No. 10 Oklahoma kicks off the 2026 season against UTEP at 7 p.m. Sept. 4 at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, and the Sooners are 41.5-point favorites.
The game will mark the stadium's 168th consecutive sellout, according to Stormin in Norman. Both OU and Norman Public Schools canceled classes Friday because of traffic congestion and road closures tied to the opener, the Norman Transcript reported.
Head coach Brent Venables has won all four of his season openers at OU. The Sooners are 5-0 all-time against UTEP, winning by an average of 50-8. UTEP went 2-10 in 2025 under head coach Scotty Waldon, who is 5-19 in two seasons with the Miners.
Here are four storylines Norman fans should watch Friday night.
Mateer's healthy throwing hand
Quarterback John Mateer broke his thumb during the 2025 season, and his grip suffered for months. He still threw for 2,885 yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while rushing for 431 yards and eight scores. A healthy Mateer could look like a different player.
Venables praised Mateer's offseason growth in an Aug. 4 interview with the OU Daily.
"His best qualities, in my opinion, are the human being that he is, the leader that he is, the guy that shows up in the depths of preparation," Venables said.
Offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle told the Tulsa World on Saturday he feels fortunate to be entering a fourth year coaching Mateer, a partnership that began at Washington State. Mateer was named one of nine team captains for 2026, according to Sooners Wire.
New receivers join Sategna
Fifth-year receiver Isaiah Sategna III returns after posting more than 900 receiving yards in 2025. He'll be joined by two transfer starters: Trell Harris, a 6-foot, 200-pound fifth-year senior who recorded 59 catches for 847 yards and five touchdowns at Virginia, and Parker Livingstone, a 6-foot-3 downfield threat who transferred from Texas.
Harris replaces departed senior Deion Burks. Sategna said at OU's Aug. 5 media day that the new group fills gaps last year's roster lacked.
"We've got twitchy guys. We've got some feel-stretchers. We've got big bodies," Sategna told the Norman Transcript. "Didn't necessarily have that last year."
Sophomores Elijah Thomas and Manny Choice are also expected to contribute after limited offensive roles in 2025, according to the OU Daily.
Line play on both sides
The offensive line features five projected starters with SEC starting experience, per Stormin in Norman's depth chart projection. Starting center Jake Maikkula sprained his MCL during a preseason scrimmage and faces four to six weeks of recovery. Ryan Fodje is projected to fill in at center alongside left tackle Michael Fasusi, left guard Eddy Pierre-Louis, right guard Heath Ozaeta and Arkansas transfer E'Marion Harris at right tackle.
On defense, the Sooners led the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in total defense in 2025 and ranked second nationally in tackles for loss with 122 in 13 games. Defensive tackle David Stone anchors the unit after recording 42 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and six quarterback hurries as a sophomore. The Walter Camp Foundation and Phil Steele named him a preseason All-American. All-SEC defensive end Taylor Wein returns, with junior Danny Okoye and senior PJ Adebawore competing for the starting spot opposite him.
Running back rotation
Colorado State transfer Lloyd Avant emerged as the lead back during fall camp and is projected to start Friday, according to Stormin in Norman. Returning starter Xavier Robinson is healthy but lost ground to Avant during the preseason. OU's run game ranked 13th in the SEC in 2025, and the Sooners have not had a 1,000-yard rusher since Eric Gray in 2022.
OU enters the season ranked No. 10 in the Associated Press (AP) preseason poll, marking the program's 27th consecutive preseason appearance, according to SoonerSports.com. After UTEP, the Sooners travel to No. 16 Michigan on Sept. 12 in Ann Arbor.
