While the Big Ten has made a move to not play the non-conference portion of its members schedules, Joe Castiglione is making a move to start Oklahoma’s non-conference play early.
According to The Oklahoman’s Berry Tramel, the university has petitioned the NCAA to move the season opener, against Missouri State, from September 5th to August 29th. It’s a bold move by the university but also a really smart one.
It’s bold because it goes against the trend. On the heels of the Big Ten’s Thursday announcement Twitter was buzzing with opinions that the remaining Power 5 conferences should do the same thing. To do this is to go against the trend and pave the way to sure criticism.
It’s smart though because by moving the season ahead a week gives Oklahoma more time, and in the midst of the pandemic time is the most valuable commodity. An August 29th start would allow the Sooners to have bye weeks after the first two games of the season.
The latest round of COVID testing seems to indicate that Oklahoma can enter the season healthy. The protocols in place look to be working now but how much they need to be tweaked after competition remains to be seen. That’s where having Saturdays off through the first five weeks of the season could be huge. It would buy the program time to make any necessary adjustments and provide the best opportunity for keeping the players and coaches healthy.
Oklahoma’s Proposed Schedule Change
| Date | Opponent |
| August 29 | Missouri State |
| September 5 | Bye |
| September 12 | Tennessee |
| September 19 | Bye |
| September 26 | @ Army |
The only team on Oklahoma’s schedule that would be directly impacted by this move is Missouri State and according to Tramel’s article the Bears are on board with the suggestion.
Will it work? Who knows! Who knows anything right now. Not a single person in charge, or wanting to be in charge, during this pandemic has gotten it right 100% of the time.
Granted we may not have non-conference games at all, we may not even have a season for that matter. However, in the current world of uncertainty it’s clear that Oklahoma has less to lose by going this route and a whole lot to gain. That’s called playing it smart.
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