John Mateer threw three touchdown passes and Isaiah Sategna returned a punt 88 yards for a score as No. 10 Oklahoma defeated UTEP 51-0 in their season opener on Friday night. The Sooners scored on each of their first eight possessions, while limiting UTEP to just 198 total yards. Mateer completed 11 of 17 passes for 225 yards before being pulled late in the third quarter. Oklahoma outgained UTEP by a significant margin, rushing for 170 yards and passing for 225 yards.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-05,
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🔮 No. 10 Oklahoma
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — 2025 record: 10-3
Expectations
The Sooners could challenge for the national championship if they can duplicate their dominance on defense, run the ball more effectively and survive a brutal stretch of early-season games on the road.
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — John Mateer threw three touchdown passes, Isaiah Sategna returned a punt 88 yards for a score and No. 10 Oklahoma overpowered UTEP 51-0 on Friday night in the season opener for both teams.
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Oklahoma → throw → teams
The Sooners scored on their first eight possessions and limited UTEP to 198 yards.
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Sooners → score → yards
Mateer looked sharp, completing 11 of 17 passes for 225 yards before being pulled late in the third quarter.
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Mateer → look → quarter
He threw scoring passes of 40 yards to Colorado State transfer Rocky Beers, 34 yards to Sategna and 48 yards to Virginia transfer Trell Harris.
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He → throw → Harris
Oklahoma drove 76 yards for a score on its first possession then forced a punt that was returned for a touchdown by Sategna to make it 14-0 midway through the first quarter.
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that → drive → quarter
The Sooners led 27-0 at halftime, then the defense went to work.
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defense → lead → halftime
Peyton Bowen forced a fumble that was recovered by Taylor Wein on UTEP first possession of the the third quarter.
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that → force → quarter
Two plays later, Mateer connected with Sategna to make it 34-0.
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Mateer → connect → it
The Miners didn’t play like an offense with 11 new faces, driving 50 and 43 yards on successive possessions in the first half.
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Miners → play → half
Both drives ended with missed field goals.
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drives → end → goals
The Sooners rushed 39 times for 170 yards, about 52 yards more than they averaged last season.
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they → rush → yards
Up next
UTEP: Hosts Texas Southern next Saturday.
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