Sooners set 2007 football schedule

NORMAN -- The Hurricanes are coming and the Golden Hurricane are waiting, highlights in the 2007 Oklahoma football schedule released Tuesday by the school.

2007 OU Schedule
Sept. 1: North Texas

Sept. 8: Miami (Fla.)

Sept. 15: Utah State

Sept. 22: at Tulsa

Sept. 29: at Colorado

Oct. 6: Texas at Dallas

Oct. 13: Missouri

Oct. 20: at Iowa State

Oct. 27: Oklahoma State

Nov. 3: Texas A&M

Nov. 10: Baylor

Nov. 17: at Texas Tech

Scouting ahead
Still more than a year away, Oklahoma's 2007 non-conference schedule is complete, with three of four foes headed for Norman. An early look:

North Texas: The Eagles are becoming something of a regular during the Bob Stoops era at OU, with the '07 meeting the third since 2001. The Sooners have won the six previous contests -- all in Norman -- including 37-3 in 2003.

Miami: Jimmy Johnson is long gone, but Miami memories remain bitter, mostly because the Hurricanes have won three straight in a series they lead 3-2. With Johnson in charge, Miami showed up in Norman in 1985, taunting the Sooners at home, then taking out OU quarterback Troy Aikman. The Johnson-led Canes also beat the Sooners in the '86 regular season and the '87 Orange Bowl. OU's two wins over Miami came in Norman in '73 and on the road in '75.

The Sooners are due to return the trip to Miami in 2009.

Utah State: Another series dominated by Sooner home wins. OU beat the Aggies in 1972, '74 and '91, all in Norman. This will be the fourth meeting.

Tulsa: The Sooners have won 14 of the 22 meetings, including five in Tulsa. The two teams last played there in 2002 with OU posting a 37-0 victory. The Golden Hurricane have made significant progress under coach Steve Kragthorpe. In 2007, they'll be led by a veteran quarterback in Paul Smith. Tulsa is due back in Norman for games in 2009 and 2011 to complete the 2-for-1 agreement.

The Sooners start 2007 with three straight home games and play seven times overall on Owen Field. The marquee matchup is Sept. 8 against Miami, a pairing of the nation’s winningest teams of this decade.

Two weeks later, OU visits Tulsa for the 23rd meeting in an on-again series that last saw the teams play in 2004.

The non-conference portion of the 12-game schedule also includes home games with North Texas and Utah State.

“”These games fit our philosophy of providing a challenging, yet balanced schedule that prepares our team for the rigors of Big 12 Conference play and a run at post season championships,’’ OU athletic director Joe Castiglione said in a statement.

The move to 12-game schedules allows for more flexibility in scheduling more demanding non-conference foes. OU’s future schedules also include games with Florida State, Tennessee and LSU.

While many teams struggle to complete their schedules, the Sooners are set more than 12 months in advance with a lineup that features all Division I-A schools.

“"The process becomes a little more challenging each year, but we are always working to complete our scheduling in a timely fashion to give our campus and fans the appropriate time to plan events,’’ Castiglione said.

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