Sooners Football Road Trip Turns Home-Like: SMU Game Relocated To Familiar AT&T Stadium In 2027

The University of Oklahoma and Southern Methodist University (SMU) jointly announced on Thursday, February 12, 2026, a significant change to their upcoming football schedule: the non-conference matchup originally set for September 11, 2027, at SMU's Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas has been relocated to the much larger and more prominent AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas—better known as the home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, or "Jerry World."

This move transforms what would have been a traditional road game for the Sooners into a neutral-site contest played in a world-class venue with a capacity exceeding 80,000 (expandable to over 100,000 for major events).

For Oklahoma, this will represent their ninth appearance at AT&T Stadium, where they boast an impressive 6-2 overall record. Notably, the Sooners are a perfect 5-0 in Big 12 Conference championship games held there and have secured victories in their last five outings at the facility. Their most recent visit came during the unusual 2020 season, when they defeated Florida 55-20 in the Cotton Bowl Classic, capping a strong run of success in Arlington.

OU Vice President and Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione expressed enthusiasm about the relocation, stating, "We were happy to work with SMU and AT&T Stadium to make this happen, as it will allow more fans of both programs to attend and cheer in person. While our program's history at AT&T Stadium is somewhat short, it has certainly been meaningful, with five league championships and a Cotton Bowl title secured there. So we're excited to be able to make this move to a premier venue that has treated us so well."

The 2027 contest completes a two-game home-and-home series between the programs. Oklahoma previously hosted SMU in Norman on September 9, 2023, prevailing 28-11, giving the Sooners a 6-1-1 lead in the all-time series.

SMU, now a member of the ACC, has its own historical ties to large Dallas-area stadiums; from 1979 to 1986, during the famed "Pony Express" era featuring running backs Eric Dickerson and Craig James, the Mustangs played all home games at the former Texas Stadium, the Cowboys' previous home.

While the game remains technically an SMU "home" contest, shifting it to AT&T Stadium offers clear advantages for Oklahoma. The Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) metro area boasts a massive population and a significant concentration of OU alumni, fans, and supporters.

In contrast, SMU's on-campus Gerald J. Ford Stadium holds only about 32,000 fans, limiting attendance potential. At AT&T Stadium, the atmosphere is likely to tilt heavily in Oklahoma's favor, with reports and fan reactions suggesting the Sooners could easily outnumber SMU supporters—potentially by a wide margin, similar to how large fanbases dominate neutral or borrowed venues in Texas.

This de facto home-field advantage could energize the Sooners, boost ticket sales for traveling fans, and create an electric environment reminiscent of their past successes in Arlington.

The relocation aligns with broader trends in college football, where programs increasingly opt for high-profile neutral sites to maximize revenue, visibility, and fan experience—especially for marquee non-conference games. SMU benefits from the prestige of playing in a NFL-caliber facility (which has hosted major events like FIFA World Cup matches) and likely secures substantial financial incentives from the venue and partners.

Ticket information, kickoff time, and other details for the September 11, 2027, game will be released at a later date.Oklahoma's Complete Record at AT&T Stadium:

This move not only revives exciting memories of OU's dominance in Arlington but also positions the 2027 matchup as one of the more anticipated early-season games, promising a big crowd, high stakes, and potentially another chapter in the Sooners' strong history at one of college football's premier neutral venues.