Oklahoma football: Sooners-Ole Miss game moved to Sunday, fan promotions announced

Oklahoma football fans are being offered a range of promotions after the Sooners' planned game against No. 19 Ole Miss was moved from Saturday to Sunday in a last-minute decision. The University of Oklahoma announced the offers on Saturday, and the game is now set to be played at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman on Sunday.

Fan promotions and ticket perks

Fans attending the game will be able to buy concessions for $2, including hot dogs, soft drinks, hot chocolate and select beers. Free hand warmers and ponchos will be handed out at the Sooner Shop, west of the stadium, while supplies last.

Merchandise will also be discounted, with 20 percent off storewide and 60 percent off select items at the Sooner Shop. Students will receive free admission and do not need to show a game ticket, but must present a valid OU student ID at the Gate 7 student entrance. Every student will receive a wristband on entry.

The university also offered complimentary tickets to upcoming OU events, including the Dec. 1 men's basketball game against Syracuse. Officials said more events would be announced next week.

Oklahoma athletic director criticizes SEC

The schedule change has also drawn public criticism. ESPN reported that Oklahoma's athletic director criticized Ole Miss and the Southeastern Conference over the situation, while the Rebels defended their travel effort.

The postponement affects the Rebels' trip to Norman. Ole Miss had been scheduled to play at Oklahoma on Saturday, and the game was pushed back a day. The exact reasons behind the decision and the details of the travel arrangements are not fully laid out in the available reporting.

Ranking implications

The delay also affects the college football rankings. The latest AP Top 25 poll will now be released around 2 p.m. ET on Monday, one day later than usual, because the Oklahoma-Ole Miss result is not yet known. The New York Times noted that the game's outcome could shape the playoff picture, since the weekend already reshuffled the bubble around the College Football Playoff.

Oklahoma State and Missouri, both ranked by the College Football Playoff committee but not in the AP poll last week, lost their games. Several teams near the bottom of the rankings are candidates to enter the poll, including Louisville and Liberty.

What we know so far

The game between Oklahoma and Ole Miss is now scheduled for Sunday in Norman, and the university has rolled out fan promotions to encourage attendance. The AP poll will be published Monday with the result factored in. No official explanation for the change beyond the last-minute decision has been detailed in the reporting so far, and further OU event announcements are expected next week.