As the University of Oklahoma enters the Southeastern Conference, fans are thinking about taking tailgating to the next level. Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.On Thursday afternoon, die-hard fans were already staking claim to spots ahead of Friday’s game.“You can’t mark it until noon, day before gameday and then at 5 today, we come back, and we take the markings down, and we set up the tents,” said Robert Rayburn, who was setting up Thursday afternoon.Just under the shadow of the Palace on the Prairie on Thursday, students and fans were making sure they got the best spot.“We got here last night around 10 p.m. I would say, and usually, it’s tradition around our fraternity that we camp out for at least a day or two,” said OU student Francisco Lopez.>> Download the KOCO 5 AppTailgaters told KOCO 5 that they’re ready for a new round of opponents to come through Norman.“We welcome them in, open-armed. Come in here if you’re hungry. You drink? We got a bar,” Rayburn said.“With the SEC, I feel like the tailgate spots are a little more competitive this year, so we want to have an upper hand,” Lopez said.One fraternity group said they’re saving their setup by sending members out in shifts.“We just stay here, get a couple chairs, sit on the benches, wait around until 12 hits,” Lopez said.OU recently opened some new tailgating spots on Lindsay Street. Lopez said he’s excited to show their new conference how they tailgate but hopes for even more expansion in the future.“But I mean, it’s a first year in SEC. I feel like the university is just getting started,” Lopez said.The game starts at 6 p.m. on Friday, but tailgaters told KOCO 5 they’ll be out hours before kickoff.Top HeadlinesOklahoma’s grocery tax cut is now in effect. See everything you’ll save money onA Colorado man keeps receiving Trump-related shirts in mail that he never orderedAt least 40 horses dead at Oklahoma ranch in possible faulty feed incidentRyan Walters issues guidelines for ‘patriotic displays’ at Oklahoma schools‘Dukes of Hazzard’ star applauds Edmond student for flying American flag from pickup