OU hosts Maine next season in a game that could be played late in the year, depending on how the Sooners’ inaugural SEC schedule shakes out.

OU athletic director Joe Castiglione is calling it a “flex” game, because Maine agreed to be flexible with the schedule, in case the SEC assignments leave a gap.

A common SEC scheduling tactic is to play a Division I-AA opponent the week before Thanksgiving, often before an arch-rivalry game, to give teams a virtual pit stop from the rigors of conference play.

This November 18, for example, Alabama hosts Chattanooga and Texas A&M hosts Abilene Christian. And other SEC teams are hosting lower level Division I-A foes that same day — Louisiana State hosts Georgia State, Ole Miss hosts Louisiana-Monroe, Arkansas hosts Florida International, Auburn hosts New Mexico State and Mississippi State hosts Southern Mississippi.

But Castiglione said such scheduling is not necessarily OU’s long-term plan.

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“We are not intentionally scheduling the FCS (I-AA) game before the final conference game,” Castiglione said. “I’m aware some do, but that is not at all our plan, nor will it be going forward.”

OU does not know when its off weeks will be scheduled by the SEC. Maine agreed to be flexible so that the Sooners can ensure they don’t have two straight off weeks.

Maine, a member of the Coastal Athletic Association (formerly Colonial) in football, has a solid I-AA playoff history, with eight overall appearances (six in the 21^st century). The Black Bears made the 2018 semifinals, beating Jacksonville State and Weber State. But since then, the Black Bears have recorded seasons of 6-6, 2-2, 6-5 and 2-9.

Sooner history has little connection with New England, other than the NFL Patriots swiping OU coach Chuck Fairbank in January 1973.

The Sooners have played three games in their history against teams from New England – Connecticut in the 2010 season Fiesta Bowl (a 48-20 OU victory) and Boston College twice (a 28-0 OU home win in 1950, and a 46-0 OU road win in 1949).

OU last week announced the scheduling additions of Maine and Houston, to go along with nonconference opponents Temple and Tulane.

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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Why OU football scheduled Maine for nonconference game in 2024 season