Postgame Thoughts: Oklahoma 51, UTEP 0
The Oklahoma Sooners launched their 2026 campaign in Norman Friday night with a 51-0 thrashing of the UTEP Miners.
The home team punctuated a methodical opening drive of the game with a one-yard touchdown plunge by running back Lloyd Avant and never looked back. The overmatched Miners deployed misdirection and a bevy of trick plays throughout the course of the game, but they came up short whenever they threatened to put points on the board. UTEP’s three missed field goals ensured OU’s defense would end the game with a clean sheet.
A few off-the-cuff reactions to the action, based on one viewing of the live broadcast.
*This was the equivalent of a dress rehearsal for the Sooners against a team that won two games last year and appears destined for a similar showing in ‘26. In that respect, head coach Brent Venables and his coaching staff got an opportunity to test out some of their new personnel and schematic adjustments. They had to feel most encouraged by what they saw from the new crop of tight ends.
Colorado State transfer Rocky Beers showed signs of becoming a reliable target in the passing game this year. The veteran hauled in two catches for 43 yards from quarterback John Mateer, one of which ended with a hurdle over a Miner defender into the end zone. An offensive pass interference penalty nixed a second touchdown reception by Beers in the first half.
Former Florida Gator Hayden Hansen tallied just one catch for 15 yards on a third-down conversion. More importantly, though, he looked like a willing and effective blocker in the running game. The same goes for Tennessee transfer Jack Van Dorselaer and H-back Trynae Washington.
Overall, the effort to incorporate more 12 personnel into the identity of the offense seems to be more than just hype.
*Explosive plays from the receiving corps also stood out. Isaiah Sategna picked up where he left off last season, grabbing four receptions for 76 yards. They included a 30-yard scoring toss from Mateer, and Sategna added an electric punt return that covered 88 yards for a touchdown.
Virginia transfer Trell Harris also made his mark on the game with a 48-yard touchdown reception, an indication that the Sooners might have found the deep threat at receiver they were missing in 2025.
*Mateer operated decisively behind center. The freneticism that appeared evident from the jump last year against Illinois State in the opening game was absent this time around.
Nowhere was that more clear than in his play from the pocket, where he resisted the temptation to bail out and scramble. Mateer ended the game with just three carries for seven yards – which means he avoided taking the unnecessary hits that have worn on him in the past.
Mateer also avoided the hero-ball throws for the most part that got him into trouble in the past. His deep shots still have a “hit-and-hope” feel to them, but the short and intermediate passes looked fine. He also appeared comfortable using play action while working under center.
*The biggest warning sign from Friday night: The running game didn’t exactly thrive. Offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh shuffled the lineup consistently throughout the game, which might have contributed to the so-so effort on the ground. It shouldn’t have mattered much, though, against a UTEP defense that was begging to get bullied.
OU averaged 4.4 yards per rushing attempt, led by Lloyd Avant’s 79 yards on 15 carries in his debut for the Sooners. Xavier Robinson chipped in 31 yards on seven attempts and looked tentative after spending a significant portion of the offseason on the shelf.
We did get our first indications that freshman Jonathan Hatton could take over as the lead back before the end of the season. Hatton carried the ball just three times, but he averaged seven yards per attempt. His combination of speed and power should make him a formidable rushing threat as he matures over the course of the season.
Mateer’s lack of participation likely depressed the efficiency of OU’s running game. However, if the Sooners can’t use the traditional running game effectively this season, it will put a serious ceiling on their offense.
*Defensively, UTEP’s unorthodox game plan on offense used the Sooners’ tendency to aggressively overpursue the ball against them. The misdirection produced enough missed tackles to get the attention of Venables and defensive assistants, who will undoubtedly have some feedback for their side of the ball this week. The linebackers, in particular, won’t enjoy film review.
*On the plus side, the defensive line generally controlled the line of scrimmage. Rushers came after UTEP QBs E.J. Colson and Raymond Moore III in waves throughout the contest, sacking them a total of four times and harassing them into poor throws on numerous occasions.
The Miners passed for a measly 86 yards on 18 attempts, illustrating the effectiveness of both the pass rush and OU’s coverage on the back end.
*Safety Michael Boganowski’s move into a starting role left something to be desired. In addition to receiving a deserved late-hit penalty to prolong a UTEP drive, his desire to land kill shots resulted in a handful of disappointing missed tackles. Conversely, backup safety Omarion Robinson seemed to flash every time he took the field.
Don’t be surprised to see Robinson start eating into Boganowski’s snaps as soon as next week when the Sooners travel to Michigan.