Steve Curtis- What Oklahoma Needs to Show in Its Season Opener Against UTEP

Steve Curtis | September 4th, 2026

Oklahoma will open the 2026 season Friday night against UTEP, providing the first look at a roster the Sooners have spent eight months building.

Oklahoma should not have much trouble with the Miners.

But the opener is not simply about the final score.

UTEP will not test Oklahoma the way Michigan or the gauntlet of the SEC will. Still, Friday can show whether the Sooners have started to fix the issues that held them back a season ago.

AP Images - John Mateer

First up is John Mateer.

Before injuring his thumb against Auburn, Mateer looked like one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in college football. He escaped pressure, made plays on the move and consistently created something when Oklahoma’s offense broke down around him.

After surgery, that changed.

Mateer’s average passing grade dropped from 78.0 before the injury to 53.0 over Oklahoma’s final eight games, according to Pro Football Focus. Explosive plays disappeared, turnovers increased and pressure led to sacks more often.

Friday will provide the first look at a fully healthy Mateer since September.

If Mateer escapes pressure, delivers accurately on the move and becomes a factor in the run game again, the Sooners will have regained one of the biggest pieces missing late last season.

The bigger question is what happens when he has time.

Taking the easy completion and avoiding unnecessary sacks are the areas where Mateer still has room to grow. If both versions show up Friday, Oklahoma should feel excellent entering Michigan week.

Protecting him will be an offensive line missing two expected starters.

Jake Maikkula and Ryan Fodje are expected to return in a few weeks after suffering knee injuries during fall camp. That leaves Caleb Nitta at center and either Heath Ozaeta or true freshman Noah Best at right guard.

The question is not simply whether UTEP pressures Mateer. It is where that pressure comes from.

The interior was the strength of Oklahoma’s pass protection last season. If Nitta and whoever starts beside him keep the middle clean, Oklahoma will have found valuable depth.

The right side is also worth watching. Oklahoma struggled to run in that direction last season, and run blocking remains the biggest question surrounding new right tackle E’Marion Harris.

From there, it is up to the backs to create something.

Oklahoma’s running backs were dependable when the blocking was there in 2025. The problem was what happened when it wasn’t. The group forced just 23 missed tackles all season.

Colorado State transfer Lloyd Avant will receive the first opportunity to change that.

Avant is listed as a co-starter alongside Xavier Robinson, but expect him to receive the first snap and carry. He remained healthy throughout the offseason, while Robinson did not return to action until Oklahoma’s third practice in August.

That availability has allowed Avant to earn Deland McCullough’s trust while showing an ability to turn broken plays into positive yardage.

Also keep an eye on true freshman Jonathan Hatton Jr.

Hatton is listed fourth on the depth chart, but Tory Blaylock, who is listed third, is still nursing a hamstring injury and will most likely not play. At 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds, Hatton combines a physical frame with elite speed, having reached 21.7 mph in full pads, and could receive meaningful carries earlier than the depth chart suggests.

The tight ends will play a major role as well.

Oklahoma’s tight ends struggled at the line of scrimmage last season, often limiting the run game before the backs had a chance.

Hayden Hansen and Rocky Beers were brought in to change that. If the backs consistently reach the second level without being hit near the line of scrimmage, the new tight ends are doing their job.

Their impact should also extend into the red zone. Oklahoma’s tight ends caught just one touchdown last season, while Beers caught seven at Colorado State and Hansen added two at Florida.

At wide receiver, Oklahoma finally has options beyond Isaiah Sategna.

Sategna produced 965 yards and eight touchdowns last season, becoming the only receiver Oklahoma could consistently rely on.

Trell Harris should help change that.

The Virginia transfer gives Mateer a dependable option outside. Parker Livingstone provides another downfield threat if he clears concussion protocol. If not, Elijah Thomas should receive the first opportunity at X receiver.

Oklahoma does not need less production from Sategna. It needs enough production elsewhere that the offense no longer depends on him.

Defensively, many of the questions begin up front.

Taylor Wein returns after emerging as one of the SEC’s best defensive ends, but Oklahoma must replace R Mason Thomas opposite him.

Adepoju “PJ” Adebawore and Danny Okoye enter Friday listed as co-starters. With opponents expected to shift more attention toward Wein, one of them must prove he can take advantage.

Inside, David Stone and Jayden Jackson give Oklahoma an outstanding starting tandem.

The departures of Gracen Halton, Damonic Williams and Markus Strong leave the Sooners rebuilding the rotation behind them. Bishop Thomas, Trent Wilson and Nigel Smith must show Oklahoma can still rotate fresh bodies without a significant drop-off.

At linebacker, keep an eye on Owen Heinecke.

The former walk-on became one of Oklahoma’s most productive defenders after taking over the starting job midway through last season. However, his 16 missed tackles were the most on the defense.

Friday is less about whether Heinecke can find the football and more about what happens once he gets there. More consistent finishing could make him one of the SEC’s best linebackers.

At cheetah, Reggie Powers III replaces Kendal Daniels, one of Oklahoma’s best coverage defenders.

Powers has already made an impact against the run. The bigger question is whether he can match Daniels’ consistency when UTEP attacks with tight ends and slot receivers.

At cornerback, Oklahoma has no uncertainty.

Courtland Guillory and Eli Bowen return as one of the SEC’s best tandems. Behind them is Jacobe Johnson, who allowed six receptions while adding two interceptions.

The bigger question is whether they can turn strong coverage into more takeaways. Guillory broke up seven passes without recording an interception as a true freshman, and Friday should provide opportunities to change that.

At safety, Eli’s older brother, Peyton Bowen, returns as the leader of the secondary.

The change comes beside him, where Michael Boganowski replaces Robert Spears-Jennings.

Spears-Jennings was outstanding against the run, but his coverage made strong safety one of the few weak spots in Oklahoma’s secondary. Boganowski was one of Oklahoma’s most reliable tacklers and held up well in limited opportunities.

If he maintains that production in a larger role, Oklahoma may have strengthened the only position in its secondary that needed it.

Finally, watch whether Oklahoma can create more turnovers.

The Sooners finished sixth nationally in total defense last season but tied for 96th with just 13 takeaways.

With Guillory and the Bowen brothers returning, Oklahoma’s secondary should have plenty of opportunities to come away with interceptions against UTEP. Up front, players such as Wein, Stone, Kip Lewis and Heinecke must also turn their pressure and physicality into forced fumbles.

More than anything, the first half will tell us much more than the second.

Friday will not prove Oklahoma has fixed everything. But it can show whether Mateer looks healthy, whether the offensive line and tight ends can create consistent running lanes, whether the backs can take advantage and whether the defense has begun replacing what it lost.

UTEP will show whether the new pieces work.

The trip to Ann Arbor a week from now will show whether they are capable of holding up against one of the toughest schedules in college football.