In anticipation of severe weather, Oklahoma has moved up the kickoff time for its game against Maine on Saturday afternoon. The Sooners and Black Bears will now get underway at Noon ET, Oklahoma University announced Friday.
Oklahoma and Maine were originally set to kick off at 2:30 p.m. ET. Heavy rain and thunderstorms are in the forecast all weekend, and The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for Norman, Oklahoma that runs from Saturday morning through Monday evening.
Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione explained the decision in a statement released by the school.
“With Saturday’s forecast calling for afternoon storms, we made the decision to move the game up for the safety of fans and participants,” Castiglione wrote. “While it’s difficult to know if we’ll experience any game delays due to potential inclement weather, this move increases our chances of avoiding such stoppages. In addition, the earlier start will ideally allow our fans to enjoy the game and travel home safely before the storms intensify.
When the action gets started at 11 a.m., fans can watch on ESPN+ or SEC Network+.
The Sooners will try to snap a three-game losing skid with a win over the Black Bears this weekend. Oklahoma now sits at 4-4 on the season, and it needs to pick up wins in two of its final four games in order to reach bowl eligibility. With games remaining against Missouri, Alabama and LSU, the Sooners need not only a win over Maine, but a good showing to build momentum for a difficult stretch run.
