The Oklahoma Sooners open the 2026 college football season in one more day. You smell that? Smells like opportunity. The Sooners have put together a roster with the potential to make some magic happen this season. The Oklahoma Sooners are one of the most talented teams in the SEC and are considered a dark horse to win the conference this year.
First up for the Sooners are the UTEP Miners, a team that's won just five games total in the last two seasons. On paper, the Sooners are the better team. They're a more experienced team on both sides of the football and are looking to build off of their 10-2 season and College Football Playoff appearance in 2026.
Each week, the staff at Sooners Wire will provide their predictions for each Oklahoma Sooners game.
So to kickstart the 2026 season, here are the first Sooners Wire Staff Predictions of the year.
Sooners Start Strong
Oklahoma gets the season started off with a blowout win, as UTEP is likely the easiest W on the 2026 schedule. OU will look to pound the rock in this game and give the running backs and offensive line a dose of confidence before the Michigan game. The Sooners will just want to see efficiency and good decisions from John Mateer. On defense, look for the secondary to have a big day and try to force turnovers, while the front seven should be suffocating for the UTEP offense. All in all, a sound tune-up win in Norman where plenty of depth players should see playing time.
Oklahoma 45, UTEP 3
Aaron Gelvin, Contributor
Oklahoma Cruises
My biggest question mark coming into this game is whether the offense has made the necessary improvements, especially in the run game. Last year, Oklahoma only scored 35 against Illinois State in the opener. That should have been an early sign of offensive struggles. I look for Oklahoma to run for 200 yards, build a 28-35-point lead in the first half, and coast in the second half. I don't want Mateer playing in the fourth quarter as he did in last year's opener.
Oklahoma 48, UTEP 3
Jaron Spor, Contributor
Sooners Defense Dominates
Oklahoma is 5-0 against UTEP all-time, and that trend will continue come Friday. This is a game where the Sooners will get off to a fast start on both sides of the football, allowing for multiple players to see action. Oklahoma’s battle-tested defense will be too much for UTEP’s inexperienced offense — specifically on the line of scrimmage. The Miners will have a new quarterback under center, and a Brent Venables defense is always tough for a newcomer. Conversely, expect a big day from John Mateer, who is in his fourth year in a Ben Arbuckle offense. Mateer’s experience, along with Oklahoma's athletes, will allow him to pick apart the UTEP defense. Oklahoma wins big.
Oklahoma 45, UTEP 3
James Jackson, Contributor
OU Run Game Explodes
The Oklahoma Sooners are going to make a point on Friday night. And that point is they've found a running game. The Sooners are going to run the ball and run it a lot, while also flashing their big-play passing attack. After the way the 2025 season ended, this team is on a mission in 2026. They know they have a team capable of winning at the highest levels in 2026, and their season-opening win over UTEP will be a statement, business-like performance for the Sooners. Look for Oklahoma to rush for over 250 yards and crack 50 points for the first time since the win over Maine in November of 2024.
Oklahoma 56, UTEP 0
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma vs. UTEP: Sooners Wire Staff Predictions
