The Oklahoma Sooners soccer program will open its 2026 campaign at home, welcoming Northwestern State to John Crain Field on August 12 at 7 p.m., a date that marks the first test of a schedule built around home-field advantage.
Coach Mott’s Opening Record
Head coach Matt Mott enters his third season with a perfect 3‑0 record in home openers and a 14‑13‑3 overall ledger in season‑opening games, giving the team a confident foundation as they look to extend their recent home‑game success.
Returning junior forward Kayla Keefer, who led the 2025 roster with 22 points, will anchor the attack alongside a blend of 13 returning veterans, eight freshmen and eight transfers, creating a balanced mix of experience and new talent.
Schedule and Stakes
The Sooners are slated to play 18 regular‑season matches, eight of them on their own turf, with five conference battles against SEC opponents and two exhibition fixtures that will test the squad early in the schedule.
The 2025 campaign marked a turning point for Oklahoma soccer, as the team posted a program‑record 116 points, broke a streak of double‑digit wins and climbed into the national top‑25 for the first time since 2017, raising expectations for continued progress.
Fans can also look forward to a first‑time matchup against Auburn, a return to East Texas A&M for a regular‑season game, and the continuation of a home‑field advantage that has yielded a 17‑9‑4 record at John Crain Field over the years.
A promotional stunt will reward the first 100 fans wearing World Cup‑themed jerseys with complimentary hot‑dog and soda vouchers, while admission to all home games at John Crain Field will be free, aiming to boost attendance and campus excitement.