterback for the Sooners, as well as Ben Arbuckle‘s first game as OU’s offensive coordinator.
For the Sooners’ defense, the opener will feature Brent Venables‘ return to calling the plays.
Follow along for live updates from the Sooners-Redbirds game below:
Watch Oklahoma vs Illinois State live with ESPN+
| â–« | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| Illinois State | 0 | 0 | – | – | — | – |
| Oklahoma | 7 | 14 | – | – | — | – |
Halftime update: OU 21, Illinois State 0 | Sooners’ defense dominates first half
At halftime, the Sooners are outgaining the Redbirds 292-95, including a 227-12 edge in passing yardage.
OU threw for more than 227 yards in just three games last season, not reaching the mark until Oct. 19 against South Carolina.
Jaren Kanak leads the Sooners with four catches for 84 yards while Deion Burks has four catches for 64 yards and a touchdown.
John Mateer is 15 of 18 for 227 yards and a touchdown.
More than half of Illinois State’s yardage has come on Wenkers Wright’s 48 yards on six carries.
—Ryan Aber, Staff writer
0:51 left in second quarter: OU 21, Illinois State 0 | Tory Blaylock scores first career touchdown
OU freshman running back Tory Blaylock carried the load on a long Sooners’ drive late in the second quarter.
Blaylock had an 11-yard run on first down near midfield, then caught a 16-yard pass on third-and-14 from the Illinois State 35 before scoring his first career touchdown on a 4-yard run in the final minute before halftime.
Blaylock had six carries for 29 yards and two catches for 18 yards.
—Ryan Aber, Staff writer
8:18 left in second quarter: OU 14, Illinois State 0 | Sooners force another punt
Oklahoma State transfer Kendal Daniels has been plenty active in the Sooners’ secondary so far, and his pass breakup on third down forced Illinois State into yet another punt.
Isaiah Sategna appeared to break off a long punt return that would’ve given OU the ball inside the Illinois State 20, but a block in the back penalty on Danny Okoye moved the ball back to the Sooners’ 19.
—Ryan Aber, Staff writer
11:34 left in second quarter: OU 14, Illinois State 0 | Deion Burks finds the end zone
Deion Burks and Jaren Kanak have been John Mateer’s favorite targets so far in the opener.
That held true on the Sooners’ first drive of the second quarter.
Kanak, who fumbled in the first quarter after a long catch, held onto a 48-yard reception from Mateer early in the second quarter, setting up Burks’ 27-yard touchdown shortly thereafter.
The touchdown was Burks’ first since the 2024 season opener when he had three touchdown receptions in a 51-3 win over Temple.
—Ryan Aber, Staff writer
12:27 left in second quarter: OU 7, Illinois State 0 | Courtland Guillory getting tested
Freshman cornerback Courtland Guillory has been seeing plenty of action early.
While the returns are still mixed, Guillory made a big open-field tackle on third down to force \the Redbirds into another punt.
The tackle came shortly after Guillory was a shade early at making a play on Daniel Sobwowicz’s catch on third-and-6, leading to a defensive holding penalty.
But then Guillory made up for his mistake, timing up the hit on third down just right to stop Illinois State well short of the marker.
The Sooners will start at their own 23 after the punt.
—Ryan Aber, Staff writer
End first quarter: OU 7, Illinois State 0 | Sooners holding Redbirds down through the air
After the first quarter, OU is outgaining Illinois State 129-58.
The Sooners held the Redbirds to just nine passing yards in the opening frame despite Tommy Rittenhouse completing 4 of 6 passes.
Deion Burks has two catches for 32 yards while tight end Jaren Kanak has two catches for 24 yards — although he lost a fumble on the second of those catches.
—Ryan Aber, Staff writer
0:39 left in first quarter: OU 7, Illinois State 0 | John Mateer gets first Sooners’ TD
John Mateer ran plenty at Washington State last season.
And on the Sooners’ third drive of the game, Mateer showed off those legs.
Mateer had a pair of runs for 11 yards total earlier in the drive before his 7-yard touchdown run put OU on the board.
Mateer completed a 28-yard pass to Deion Burks down the sideline on the first play of the drive, moving the Sooners out of the shadow of their own end zone.
He immediately followed with a 14-yard pass to Keontez Lewis.
Jacob Jordan’s 27-yard catch over the middle gave the Sooners the ball at the Illinois State 2, but Lewis was called for a false start to push the ball back to the 7.
Mateer is 8 of 9 for 99 yards through the air so far.
—Ryan Aber, Staff writer
4:50 left in first quarter: OU 0, Illinois State 0 | Jacob Sexton injured
OU left tackle Jacob Sexton headed to the injury tent with an apparent left knee injury late in the first quarter.
Sexton was replaced by Stanford transfer Luke Baklenko.
Those two, plus freshman Michael Fasusi, were all listed as options to start at left tackle in the initial depth chart.
Fasusi is dressed out but according to OU’s radio broadcast is not available due to injury.
Sexton, a senior, has struggled with injuries throughout his Sooners’ career.
—Ryan Aber, Staff writer
5:43 left in first quarter: OU 0, Illinois State 0 | Sooners’ defense gets another stop
While OU’s defense has been less than inspiring through two drives, the Sooners’ defense has been solid — even if they once again allowed a big play.
After a fumble gave the Redbirds the ball, Illinois State quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse broke off a 23-yard gain to put the Redbirds into OU territory.
But the Sooners buckled down from there, with Gentry Williams and Courtland Guillory making solo tackles on second and third down to force a punt.
OU will start its third drive at its own 6.
—Ryan Aber, Staff writer
9:00 left in first quarter: OU 0, Illinois State 0 | Sooners turn the ball over on Jaren Kanak fumble
Jaren Kanak made his second catch of the game, and it was a big one, a 20-yard gain on third-and-8.Â
But Kanak couldn’t hang onto it.
The converted linebacker fumbled at the end of the play after a bit from Jack Dwyer, and Tye Niekamp was there to recover it at the Illinois State 41.
—Ryan Aber, Staff writer
9:47 left in first quarter: OU 0, Illinois State 0 | Peyton Bowen thwarts Redbirds’ first drive
Illinois State’s first drive was a bit longer than OU’s, but not by much.
The Redbirds converted a third-and-13 on a 24-yard run by Wenkers Wright, but then the Sooners’ defense buckled down.
Peyton Bowen had the big play on the drive, hitting Illinois State quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse in the backfield on second down to force an incomplete pass, leading to a long third-down try that ended in an incompletion.
Isaiah Sategna returned the ensuing punt 21 yards to the OU 37.
—Ryan Aber, Staff writer
13:12 left in first quarter: OU 0, Illinois State 0 | Sooners go three-and-out in John Mateer’s debut
John Mateer’s first OU drive was a quick one — and not in a good way.
Mateer hit Deion Burks for a four-yard gain on the game’s first play, but then the drive stalled.
Jovantae Barnes was stopped for no gain before tight end Jaren Kanak was stopped three yards short.
Jacob Ulrich then booted a 54-yard punt to pin Illinois State inside the 15.
—Ryan Aber, Staff writer
All of the players on OU’s depth chart are dressed out for Saturday’s season opener vs. Illinois State (5 p.m., SEC Network Plus).
It doesn’t appear as if junior cornerback Jacobe Johnson will play, though.
Johnson is dressed out but immediately went to the side to stand with several other Sooners players who are out with injury.
If Johnson is out, freshman Courtland Guillory figures to be the starter opposite Gentry Williams in the secondary.
It appears as if Logan Howland (RT), Febechi Nwaiwu (RG), Troy Everett (C), Eddy Pierre-Louis (LG) and Jacob Sexton (LT) will be the starters on the offensive line at least based on early pregame warmups.
Wide receiver Javonnie Gibson, who suffered an injury in the spring and has missed most of camp, is dressed out but it’s unclear whether he’ll play in the game.
Running back Taylor Tatum, who is not on the depth chart, is also dressed out and went through warmups. Sooners coach Brent Venables said earlier in the week that Tatum would be unavailable due to injury.
OU’s radio broadcast said the Sooners would be without a trio of offensive linemen for the game — Heath Ozaeta, Michael Fasusi and Derek Simmons.
—Ryan Aber, Staff writer
Kickoff is about an hour away.
As was previously reported Friday, ESPN’s “College GameDay” will visit Norman next Saturday.
Can’t go wrong with this look.
What channel is Oklahoma vs Illinois State on today?
Oklahoma vs Illinois State will be streamed on SEC Network Plus in Week 1 of the 2025 college football season. Richard Cross (play-by-play) and Tyoka Jackson (analyst) will call the game from the booth at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium while Madison Hock will be the sideline reporter.
What time does OU play today? Oklahoma vs Illinois State time
- Date: Saturday, Aug. 30
- Start time: 5 p.m. CT
The Oklahoma vs Illinois game starts at 5 p.m. from Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
Oklahoma vs Illinois State predictions, picks, odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Saturday morning:
- Odds: Sooners by 35.5 (-110)
- Over/under: 61.5
OU 54, Illinois State 7:Â With John Mateer being well-versed in Ben Arbuckle’s offense, and a much deeper cache of weapons at wide receiver, the Sooners shouldn’t have much problem putting up points against an FCS opponent. The Sooners’ defensive front shows off its depth as well as OU runs away fairly early and turns its attentions to next week’s matchup with Michigan. See the rest of our staff predictions here.
- Week 1 | Saturday, Aug. 30:Â vs. Illinois State at 5 p.m. (SEC Network+)
- Week 2 | Saturday, Sept. 6:Â vs. Michigan at 6:30 p.m. (ABC)
- Week 3 | Saturday, Sept. 13:Â at Temple at 11 a.m. (ESPN2)
- Week 4 | Saturday, Sept. 20:Â vs. Auburn at TBD
- Week 5 | Bye week
- Week 6 | Saturday, Oct. 4:Â vs. Kent State at 3 p.m. (SEC Network)
- Week 7 | Saturday, Oct. 11:Â vs. Texas at 2:30 p.m. in Dallas (ABC or ESPN)
- Week 8 | Saturday, Oct. 18:Â at South Carolina at TBD
- Week 9 | Saturday, Oct. 25:Â vs. Ole Miss at TBD
- Week 10 | Saturday, Nov. 1:Â at Tennessee at TBD
- Week 11 | Bye week
- Week 12 | Saturday, Nov. 15:Â at Alabama at TBD
- Week 13 | Saturday, Nov. 22:Â vs. Missouri at 11 a.m. (ABC or ESPN)
- Week 14 | Saturday, Nov. 29:Â vs. LSU at TBD
Illinois State football schedule 2025
- Week 1 | Saturday, Aug. 30:Â at Oklahoma at 5 p.m. (SEC Network+)
- Week 2 | Saturday, Sept. 6:Â vs. Morehead State at 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
- Week 3 | Saturday, Sept. 13:Â at Eastern Illinois at 2 p.m. (ESPN+)
- Week 4 | Saturday, Sept. 20:Â vs. North Alabama at Noon (ESPN+)
- Week 5 | Bye week
- Week 6 | Saturday, Oct. 4:Â vs. North Dakota State at 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
- Week 7 | Saturday, Oct. 11:Â at Murray State at 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
- Week 8 | Saturday, Oct. 18:Â vs. Youngstown State at 2 p.m. (ESPN+)
- Week 9 | Saturday, Oct. 25:Â at South Dakota at 1 p.m. (ESPN+)
- Week 10 | Saturday, Nov. 1:Â vs. Northern Iowa at 2 p.m. (ESPN+)
- Week 11 | Saturday, Nov. 8 at Indiana State at Noon (ESPN+)
- Week 12 | Saturday, Nov. 15:Â at South Dakota State at 2 p.m. (ESPN+)
- Week 13 | Saturday, Nov. 22:Â vs. Southern Illinois at Noon (ESPN+)
