The No. 18 Oklahoma Sooners (0-0) square off against an FCS opponent, the Illinois State Redbirds (0-0), on Saturday, August 30, 2025 at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

The Sooners are expected to come out on top by at least two touchdowns (currently -37.5) against the Redbirds. The over/under for this game is 61.5 points.

Below you can find our betting preview for this this game between the Sooners and the Redbirds, and find all of our expert predictions here, too!

Oklahoma vs. Illinois State betting lines

• Spread favorite: Sooners (-37.5)
• Moneyline: Sooners (), Redbirds ()
• Total: 61.5 points

Oklahoma vs. Illinois State betting info and stats

• Against the spread, Oklahoma went 6-7-0 last season.
• Oklahoma covered every time (1-0) as a 37.5-point or higher favorite last year.
• Oklahoma had six of its 13 games hit the over last season.
• Illinois State had five wins in 13 games against the spread last season.
• Out of 13 Illinois State games last year, six hit the over.

Oklahoma vs. Illinois State key players

Oklahoma Sooners

• Last year Jackson Arnold had 1,421 passing yards — including a 62.6% completion percentage — with 12 touchdowns and three interceptions (129.2 yards per game). His rushing performance consisted of 150 carries for 444 yards and three TDs.
• Last season Jovantae Barnes took 122 rushing attempts for 577 yards (64.1 per game) and scored five touchdowns. When it comes to receiving, he also caught 17 passes for 123 yards (15.4 per game) and put up one TD.
• Bauer Sharp hauled in 42 catches for 324 yards (27.0 per game) while being targeted 58 times. He also scored two touchdowns.
• Javian Hester tacked on 315 yards on 14 grabs with one touchdown. He was targeted 26 times, and averaged 31.5 receiving yards per game.
• Deion Burks grabbed 31 passes for 245 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 35.0 yards per game last year.
• Last season R Mason Thomas amassed 9.0 sacks, 9.0 TFL and 21 tackles.
• Danny Stutsman was a wrecking ball on the field, collecting 93 tackles, 5.0 TFL, and one sack last year.
• Kip Lewis collected two interceptions while adding 53 tackles, 4.0 TFL, and two passes defended last year.

Illinois State Redbirds

• Tommy Rittenhouse completed 66.4% of his passes to throw for 2,840 and 17 touchdowns last season. Rittenhouse also contributed with his legs, accumulating eight touchdowns on 34.3 yards per game.
• Wenkers Wright averaged 80.0 rushing yards and collected 11 rushing touchdowns.
• Daniel Sobkowicz averaged 79.1 receiving yards and grabbed nine receiving touchdowns over the course of the 2024 season.
• Xavier Loyd hauled in six touchdowns and had 912 receiving yards (65.1 ypg) in 2024.
• Eddie Kasper grabbed 52 passes on his way to 440 receiving yards and one touchdown a season ago.
• Last year Steven Curtis collected 5.0 sacks, 10 tackles.
• Keondre Jackson put together an excellent stat line last year, tallying 23 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 1.5 sacks, and three interceptions.
• Tye Niekamp came up with four interceptions in addition to 21 tackles, three sacks, and one pass defended a year ago.