Several OKC Thunder players attend Oklahoma's 51-0 win over UTEP

Part of a yearly tradition, several Oklahoma City Thunder players were in attendance for Oklahoma's 51-0 win over UTEP on Friday. Now that the college football season is underway, the NBA season must be right around the corner.

Jared McCain, Nikola Topic, Thomas Sorber, Aday Mara, Bennett Stirtz, Brooks Barnhizer and Josh Dix were spotted on the sidelines before No. 10 Oklahoma played their season opener with a lopsided Week 1 win. Several of them posted their sweet viewing spots on social media.

For the most part, that group of Thunder players is still relatively new to the roster. Only McCain, Topic and Barnhizer can say they've suited up for OKC in a game. Sorber, Mara and Stirtz are part of the next hopeful generation of role players who complement

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren.

Over the years, the Thunder have invited their newer players to attend a Sooners football game. Especially since Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium is only about a half hour away from Paycom Center. With training camp expected to start within the month, this is around the time when players return to their in-market NBA homes.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma is expected to be in the college football playoff picture. The Sooners start the 2026 regular season as the No. 10-ranked team. OU head coach Brent Venables is in his fifth year and QB John Mateer returned for a second year. Expect OU to be in the SEC contention picture this year.

Slew of Thunder players in Norman tonight

I see Jared McCain, Bennett Stirtz, Thomas Sorbet, Brooks Barhnizer and Nikola Topic pic.twitter.com/ti8ywTiu8P

— Josh Callaway (@JoshMCallaway) September 4, 2026

Aday Mara at the Oklahoma-UTEP game. Think several other Thunder players are with him too pic.twitter.com/Wt8RBzTnrd

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 5, 2026

Thomas Sorber is also at the Oklahoma-UTEP game pic.twitter.com/DpiWfk9MWF

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 5, 2026

Jared McCain is also at the Oklahoma-UTEP game pic.twitter.com/uZNnUBgd4M

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 5, 2026

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Several OKC Thunder players attend Oklahoma's 51-0 win over UTEP