Oklahoma vs UTEP
Game played Sep 5, 2026 · Published August 30, 2026 at 7:31 PM · 10 pages
Projected score, total and win probability for Oklahoma vs UTEP, priced against the betting line — with injuries, form and the key statistical mismatches.
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A F P L N A C O L L E G E F O O T B A L L M A T C H U P R E P O R T V S Oklahoma Sooners vs UTEP Miners 2026 Season G E N E R A T E D A U G U S T 3 0 , 2 0 2 6 0 6 : 5 7 P M I N T H I S R E P O R T 01 Matchup Overview 02 Visual Analytics 03 Power Rating Dashboard 04 Efficiency Profile 05 Mismatch Matrix 06 Season Form Trend 07 Top Individual Impact 08 Roster Continuity & Talent 09 Projected Margin by System 10 Win Probability Distribution 11 Game Conditions 12 Oklahoma Game Plan 13 UTEP Game Plan 14 Injuries and Absences 15 Statistical Baseline 16 FINAL PREDICTION: Oklahoma 45, UTEP 10
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01 MATCHUP OVERVIEW The Oklahoma Sooners open their 2026 season at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium against the UTEP Miners, a Mountain West opponent making the trip to Norman. This is a season-opener non-conference matchup that pits a national championship contender against a program rebuilding after a 2-10 season. Oklahoma enters with SEC title aspirations and a roster that retained much of last year's College Football Playoff core, while UTEP is breaking in a rebuilt offensive line, a new starting quarterback, and significant roster turnover as it transitions into the Mountain West. The betting market has installed Oklahoma as a massive favorite, with the spread sitting around 40 points. For Oklahoma, this game is about establishing rhythm before a brutal SEC gauntlet that includes Michigan, Georgia, and Texas over the next month. For UTEP, this is a paycheck game against a top-five opponent where the goals are survival and finding answers for a rebuilt offense. Kickoff: September 5, 2026 (time not specified in provided data) Venue: Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, OK Conference: Oklahoma (SEC) vs. UTEP (Mountain West) 02 VISUAL ANALYTICS Generated directly from the CollegeFootballData feeds for this matchup. The same visuals appear on every report, so numbers can be compared like-for-like from one game to the next. GAME CONDITIONS · The forecast and the ground it will be played on: temperature, wind and precipitation beside the stadium's surface, roof, capacity and elevation. Oklahoma Sooners vs UTEP Miners · 2026 · Matchup Report Page 2 of 10
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POWER RATING DASHBOARD · SP+, FPI and Elo side by side. SP+ and FPI are points-above-average ratings; the SP+ defensive rating counts down, so a lower bar is the better defense. EFFICIENCY PROFILE · Every advanced metric converted to a national percentile against all FBS teams, so the outer ring is always the better number regardless of which way the raw stat runs. MISMATCH MATRIX · Each offense measured directly against the defense it will face. Bars show the percentile gap; the longer the bar, the wider that specific unit-vs-unit edge. Oklahoma Sooners vs UTEP Miners · 2026 · Matchup Report Page 3 of 10
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SEASON FORM TREND · Week-by-week predicted points added. This is where you see a team trending up or falling apart, which season averages hide. TOP INDIVIDUAL IMPACT · The players who have actually moved the needle, ranked by total PPA. Cross-reference this against the injury and roster sections. ROSTER CONTINUITY & TALENT · How much production each team returned from last season, alongside the recruiting talent composite. Oklahoma Sooners vs UTEP Miners · 2026 · Matchup Report Page 4 of 10
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PROJECTED MARGIN BY SYSTEM · What each rating system independently projects, plus the market line and the blended consensus used as the model's anchor. WIN PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION · The consensus margin spread across the historical error distribution for college football projections. The shaded area on each side is that team's win probability. 03 POWER RATING DASHBOARD The Power Rating Dashboard compares the three primary rating systems to establish the baseline projection. SP+ and FPI are points-above- average ratings, while the SP+ defensive rating counts down, meaning a lower bar represents a better defense. TEAM SP+ RATING SP+ OFFENSE SP+ DEFENSE FPI ELO Oklahoma +18.8 32.1 13.7 +17.8 N/A UTEP -19.3 15.2 34.1 -16.6 N/A As the Power Rating Dashboard makes clear, this is one of the widest gaps in college football for Week 1. Oklahoma's +18.8 SP+ rating places them firmly in national title contention, while UTEP's -19.3 rating ranks them among the bottom tier of FBS programs. The gap of 38.1 SP+ points is enormous, and it reflects the talent chasm between these two programs. Oklahoma's defense, rated at 13.7 on the SP+ defensive scale (where lower is better), projects as one of the best units in the country, while UTEP's defense at 34.1 projects as one of the worst. The FPI numbers tell the same story, with Oklahoma at +17.8 and UTEP at -16.6, a gap of 34.4 points. The Elo ratings were not provided in the Oklahoma Sooners vs UTEP Miners · 2026 · Matchup Report Page 5 of 10
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data, but the two available systems agree on a roughly 35-40 point projected margin. Oklahoma's special teams edge (+0.4 vs. -0.5) adds another small layer to the advantage. This is not a competitive matchup on paper; it is a systemic mismatch that the betting market has correctly identified with the spread near 40 points. The only question is whether Oklahoma covers the massive number or simply wins comfortably. 04 EFFICIENCY PROFILE No data was available for the advanced efficiency metrics in this matchup. The placeholder chart was shown in the visuals, but no underlying statistics were provided in the data feed. The advanced metrics that typically tell the full story—offensive and defensive success rate, explosiveness, line yards, and points per opportunity—were not populated for either team in the data. Without these granular efficiency numbers, the SP+ and FPI composite ratings serve as the best projection tools available. Based on those composite ratings, we can infer that Oklahoma should be substantially better than UTEP across nearly every efficiency category, given the 38-point SP+ gap and the defensive rating disparity. The absence of this data limits the depth of the efficiency analysis, but the composite ratings provide a clear enough picture for this lopsided matchup. 05 MISMATCH MATRIX No data was available for the unit-by-unit comparison chart in this matchup. The placeholder chart was shown in the visuals, but no underlying statistics were provided in the data feed. The unit-vs-unit comparison would typically show how each offense matches up against the opposing defense. While the specific data is unavailable, the SP+ component ratings provide a strong proxy. Oklahoma's offense is rated 32.1 in SP+, which would be one of the best offenses in the country, while UTEP's defense is rated 34.1 in SP+ defensive terms (where higher is worse). This creates an extreme mismatch in Oklahoma's favor. Similarly, UTEP's offense at 15.2 SP+ faces an Oklahoma defense at 13.7 SP+, representing another significant mismatch. The combination of these four numbers suggests Oklahoma should have success both running and throwing the ball, while UTEP will likely struggle to move the ball consistently against a loaded Sooners front seven. 06 SEASON FORM TREND No data was available for the week-by-week predicted points added chart. The placeholder chart was shown in the visuals, but no underlying statistics were provided in the data feed. Both teams are entering Week 1 with no results on the season, so there is no form trend to analyze from actual game results. Oklahoma's trajectory, however, can be inferred from the roster continuity: the Sooners retained much of last year's CFP roster, added key transfers, and have a healthy John Mateer at quarterback after he played seven games with compromised grip strength due to a thumb injury. This suggests an upward trajectory. UTEP, conversely, is coming off a 2-10 season, breaking in a rebuilt offensive line, and transitioning quarterbacks, which suggests a team that could struggle early before potentially improving as the season progresses. 07 TOP INDIVIDUAL IMPACT No data was available for the individual player PPA (points added per play) rankings chart for this matchup. The placeholder chart was shown in the visuals, but no underlying statistics were provided in the data feed. Without the PPA data, the individual impact analysis must rely on the roster and depth chart information provided. For Oklahoma, quarterback John Mateer is the clear centerpiece. He played through a thumb injury for seven games last season and is now fully healthy, which should unlock a more explosive passing attack. Running back Xavier Robinson is projected as the RB1, with Lloyd Avant also expected to see significant carries. On the defensive side, Kip Lewis returns as the leading tackler at linebacker, while the defensive line features Adepoju Adebawore and Danny Okoye, both of whom have reportedly "completely transformed their games" per the provided articles. Danny Okoye was specifically named by Josh Pate as Oklahoma's breakout player for 2026 according to a SoonersWire article. For UTEP, quarterback Cade McConnell was named the starter for the opener, and running back Deion Smith was moved to an H-back role in passing packages per the article from Miners Illustrated. 08 ROSTER CONTINUITY & TALENT The Roster Continuity & Talent chart compares how much production each team returned from last season alongside the recruiting talent composite. This is a critical factor for predicting early-season performance, as returning production is one of the strongest indicators of team improvement from one year to the next. TEAM RETURNING PPA % USAGE % TALENT COMPOSITE Oklahoma 63.2% 74.6% 851.14 UTEP -1.1% 9.8% 585.76 The roster continuity data tells a stark story. Oklahoma returns 63.2% of their total points added per play, with a usage rate of 74.6%, which represents substantial roster continuity from last year's CFP team. The passing PPA return rate is particularly notable at 92.1%, meaning virtually all of Oklahoma's passing production returns. The rushing PPA return rate exceeds 100% (121.6%), indicating that Oklahoma's returning running backs actually produced more than last year's total—likely because some injured players are returning to full health. The Oklahoma Sooners vs UTEP Miners · 2026 · Matchup Report Page 6 of 10
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talent composite of 851.14 ranks among the best in the country. UTEP's numbers are the starkest in the data. Their returning PPA percentage is -1.1%, meaning the players returning from last season actually contributed slightly below average on a per-play basis. Only 9.8% of their total usage returns, which represents one of the lowest roster continuity rates in the country. The talent composite of 585.76 is a significant gap from Oklahoma's 851.14—over 265 points lower. This combination is the core driver of the massive projected spread. Oklahoma returns most of a CFP-caliber roster with a healthy quarterback and substantial talent, while UTEP is essentially rebuilding with almost no returning production and far less recruiting talent. The articles about UTEP rebuilding the offensive line and breaking in new skill players align perfectly with these numbers. 09 PROJECTED MARGIN BY SYSTEM The Projected Margin by System chart shows what each rating system independently projects for this matchup, plus the market line and the blended consensus used as the model's anchor. This provides a baseline for the prediction. SYSTEM PROJECTED MARGIN SP+ Oklahoma -38.1 FPI Oklahoma -34.4 Market (Action Network) Oklahoma -40.5 Beatline Sports Oklahoma -28 Predictem Oklahoma -40 (recommendation) The statistical baseline consensus is approximately Oklahoma by 36-38 points. The betting market has this at -40.5, slightly higher than the statistical consensus, indicating that the market expects Oklahoma to be even more dominant than the ratings suggest. This is likely because the market is factoring in Oklahoma's healthy quarterback and UTEP's extreme roster rebuilding. Beatline Sports' prediction is more conservative at 38-10 (Oklahoma -28), while Predictem recommends laying 40 points, citing a 77% FBS-only trend and Brent Venables' history in this spot. The blended consensus for the model's anchor is approximately Oklahoma -38, which aligns with the midpoint of the statistical projections and the market line. 10 WIN PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION The Win Probability Distribution chart shows the consensus margin spread across the historical error distribution for college football projections. The shaded area on each side represents each team's win probability. Based on a projected consensus margin of approximately 38 points, Oklahoma's win probability would be extremely high—in excess of 97%. College football projections with a 38-point margin rarely produce upsets, and the error distribution for such large favorites is narrow. The data supports this: Oklahoma's FPI average win probability rank and strength of record would project an overwhelming home favorite. The only realistic path to a UTEP win (or even a cover of the massive spread) would be if Oklahoma's offense struggles early, turns the ball over, or if the Sooners completely empty their bench and play backups for the entire second half. Predictem's article notes that last year Oklahoma failed to cover a -39 spread against Illinois State, winning 35-3, which is a cautionary data point for anyone considering laying the massive number. 11 GAME CONDITIONS The Game Conditions chart shows the forecast and the ground it will be played on: temperature, wind, and precipitation beside the stadium's surface, roof, capacity, and elevation. The specific game conditions data was not provided in the text response. However, some relevant observations can be drawn from the matchup context. Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium is an outdoor venue in Norman, Oklahoma, with a capacity of approximately 86,000. Early September games in Norman typically feature hot, humid conditions with potential for heat to be a factor. The stadium plays at a modest elevation, not a significant altitude factor. Oklahoma's high-tempo offense under Ben Arbuckle could be looking to run plays at a fast pace, which would make heat a factor for UTEP's defense. The provided articles mention the center position is unsettled for Oklahoma due to Jake Maikkula's MCL injury, which could be a concern if the heat and fatigue become factors. 12 OKLAHOMA GAME PLAN Oklahoma enters this game with clear objectives: establish offensive rhythm, get John Mateer comfortable, and build a lead that allows starters to rest before the Michigan game in Week 2. The offensive line, despite the center uncertainty, should have a significant talent advantage over UTEP's defensive front. Quarterback: John Mateer is fully healthy after playing seven games with a thumb injury that compromised his grip strength. The coaching staff and media have expressed optimism about his bounce-back potential with a full year in Ben Arbuckle's system. He should have ample time in the pocket and open receivers downfield against a UTEP defense that ranks among the worst in FBS. Running Game: Xavier Robinson and Lloyd Avant form a strong backfield tandem. Robinson, the projected starter, should find running lanes against a UTEP defensive front that lacks the talent to match Oklahoma's offensive line. The articles suggest both backs will see carries, with Jonathan Hatton and others also expected to rotate in. Receiving Corps: Oklahoma retained Elijah Thomas and Manny Choice while adding Trell Harris, Parker Livingstone, and Mackenzie Alleyne from the transfer portal. The receiver competition in fall camp was reportedly intense, with the receivers and cornerbacks going "back and Oklahoma Sooners vs UTEP Miners · 2026 · Matchup Report Page 7 of 10
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forth" daily. This should produce a deep, talented receiving corps ready to exploit UTEP's secondary. Defensive Dominance: The Oklahoma defense is expected to dominate. The front seven, featuring Adepoju Adebawore, Danny Okoye, Taylor Wein, David Stone, and Owen Heinecke, should control the line of scrimmage against UTEP's rebuilt offensive line. Kip Lewis anchors the linebacker corps. The secondary, which has been competing daily against the improved receiving corps, should have coverage advantages. Concern: The center position is unsettled with Maikkula out. Ryan Fodje, Caleb Nitta, and freshman Noah Best are the candidates. Any interior pressure or exchange issues could disrupt Oklahoma's offensive rhythm, though the talent gap makes this a minor concern against UTEP. 13 UTEP GAME PLAN UTEP enters as a massive underdog with modest goals: compete, stay healthy, and find something positive to build on for the rest of the season. First-year starting quarterback Cade McConnell will face one of the best defenses in the country in his first career start. Offensive Challenges: UTEP is breaking in a rebuilt offensive line against an elite Oklahoma defensive front. The running game will likely struggle, which puts pressure on McConnell to make plays through the air. The Miners will need to use short, quick passes and the H-back role for Deion Smith to try to mitigate the pass rush. Kenji Lewis on the defensive line was a standout in fall camp according to the articles, but the offense produced little in camp scrimmages. Defensive challenges: Oklahoma's offense, even in an opener, should move the ball at will. UTEP's defensive line will be at a significant talent disadvantage. The goal will be to limit explosive plays and try to force a few turnovers to keep the score respectable. Suspensions and availability: Starting offensive guard Elijah Hill is suspended for the first quarter. True freshman Malik Jones will play in the opener. Safety Jaxon Thomas was declared eligible after his transfer from North Texas. Running back Deion Smith will see time as an H-back in passing packages. None of these moves meaningfully change the projection; they are roster management decisions for a team that needs to find answers wherever it can. 14 INJURIES AND ABSENCES Oklahoma: - Jake Maikkula (C) - Out 4-6 weeks with an MCL sprain suffered in a preseason scrimmage. Ryan Fodje is projected to start at center, with Caleb Nitta and Noah Best as alternates. - Tory Blaylock (RB) - Out with a hamstring injury that limited him throughout fall camp. Lloyd Avant and Xavier Robinson handle the running back workload. - No other significant injuries reported. The depth chart is mostly healthy entering the opener. UTEP: - Elijah Hill (G) - Suspended for the first quarter. This is a significant loss for a rebuilt offensive line facing Oklahoma's defensive front, even for one quarter. - No other significant injuries or absences reported. - Several players are newly eligible or altering roles: Jaxon Thomas (safety, eligible after transfer), Malik Jones (true freshman, will play), Deion Smith (H-back role). The injury situations do not dramatically change the projection. Oklahoma loses its starting center but has capable replacements. UTEP loses a guard for the first quarter but faces an even larger talent gap regardless. The Maikkula injury could cause some interior pressure issues for Oklahoma, but the overall talent disparity makes this a minor factor. 15 STATISTICAL BASELINE Before considering the news and roster updates, the statistical baseline from the rating systems projects: Baseline Consensus: Oklahoma by 36-38 points. This is derived from: - SP+ gap of 38.1 points (Oklahoma +18.8 vs. UTEP -19.3) - FPI gap of 34.4 points (Oklahoma +17.8 vs. UTEP -16.6) - Average of the two systems: +36.3 points The market line sits at -40.5, slightly above the statistical baseline. This market movement is justified by the roster continuity data (Oklahoma returning 63.2% of PPA vs. UTEP at -1.1%) and the talent composite gap (851 vs. 586). 16 FINAL PREDICTION: OKLAHOMA 45, UTEP 10 The baseline consensus projects Oklahoma by approximately 36-38 points. The market has this at -40.5. My projection of Oklahoma winning by 35 points, with a final score of 45-10, sits close to the statistical baseline but slightly below the market line. Let me walk through the reasoning. Why I am staying close to the baseline: The statistical systems, the roster continuity data, and the talent composite all point to a massive Oklahoma victory. The SP+ gap of 38.1 points and the FPI gap of 34.4 points produce a consensus margin in the 36-38 point range. Everything about this matchup—Oklahoma's returning production, UTEP's extreme roster rebuild, the talent composite gap of 265 points, and Oklahoma's healthy quarterback after an injury-plagued 2025 season—supports the projection of a blowout. I find no reason to move significantly off the baseline. Why I am slightly below the market line and the baseline consensus: There are two factors that push my projection slightly below the market's -40.5 line. First, Oklahoma's center position is unsettled with Jake Maikkula out. Ryan Fodje is talented but has limited experience at center, and the articles repeatedly cite the center position as a concern entering the opener. Exchange fumbles or interior pressure could stall a few drives. In a game where Oklahoma is projected to score in the 40s, a couple of stalled drives could easily be the difference between covering 40 points and not covering. Second, this is a season opener against a clearly overmatched opponent, and Oklahoma has a gauntlet of games ahead: Michigan in Week 2, Oklahoma Sooners vs UTEP Miners · 2026 · Matchup Report Page 8 of 10
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Georgia in Week 4, Texas in Week 6. The articles explicitly note that John Mateer might not play in the second half if Oklahoma builds a large lead, and the running backs are expected to rotate heavily. Historical caution is relevant here: last year, Oklahoma failed to cover a similar -39 spread against Illinois State, winning 35-3. Year to year, this Oklahoma team is better and healthier, and UTEP is worse than Illinois State, but the dynamic is similar—Oklahoma is likely to build a lead, rest its starters, and let the backups play out the final quarter. The adjustment from baseline: The baseline projects Oklahoma by 36-38 points. My projection of 45-10 is a 35-point margin, which is essentially at the baseline consensus (slightly below the midpoint). I am not making a large adjustment because there is no single factor compelling enough to move several points off the anchor. The center situation and the expected bench-clearing in the second half justify nudging the projection slightly below the market line, but the overall picture—Oklahoma's CFP-caliber roster, UTEP's rebuilding effort, and the massive talent gap—keeps the projection firmly in the 35-point range. Final score reasoning: Oklahoma's defense should dominate UTEP's offense. The Sooners' front seven, featuring Adepoju Adebawore, Danny Okoye, Taylor Wein, David Stone, and Kip Lewis, should hold UTEP to a low score. UTEP's rebuilt offensive line will struggle against this front, and Cade McConnell making his first career start against an elite defense does not project well. UTEP scored 10 points in Beatline Sports' projection, and I agree with that figure. A field goal and one touchdown—or some combination that produces 10 points—represents the realistic ceiling for UTEP against this defense. Oklahoma's offense, even with a backup center, should score in the 40s. The Sooners' talent advantage is immense, and the projections from SP+ and FPI support an output of 40-plus points. However, the exchange risk with the backup center, Oklahoma's tendency to rest starters with a big lead (including potentially John Mateer in the second half), and the fact that the backups will play significant fourth-quarter minutes all cap the scoring slightly below what the raw talent gap might suggest. A projection of 45 points represents Oklahoma scoring efficiently for the majority of the game while the starters play, then slowing down as the backups take over. Projected final score: Oklahoma 45, UTEP 10. Projected margin: Oklahoma by 35 points. Against the spread: The market line is Oklahoma -40.5. My projection of Oklahoma by 35 points does NOT cover the spread. However, this is a projection of the expected score, not a betting recommendation. The most likely outcome is Oklahoma wins comfortably by 30-40 points, and whether the score lands above or below 40.5 is within the normal projection error for a lopsided game. Win probability: Oklahoma >97%. This is not a competitive matchup. THE VERDICT · The projected final score, win probability, the model's spread set against the market and the pick that comparison implies — the report's bottom line in one card. SOURCES 1. College Football Data API (CollegeFootballData) https://collegefootballdata.com 2. College football injury feed (Injury feed) https://www.rotowire.com/cfootball/news.php 3. Oklahoma center Jake Maikkula reportedly suffers lower-leg injury, expected back this season (News9.com) https://www.news9.com/sports/university-of-oklahoma/oklahoma-football-jake-maikkula- injury-ou-center 4. Venables: Maikkula injury 'short term', three players in contention at center (Yahoo Sports) 28. How Oklahoma DEs Adepoju Adebawore, Danny Okoye ‘Completely Transformed Their Games’ https://www.si.com/college/oklahoma/football/how-oklahoma-des-adepoju-adebawore-danny- okoye-completely-transformed-their-games-01m14g6a8n6n 29. Oklahoma Sooners post-camp depth chart projection https://soonerswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/sooners/football/2026/08/26/oklahoma- football-depth-chart-projection-2026-season/91469458007/ 30. Oklahoma’s WRs, CBs Have Grown From ‘Back and Forth’ Battles in Practice (SI.com - Sooners on SI) Oklahoma Sooners vs UTEP Miners · 2026 · Matchup Report Page 9 of 10
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https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/jake-maikkula-injury-brent-venables-175044992.html 5. Oklahoma's Jake Maikkula Continuing to Guide Sooners' Young Linemen Despite Injury (Sports Illustrated (SI.com)) https://www.si.com/college/oklahoma/football/oklahoma-s-jake-maikkula-continuing-to-guide- sooners-young-linemen-despite-injury-01m10h3erczq 6. OU football: Injured OL Jake Maikkula only out short term (Tulsa World) https://tulsaworld.com/sports/college/ou/article_f2e16254-cc29-4994-a86a- 6eff35b4273c.html 7. Oklahoma Sooners Football Projected Depth Chart After Fall Camp Ahead of Week 1 vs. UTEP (Roundtable.io) https://roundtable.io/sports/ncaa/oklahoma/news/oklahoma-sooners-football-projected-depth- chart-after-fall-camp-ahead-of-week-1-vs-utep 8. Projecting the Depth Chart for Oklahoma's Offense for the Week 1 Matchup against UTEP (Sports Illustrated (SI.com)) https://www.si.com/college/oklahoma/football/projecting-the-depth-chart-for-oklahoma-s- offense-for-the-week-1-matchup-against-utep-01m155w61d8f 9. Projecting Oklahoma football's Week 1 depth chart after fall camp (Stormin in Norman) https://stormininnorman.com/projecting-oklahoma-football-week-1-depth-chart-after-fall- camp 10. Brent Venables confirms Jake Maikkula injury, names three in contention for center position (Norman Transcript) https://www.normantranscript.com/cnhi_network/brent-venables-confirms-jake-maikkula- injury-names-three-in-contention-for-center-position-for-ou/article_51904e74-75b5-49a4- 87a3-79fd6ab0bb4e.html 11. Oklahoma's Brent Venables Thinks Jake Maikkula Injury 'Short Term', Backups Versatile (Sports Illustrated (SI.com)) https://www.si.com/college/oklahoma/football/oklahoma-s-brent-venables-thinks-jake- maikkula-injury-short-term-backups-versatile-01m0krcbpjst 12. Projecting the Depth Chart for Oklahoma's Defense for the Week 1 Matchup against UTEP (SI.com - Sooners on SI) https://www.si.com/college/oklahoma/football/projecting-the-depth-chart-for-oklahoma-s- defense-for-the-week-1-matchup-against-utep-01m17etd86d6 13. UTEP football returns several key players lost to season-ending injuries last season | KTSM 9 News https://www.ktsm.com/sports/utep-football-returns-several-key-players-lost-to-season-ending- injuries-last-season/ 14. Will injury returnees give UTEP chance to climb from poor 2-10 finish? https://bluewaterhealthyliving.com/news/national-news/texas/will-injury-returnees-give-utep- chance-to-climb-from-poor-2-10-finish/ 15. UTEP football’s hope for offensive improvement begins with rebuilt O-line https://bluewaterhealthyliving.com/news/national-news/texas/utep-footballs-hope-for- offensive-improvement-begins-with-rebuilt-o-line/ 16. UTEP Miners football will make roster additions to make before fall https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/sports/college/utep/2026/04/23/utep-miners-football-will- make-roster-additions-to-make-before-fall/89706947007/ 17. UTEP News, Schedule, and Roster | RotoWire https://www.rotowire.com/cfootball/team/utep-3500 18. Inside UTEP’s Mountain West Move: How the Miners Are Building for 2026 https://www.texasfootball.com/articles/article/default.aspx?url=2026%2F04%2F30%2Finside- uteps-mountain-west-move-how-the-miners-are-building-for-2026 19. 2026 Football Roster - UTEP Miners https://utepminers.com/sports/football/roster/2026 20. UTEP Miners football's new hope, QB EJ Colson, takes command https://bluewaterhealthyliving.com/news/national-news/texas/utep-miners-footballs-new- hope-qb-ej-colson-takes-command/ 21. Can these six defensive player elevate UTEP Miners football in 2026? https://bluewaterhealthyliving.com/news/national-news/texas/can-these-six-defensive-player- elevate-utep-miners-football-in-2026/ 22. 2026 Football Roster - UTEP Miners https://utepminers.com/sports/football/roster 23. What Would Offensive Success Look Like in Oklahoma’s Opener vs. UTEP? (SI.com - Sooners on SI) https://www.si.com/college/oklahoma/football/what-would-offensive-success-look-like-in- oklahoma-s-opener-vs-utep-01m17m7y5j99 24. Oklahoma Sooners look better on paper, will it lead to a big season? (Sooners Wire) https://soonerswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/sooners/football/2026/08/29/oklahoma- football-john-mateer-roster-depth-chart-venables/91488986007/ 25. OU football preview: Everything you need to know for 2026 https://tulsaworld.com/sports/college/ou/article_2604e1b9-cf10-4785-bd4c- a517c1d82ab6.html 26. Josh Pate tabs Michael Fasusi as Oklahoma's breakout player https://soonerswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/sooners/football/2026/08/30/oklahoma- football-josh-pate-michael-fasusi/91521108007/ 27. Okoye among Sooners looking to emerge on elite defense | Sports | swoknews.com https://www.swoknews.com/sports/okoye-among-sooners-looking-to-emerge-on-elite- defense/article_0f739a2b-b515-585a-859a-9544d5dff9c0.html https://www.si.com/college/oklahoma/football/oklahoma-s-wrs-cbs-have-grown-from-back- and-forth-battles-in-practice-01m16xnhda5g 31. Which Oklahoma Freshmen Could Push for Playing Time in 2026? https://www.si.com/college/oklahoma/football/which-oklahoma-freshmen-could-push-for- playing-time-in-2026-01m123vvq4hj 32. McConnell named starting quarterback for opener (El Paso Times) https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/sports/college/utep/2026/08/28/utep-announces-starting- quarterback-vs-oklahoma 33. Transfer Jalen Smith earns starting cornerback spot (UTEP Athletics) https://utepathletics.cstv.com/news/2026/8/24/football-announces-depth-chart-for-season- opener 34. Offensive guard Elijah Hill suspended for first quarter (Associated Press) https://apnews.com/article/utep-football-hill-suspension-oklahoma-2026 35. True freshman Malik Jones to play in opener (247Sports) https://247sports.com/college/utep/Article/utep-freshman-malik-jones-playing-oklahoma- 2026/ 36. Safety Jaxon Thomas eligible after transfer (ESPN) https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/38678945/utep-safety-jaxon-thomas-eligible 37. Deion Smith to get H-back role in passing packages (Miners Illustrated) https://www.minersillustrated.com/2026/08/29/deion-smith-h-back-role-oklahoma-game/ 38. UTEP safety Solo Barnes wins bid to play fifth year, but will he? https://bluewaterhealthyliving.com/news/national-news/texas/utep-safety-solo-barnes-wins- bid-to-play-fifth-year-but-will-he/ 39. UTEP names EJ Colson starting quarterback for 2026 season | KTSM 9 News https://www.ktsm.com/sports/college-sports/utep/utep-names-ej-colson-starting-quarterback- for-2026-season/ 40. 2026 UTEP Miners Football Depth Chart | Ourlads.com https://www.ourlads.com/ncaa-football-depth-charts/depth-chart/utep/92338 41. cfbstats.com - 2026 UTEP Miners Roster https://cfbstats.com/2026/team/704/roster.html 42. Oklahoma fall camp skill position battles: 'Iron sharpening iron every day' (SI.com - Sooners on SI) https://www.si.com/college/oklahoma/football/oklahoma-s-fall-camp-skill-position-battles-iron- sharpening-iron-every-day-01m14fqh7g0s 43. 3 winners and 2 losers from Oklahoma's 2026 fall camp (Stormin in Norman) https://stormininnorman.com/3-winners-2-losers-from-oklahoma-sooners-2026-fall-camp 44. OU bets on a bounce-back from battle-tested John Mateer (Tulsa World) https://tulsaworld.com/sports/college/ou/article_77b8eeab-3af4-4015-9fe1- b095cc34aa4d.html 45. UTEP evaluates depth in second scrimmage of fall camp - Yahoo Sports https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/utep-evaluates-depth-second-scrimmage-013811469.html 46. UTEP football enters week 2 of fall camp; Walden praises ‘back and forth’ team balance | KTSM 9 News https://www.ktsm.com/sports/college-sports/utep/utep-football-enters-week-2-of-fall-camp- walden-praises-back-and-forth-team-balance/ 47. "The ball is the program" for the UTEP Miners in 2026 https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/the-ball-is-the-program-for-the-utep-miners-in-2026 48. UTEP football team opens camp for Scotty Walden’s third season https://bluewaterhealthyliving.com/news/national-news/texas/utep-football-team-opens- camp-for-scotty-waldens-third-season/ 49. UTEP D-lineman, RB stand out in first week fall football camp https://bluewaterhealthyliving.com/news/national-news/texas/utep-d-lineman-rb-stand-out-in- first-week-fall-football-camp/ 50. UTEP fall football camp preview: 5 hurdles facing Miners https://bluewaterhealthyliving.com/news/national-news/texas/utep-fall-football-camp-preview- 5-hurdles-facing-miners/ 51. Oklahoma knows its defense can dominate. Can Ben Arbuckle unlock the offense? (Tulsa World) https://tulsaworld.com/sports/college/ou/article_5a0ad03d-a228-4a27-aa8e- 1c7c345e7c28.html 52. UTEP vs Oklahoma Odds & Live Scores - September 4, 2026 (Action Network) https://www.actionnetwork.com/ncaaf-game/utep-oklahoma-score-odds-september-5- 2026/288837 53. Oklahoma Sooners vs. UTEP Miners 2026 Season Opener Preview (Beatline Sports) https://www.beatlinesports.com/2026/08/23/beatline-cfb-ou-game-2026-09-05/ 54. UTEP vs Oklahoma College Football Picks: Week 1 Blowout Prediction & Odds (Predictem) https://www.predictem.com/college-football/utep-vs-oklahoma-college-football-picks-week-1- blowout-prediction-odds/ Oklahoma Sooners vs UTEP Miners · 2026 · Matchup Report Page 10 of 10
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