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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Will OSU be BIG 12 champs? Will OU make a name for themselves in the SEC?
Both teams are looking to make an impact in this new era of college football.
What schools have the Sooners and the Cowboys marked on their calendar? Which match-ups will lead to storied rivalries in the years to come?
We spoke with fans across Oklahoma about what they think, and some of the answers may surprise you.
The BIG 12 and the SEC are getting a shake up within the conference. Both OU and Texas left the BIG 12, prompting OSU to be the powerhouse in the conference, but who could stand in their way?
"Like Kansas State or Iowa State or Kansas," Will Burchfield, OSU fan said.
"A mixture between Utah and Colorado," Jack Moffaet, OSU fan said.
The BIG 12 welcomes four new teams this year after adding Houston, UCF, Cincinnati and BYU last year, making it a big unpredictable for who will come out on top this football season.
"You got teams coming in like Utah and Arizona, Colorado with Deion Sanders, like there's a lot to deal with OSU and man it could be really anybody to five or six teams in the BIG 12," Jerry Ramsey, Sports Talk Host with The Franchise said.
There is already bad blood boiling between OSU and the newcomers.
Then for Utah because of the recent kind of animosity between each other's fan bases on social media," Moffaet said. "Because of the similarities of Whittingham and Gundy, both being, you know, days apart with their hiring and having seventh year quarterbacks and other, you know, just long time success, its going to be a good matchup for us."
Boone Pickens Stadium is one of the most electrifying atmospheres in the country, looking forward to welcoming a new rival.
"I think some of these new teams are going to come in, are going to learn very fast that Boone Pickens Stadium is rowdy, it's crazy and it is one of the best places to go to not just in the Big 12, but in college football," Ramsey said.
Building a rivalry takes time, which is why some fans believe every BIUG 12 matchup will have the atmosphere of a Bedlam game.
"There's not that one big game that's a Bedlam that everybody gets up for and everybody fights for," Moffaet said. "I think because of the parity within the BIG 12 and the amount of support that we have right now going, I think we'll probably pack it out almost every game."
OU of course is facing a long list of potential new "enemies."
"OU will make a lot of really good new rivalries, probably with, to be honest, most of the people that they'll play because I think they are that kind of team, you know, that everybody wants to beat, everybody wants to beat Oklahoma," Trey Clinkenbeard, OU fan said.
Some teams may already have a past with OU, others look to start something new.
"I think another obvious one would be Missouri, geographically makes sense you know, they have that BIG 8 history," Darrell Titsworth, OU fan said.
"One that I would say that I don't think anyone else is saying Tennessee," Titsworth said. "I think Tennessee would be an awesome rivalry, the 2016 game that Baker Mayfield classic. I'll never forget where I was at watching that game. One of the best few games I think I've ever watched in my entire life."
There are countless rival options for the Sooners.
"That great rivalry that they had with Arkansas, that's right off the bat," Ramsey said. "You talk about the border right there and going back and forth. I love the idea of getting that renewed."
"Let's not forget the Aggies of A&M," Ramsey said. "There's a new renewed rivalry with that coming from the old BIG 12 days and they've definitely had some battles with them."
Both teams will certainly face new test, but OU and OSU fans will miss the old traditions like Bedlam.
"That'll be disappointing to lose," Burchfield said.
"To be honest, I am going to miss that," Clinkenbeard said.
But there is plenty to look forward to as we approach this much anticipated football season.
"What I'm looking forward to most, all the entertaining games," Titsworth said. "I mean, every weekend you got a dog coming in. So, it's going to be fun. It's gonna be a lot of fun."
"We have just a lot of things going for us, but let's go prove it," Moffaet said. "Got to go prove it this year."
OSU's first BIG 12 matchup will be a dog fight out of the gate facing off against Utah at home September 21st.
OU's first SEC matchup is another highly anticipated one against Tennessee September 21st.
