3 biggest takeaways from Oklahoma's dominant win over UTEP

3 biggest takeaways from Oklahoma's dominant win over UTEP

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3 biggest takeaways from Oklahoma's dominant win over UTEP

The Oklahoma Sooners kicked off the 2026 college football season with a dominant 51-0 win over the University of Texas at El Paso Miners. The Sooners dominated this one from start to finish, outscoring the Miners 21-0 in the first quarter.

While it was a great win to start the season, with both the offense and defense having their moments, it wasn't all perfect. Here are the three biggest takeaways from the Sooners' win on Friday.

The run game is heading in the right direction

Sep 4, 2026; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Lloyd Avant (9) rushes during the second quarter against the Texas El Paso Miners at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

This was one of the biggest topics of the offseason. The Sooners showed early that they wanted to focus on the run game. They tried it from all different looks, including under center. But the run game was more like death by a thousand cuts than a dominant showing. Oklahoma ran for 170 yards and two scores on 4.4 yards per carry, but only two runs topped over 20 yards. Lloyd Avant led the way with 79 yards on 15 carries.

The Sooners just consistently were eeking out four or five yards a carry. That's not bad, but it wasn't as dominant as it could have been. Now, it's important to point out: three projected starters on the offensive line missed most of the game. Center Jake Maikkula and guard Ryan Fodje both missed the game due to injury. Tackle Michael Fasusi played sparingly, likely wanting to make sure he stayed healthy.

The defense still has some things to clean up

Sep 4, 2026; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Reggie Powers III (3) celebrates after making a tackle on Texas El Paso Miners wide receiver Kam Thomas (8) during the second quarter at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

The Sooners' defense on paper looked like it played a dominant game. It pitched a shutout and allowed less than 200 yards of total offense. The defense also forced two turnovers. But UTEP had some success. The Miners got into Oklahoma territory multiple times, but missed three field goals.

The biggest issue was missing tackles. The Sooners missed far too many tackles and gave up outside containment multiple times. Oklahoma allowed 112 yards on the ground, including a 51-yard run by Raymond Moore II. Quarterback EJ Colson Jr. also had some success, especially early in the game.

It was still a good performance, and you never want to be upset by a shutout. Oklahoma had four sacks and 10 tackles for loss. The Sooners led the nation in both stats last season. Still, it felt like the Sooners left a lot on the table that they will have to clean up before facing the Michigan Wolverines next weekend. Fans shouldn't be worried yet with Brent Venables at the helm.

The tight end room could be a real strength

Oklahoma's Rocky Beers (81) leaps over UTEP's Justin Content (0) as he runs in for a touchdown after a catch in the first half of the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and the UTEP Miners at the Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Sept. 4, 2026.

If there was one position group that provided an especially encouraging glimpse of what's possible this season, it was the tight ends. The Sooners consistently ran 12 personnel on offense, meaning two tight ends. That was typically Hayden Hansen and Rocky Beers. They even went 14 personnel at one point. Jack Van Dorselaer and Trynae Washington played a role early.

On top of that, the tight ends played a role in the passing game. Beers had two catches for 43 yards and a touchdown. That includes his 40-yard touchdown. Hansen also had one catch for 15 yards in the game.

It's obviously important not to overreact to what happened against UTEP. The competition gets considerably tougher from here. But the way Oklahoma used its tight ends suggests this could be a much more involved position group than it was a year ago. And that's encouraging for an offense that is trying to become more physical while taking some pressure off quarterback John Mateer.

For an opener, Oklahoma got almost everything it needed from Friday night. Mateer completed 11-of-17 passes for 225 yards and three touchdowns, Isaiah Sategna delivered an 88-yard punt return for a score and the defense pitched a shutout.

Now comes the real test. Michigan will expose weaknesses that UTEP couldn't, particularly on the road and in the trenches. If Oklahoma can carry the physicality it showed Friday while eliminating the missed tackles and continuing to develop its rushing attack, the Sooners will enter Ann Arbor with considerably more confidence than they had a week ago.

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: 3 biggest takeaways from Oklahoma's dominant win over UTEP

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