Oklahoma Adds Missouri State To 2028 Football Schedule

The Oklahoma Sooners have locked in another non-conference opponent for 2028, adding the Missouri State Bears for a home game at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Saturday, September 9.

The Bears will get a $1.2 million guarantee for the matchup, according to a contract obtained through a public records request, as first reported by FBSchedules.com.

This will only be the second time the two programs have met. The first matchup came back in 2020 COVID season, when Oklahoma rolled Missouri State 48-0 in Norman. Missouri State was the Sooners' only non-conference opponent that season due to the Big 12's COVID scheduling restrictions.

Missouri State is currently in the middle of its transition to the FBS. They joined Conference USA in 2025 and will become a full FBS member this season. So by the time they roll into Norman in 2028, they’ll be a full-fledged FBS program, even if they’re still a step or two behind the power programs.

Here’s where things get a little interesting for Oklahoma’s scheduling. Starting this year, the SEC is moving to a nine-game conference schedule. That means the Sooners only need three non-conference games instead of four.

Right now, Oklahoma’s 2028 non-conference slate includes home games against Temple (Sept. 2) and Colorado State (Sept. 30), plus a road trip to Houston on Sept. 16. Adding Missouri State puts them one over the limit.

Houston is almost certainly staying on the schedule. It’s a Power 4 game against a Big 12 opponent and part of a home-and-home that started in Norman in 2024. Canceling that one would cost $1 million.

Temple is the final game of a three-game series and carries a $700,000 cancellation fee. Colorado State is a one-off deal that would also cost $1 million to drop. Somewhere along the line, one of those games is getting the axe so Missouri State can take its place.

Looking at the bigger picture, Oklahoma’s non-conference schedule over the next few years is pretty standard for what the Sooners have typically done when they were in the Big 12 with a three-game non-conference slate. The Sooners are going back to their formula on one Power conference opponent, two Group of Six teams, and no matchups against FCS schools.

This year it’s home games against UTEP and New Mexico along with a tough road trip to Michigan.

In 2027, the Sooners will face SMU at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, plus home dates with Utah State and San Diego State.

Adding Missouri State for 2028 is a typical buy-game move. It gives Oklahoma a home date against a team that should be beatable while putting a nice check in the Bears’ bank account.

Oklahoma appears to be working through that process for 2028, and Missouri State is the latest piece of the puzzle.

For now, the date is locked in. September 9, 2028, Missouri State comes to Norman. Details are still to be determined on which game is cancelled with the addition of the Bears.