The No. 24 Oklahoma Sooners return to Norman on Sept. 19, looking to shake off a 17-10 loss at Michigan that dropped them 13 spots in the AP poll.
Kickoff against New Mexico (2-0) is set for 6:30 p.m. at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. ESPN2 will carry the broadcast.
Oklahoma (1-1) opened the season with a 51-0 rout of UTEP on Sept. 4, but managed only 289 yards of offense in Ann Arbor on Sept. 12. Quarterback John Mateer completed 17 of 33 passes for 189 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the loss, according to ESPN's game recap. The interception, a tipped ball at the Sooners' 30-yard line, set up Michigan's go-ahead touchdown with 7:53 left.
"I'll make it happen," Mateer said after the Michigan loss, according to Yahoo Sports. "I don't have a choice. This team needs me. This university needs me. I have to do it."
Head coach Brent Venables called Mateer's play "just a little uneven at times" in his postgame press conference but said the fifth-year quarterback would respond. Venables also confirmed that linebacker Kip Lewis, who suffered a right knee injury in the first half against Michigan, will miss time. Lewis led OU with 76 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and four sacks in 2025, according to Stormin in Norman.
The defense performed well at Michigan despite the loss, holding the Wolverines to 14 first downs and 263 total yards. OU's scoring defense ranks 13th nationally at 8.5 points allowed per game through two contests.
New Mexico presents a different challenge. The Lobos have outscored opponents 108-14 through two games under second-year head coach Jason Eck, who led the program to its first winning season since 2016 last year at 9-4. Starting quarterback Jack Layne is out for the season after surgery, but backup Luke Moga has completed 65.4% of his passes for 198 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions, according to ESPN's game preview.
Running back Scottre Humphrey has rushed 28 times for 174 yards and three touchdowns through two games, according to Yahoo Sports. The Lobos rank first nationally in turnover margin at plus-8, per ESPN's preview. Oklahoma sits at minus-1.
The Sooners are 22.5-point favorites. ESPN's Matchup Predictor gives OU an 89.7% win probability, down from 94.9% before the Michigan loss.
The stakes extend beyond Saturday. Oklahoma travels to No. 2 Georgia in Athens on Sept. 26, and the SEC schedule also includes Texas, Texas A&M, Ole Miss and Missouri, all ranked in the AP preseason top 25. A stumble against New Mexico would send the Sooners into that stretch reeling.
As we reported Sept. 13, the Sooners fell 17-10 at Michigan. Saturday's game at Owen Field is OU's first home contest since that loss.
98.1 The Sports Animal will broadcast a pregame show live from Historic Campus Corner starting at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
