Week 1 of the 2025 college football season is upon us, and the Oklahoma Sooners open the season against one of the better FCS teams in the nation, the Illinois State Redbirds. Oklahoma is coming into the game looking to get off to a fast start as they welcome several new pieces on the offensive side of the ball.
There are still several questions heading into the opener, namely along the offensive line, where Oklahoma hasn’t fully solidified its starting five. They feel good about the group they’ll deploy, but want to see them play against live competition before deciding who will roll out with the 1s Week 2 against the Michigan Wolverines.
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Oklahoma is a big favorite heading into the game and has a 98.4% winning percentage according to the ESPN Matchup Predictor heading into Week 1.
To get you ready for the Oklahoma Sooners’ Week 1 matchup, here are our first Sooners Wire staff predictions of the season.
More: Oklahoma Sooners game-by-game predictions: Can OU contend for a playoff spot?
Execution is Key
Quarterback John Mateer hands off to running back Jovantae Barnes (#2) at the University of Oklahoma (OU) first fall open football practice, Friday, Aug. 1, 2025.
Oklahoma unveils a new offense, a new quarterback, new skill position players, and a new play-caller on Saturday against Illinois State. The Sooners shouldn’t have much of a problem with the Redbirds, and if they do, it could spell trouble for how 2025 will go. Plenty of players should get snaps, and the biggest thing to watch for (aside from staying healthy) is execution on both sides of the ball. This game is also our first chance to see what the defense will look like with new leadership in place on the field, and they should have opportunities to make plays against an FCS opponent.
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Oklahoma 59, Illinois State 3
Sooners Roll
Oklahoma head football coach Brent Venables is pictured during football practice for the University of Oklahoma Sooners in Norman, Okla., Wednesday, Aug., 6, 2025.
OU’s opener should serve as an excellent warm-up for the new-look offense, even if fans only get a look at them for a half. It’s possible John Mateer plays into the third quarter, but anything more than that is probably too dangerous for the rest of the season. Don’t expect too much trouble from this particular FCS team. Sooners will roll.
Oklahoma 48, Illinois State 7
Mateer, Oklahoma off to fast start
Aug 30, 2024; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Deion Burks (6) catches a touchdown pass past Temple Owls safety Andreas Keaton (2) during the first quarter at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
The Oklahoma Sooners opened the 2024 season with a 51-3 win over the Temple Owls. Temple isn’t the toughest team from the American Athletic Conference, but they’re still an FBS team, and that was the worst Oklahoma offense since 1998. They had Deion Burks available, but lost Jalil Farooq on the opening drive of the season and also lost multiple starters along the offensive line to injury in Week 1.
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This Oklahoma team is healthier and simply better than the one we saw to open the season last year, and the Sooners will roll.
John Mateer will have the Oklahoma offense humming from the jump, similar to the way Dillon Gabriel got OU off to a fast start against UTEP to open the 2022 season when they scored touchdowns on their first three drives.
Look for the Sooners to establish the ground game early and then work play action to find some deep shots in the passing game to Burks and Isaiah Sategna.
Oklahoma 63, Illinois State 3
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma vs. Illinois State: Sooners Wire Staff Predictions
