Three things to know about OU’s 2019 schedule

The Oklahoma football team announced its 2019 schedule Thursday morning. Here are three things to know from the Sooners’ slate:

Soft home schedule

Sure, there are games against Houston, West Virginia and TCU among Oklahoma’s six home games but the schedule isn’t the most fan-friendly lineup of games.

Houston had some juice in 2016 when the Sooners opened the season at NRG Stadium in Houston. Next season doesn’t figure to have the same pull, with Tom Herman having since departed to coach Texas and Ed Oliver likely headed to the NFL after this season.

Striking a balance

Unlike this season, when the Sooners played at home four of the first five weeks, next year’s schedule is much more evenly split.

Oklahoma begins the season with back-to-back non-conference home games but after that plays at home every three weeks until November when there’s just two weeks between the game against Iowa State (Nov. 9) and TCU (Nov. 23).

Only once do the Sooners play back-to-back games away from Norman — Oct. 5 at Kansas and then in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas a week later where they’ll face Texas.

Double bye week

After two seasons with just one bye week, Oklahoma and the rest of the conference returns to two next season thanks to the way the calendar falls.

The Sooners will start the season on the last day of August and will get a break Sept. 21 after wrapping up non-conference play and Nov. 2 after making the trip to Kansas State.

OU’s 2019 football schedule

Times TBA, and dates subject to change

Aug. 31: Houston

Sept. 7: South Dakota

Sept. 14: at UCLA

Sept. 21: Open

Sept. 28: Texas Tech

Oct. 5: at Kansas

Oct. 12: vs. Texas (in Dallas)

Oct. 19: West Virginia

Oct. 26: at Kansas State

Nov. 2: Open

Nov. 9: Iowa State

Nov. 16: at Baylor

Nov. 23: TCU

Nov. 30: at Oklahoma State