On June 21, 2024, OU Athletic Director Joe Castiglione announced the contract extension of football coach Brent Venables. This news comes as the Sooners’ home stadium, Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, was ranked eighth in EA Sports College Football 25’s recent rankings of the toughest places to play.
The stadium ranked behind notable locations such as Texas A&M’s Kyle Field and LSU’s Tiger Stadium, but still managed to secure a spot in the top 10. The rankings took into account historical statistics like home winning percentage, attendance, and team prestige. The SEC, which OU will join on July 1, had 12 teams in the top 25, with the Big Ten following with seven teams.
OU holds the second-longest streak of home sellouts in college football with 152 consecutive games. Dubbed the “Palace on the Prairie,” Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium can seat 80,126 fans and will mark its 100th season in 2024. With this ranking solidifying their reputation as one of college football’s most formidable arenas, fans can look forward to experiencing even more excitement when playing at this intense stadium next season.