The Oklahoma Sooners looked like a team capable of making a run toward another College Football Playoff berth in their dominant season-opening win over the University of Texas at El Paso Miners. Oklahoma started fast, taking a 21-0 lead in the first quarter before cruising to a 51-0 win.
Oklahoma's offense put up 401 yards of total offense. Quarterback John Mateer completed 11-of-17 passes for 225 yards and three scores. The run game was also solid, rushing for 170 yards and two scores. Running back Lloyd Avant led the way with 15 carries for 79 yards and a score.
The defense was also dominant, holding the Miners to 198 yards. That included just 86 passing yards and 2.9 yards per carry on the ground. The Sooners also had four sacks and 10 tackles
for loss, two categories they led the nation in last season. Their strong opening game performance earned them an "A-" from CBS Sports.
"Oklahoma retooled its offense to more prominently feature tight ends, and the early returns were fine, as the Sooners scored on every possession through the first three quarters," CBS Sports' David Cobb wrote. "Not bad considering OU was without a couple of projected offensive line starters due to injury. The defense was predictably strong, and it's hard to criticize a shutout. A nitpicking Sooners fan might note that UTEP moved the football into Sooners territory three times during the first half."
That small blemish may not have mattered against UTEP, but it could become much more important against the Michigan Wolverines. Oklahoma now travels to Ann Arbor to face the Wolverines on Saturday, giving the Sooners their first opportunity to prove this dominant opener was more than simply the product of playing an overmatched opponent.
Michigan will challenge Oklahoma in ways UTEP could not, particularly if the Wolverines can sustain drives and put pressure on Mateer. The Sooners showed plenty to like in Week 1, from Mateer's efficiency to the improved rushing attack and another disruptive defensive performance. Now they have to take those improvements on the road and show they can hold up against a ranked opponent.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: How did CBS Sports grade the Oklahoma Sooners for Week 1 win?
