Oklahoma will kick off its 2027 football season a week earlier than originally planned, hosting Utah State in a Week Zero game on Aug. 28, 2027 at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

OU announced the change Aug. 12, moving the Utah State contest up from its originally slated Sept. 4 date. The Sooners will pay the Aggies a $1.5 million guarantee for the game, according to a copy of the contract obtained by FBSchedules.com.

The Sooners own the all-time series 5-0 against Utah State, dating to 1972.

The date shift also reshuffled another early-season matchup. OU moved its neutral-site game against SMU to Friday, Sept. 4, one week earlier than previously scheduled. That game will be played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, where the Sooners are 6-2 all-time and have won five straight. SEC rules require one Power Four non-conference opponent; SMU, now in the ACC, fills that slot for 2027.

Utah State Vice President and Director of Athletics Cameron Walker announced the changes from the Aggies' side on Aug. 12.

Week Zero games were once reserved exclusively for Hawaii, teams traveling to Hawaii and their opponents. The rule has since been expanded, opening the door for matchups like this one.

Beyond the non-conference slate, OU's 2027 SEC schedule features home games against Alabama, Arkansas, Missouri and Tennessee, plus the annual neutral-site rivalry against Texas in Dallas, according to The Oklahoman. Road trips include Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt. The Vanderbilt game will mark the first meeting between the two programs.

One non-conference slot remains open.

The Sooners enter the 2026 season ranked No. 9 in the CBS Sports preseason FBS rankings, third-best in the SEC. Oklahoma opens that campaign at home against UTEP on Sept. 4.