Live Updates From No. 10 Oklahoma's Opener Against UTEP

NORMAN — Sooners on SI offers real-time observations from Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium throughout Friday’s matchup between No. 10 Oklahoma and the UTEP Miners. Just keep your browser open and refresh often.

FINAL: Oklahoma 51, UTEP 0

The Sooners finish off the shutout. outgaining the Miners 401-186.

— Aber

1:01 4Q

The Sooners were forced to punt again, despite a 24-yard run from Ben McCreary.

This time, it was Jacob Ulrich handling the punting duties.

UTEP has the ball back for what figures to be the final time of the night. Barring a big bust here, the Soobners are going to finish off the shutout.

— Aber

4:51 4Q

The rabbit has been pulled from the hat.

For the third time tonight, UTEP has missed a field goal.

The miss keeps Oklahoma's hopes for a shutout alive.

— Aber

6:55 4Q

The Sooners might need to pull a rabbit out of their hat to finish off a shutout.

Andy Bass' fumble gave the Miners the ball back at the OU 17.

The turnover was the first of the night for the Sooners.

— Aber

11:27 4Q

The 2026 season is off to a much better start in the turnover category.

Just after UTEP ripped off a 51-yard reception, Oklahoma grabbed the ball right back when linebacker James Nesta recovered a dropped exchange at the OU 31.

It's the second forced turnover of the night for the Sooners.

— Aber

12:11 4Q

Whitt Newbauer is on the board.

The Sooners' backup quarterback scored on a 3-yard run to put OU up 51-0 early in the fourth.

Oklahoma is averaging 4.7 yards per carry to this point.

— Aber

End of the third quarter

Oklahoma Sooners — Oklahoma vs. UTEP stats after the third quarter | OU Stat

1:25 3Q

Following that fourth down stop by the Oklahoma defense, Whitt Newbauer is in the game at quarterback.

Noah Best is also in at right guard alongside center Caleb Nitta.

— Chapman

3:15 3Q

Liam Evans got a crack at the last field goal, and he nailed the 34-yard attempt to cap off the Oklahoma drive.

The Sooners are in front 44-0, but have had to settle for field goals on three of their four red zone trips.

— Chapman

7:33 3Q

Arkansas transfer defensive tackle Danny Saili is in the game on this drive for the Sooners.

— Chapman

8:22 3Q

Welcome to the party, Trell Harris!

The Sooners faced a third-and-1 after Lloyd Avant carried the pile nine yards, which allowed Ben Arbuckle to take a shot.

He put a pair of tight ends on the line of scrimmage to clear out the middle of the field, and Mateer led Harris for a 48-yard touchdown pass.

That’s now one apiece (through the air at least) for Harris and Sategna.

The question will now be how much longer Mateer stays in the game with OU up 41-0.

— Chapman

9:36 3Q

Oklahoma will have great field position again. OU takes over on its own 40-yard line after Wyatt Gilmore came up with the third down stop. That drive was much cleaner from the Sooner defense.

— Chapman

11:47 3Q

Two plays later, John Mateer patiently waited for Isaiah Sategna to get separation, and he found his favorite target for a 34-yard touchdown pass.

That put OU up 34-0 early in the third quarter.

— Chapman

12:33 3Q

There won’t be a big turnover drought to start 2026!

Peyton Bowen punches the ball out, and after a scramble and mini game of hot potato, Taylor Wein recovers to set the offense up at the UTEP 34-yard line.

Kip Lewis tried to pick up the fumble and run with it. He missed, and luckily, the Miners weren’t able to fall on it before it fell into Wein’s hands.

— Chapman

Halftime

Oklahoma Football — Oklahoma vs. UTEP Halftime Stats | OU Stats

0:30 2Q

Taylor Wein had a big hug for Adebawore after that sack. The senior defensive end has been disruptive in the first half, and he’s helped the Sooners pitch a shutout through the first 30 minutes.

— Chapman

The white goalposts are no issue for Sandell. He knocks through a 32-yard field goal, his second of the game, to put the Sooners up 27-0.

OU had a penalty on Jack Van Dorselaer that backed the offense up and stalled things out in the red zone. Mateer also appeared to see Elijah Thomas a split-second after deciding to pull the ball down on second-and-goal, which resulted in an inaccurate pass.

— Chapman

3:31 2Q

Adebawore has been in the backfield and crashed the mesh point at least three different times, but unfortunately for him, UTEP quarterback EJ Colson is making good reads and pulling the football out before Adebawore can force a fumble or register a tackle for loss.

Reggie Powers and Cole Sullivan both had a pair of nice plays to blow up that UTEP drive. Sategna will get another opportunity for a big punt return here.

— Chapman

5:00 2Q

Tate Sandell’s first attempt of the year, a 33-yarder, is good.

The Sooners went on an 11-play, 53-yard drive to extend the lead to 24-0.

Avant is certainly decisive, and it’s helping him hit the holes hard. Jonathan Hatton Jr. got his first OU carry, and he delivered a hit, but was dragged down near the line of scrimmage. John Mateer was also able to connect with Virginia transfer Trell Harris for the first time.

All in, it was pretty productive for a field goal drive.

— Chapman

9:54 2Q

Western Kentucky transfer Caleb Nitta is getting run at center to start this drive.

— Chapman

10:53 2Q

UTEP moved the ball a bit again thanks to a third-down conversion and a great play call on fourth-and-3.

The Miner drive stalled out at the 27-yard line, but a delay of game flag added five more yards and made it a 50-yard attempt, which was again missed.

— Chapman

End of 1Q

1:01 1Q

Welcome to Norman, Rocky Beers.

The brother of basketball star Raegan Beers caps off a 40-yard touchdown catch with a hurdle at the goal line.

Isaiah Sategna co-starred on that drive, nearly bursting through the secondary on a bubble and he picked up 11 hard yards for the Sooners’ second first down of the drive to set up the opportunity for Beers.

Oklahoma is rolling, now up 21-0.

— Chapman

3:30 1Q

UTEP enjoyed more success on its second drive.

The Miners picked up a couple of first downs, including a 23-yard rush, but kicker Carlos Arreola missed a 33-yard field goal to keep the Sooners’ shutout intact.

— Chapman

4:45 1Q

Oklahoma linebacker Kip Lewis came out of the game looking a bit banged up on UTEP's second drive.

Lewis is being tended to by trainers but hasn't gone to an injury tent.

— Ryan Aber

7:49 1Q

Oklahoma sent a blitz on third-and-6, and UTEP tried to throw toward Courtland Guillory.

Bad idea.

The sophomore was all over it and logged an easy pass breakup.

Isaiah Sategna’s first punt return of the season? How about an 88-yard house call?

The blocking was set up beautifully, and Sategna had an escort to the end zone.

OU up 14-0 with 7:27 to play in the first quarter.

— Chapman

9:00 1Q

Oklahoma’s starters on defense:

Adebawore — Stone — Jackson — Wein

Powers — Heinecke — Lewis

Eli Bowen — Peyton Bowen — Boganowski — Guillory

— Chapman

9:16 1Q

The Sooners marched 76 yards in 12 plays, and running back Lloyd Avant punched in the first touchdown of the year.

OU utilized plenty of 12 personnel and put together a drive that ran 5:39 off the clock.

Avant’s first two rushes went for 12 and 13 yards, then we saw a bona fide jumbo package near the goal line. Fun!

Oklahoma on top 7-0.

— Chapman

15:00 1Q

Oklahoma’s starters on offense:

Fasusi — Pierre-Louis — Best — Ozaeta — Harris

Harris — Sategna — Hansen — Beers

Mateer — Avant

— Chapman

2 minutes until kickoff

UTEP won the coin toss.

The Miners will defer until the second half.

John Mateer and the offense are up first in Norman.

— Chapman

30 minutes until kickoff

Colorado State transfer running back Lloyd Avant took the “snaps” with the first team offense in warmups.

— Chapman

41 minutes unitl kickoff

Oklahoma’s starting lineup on the offensive line per warmups:

Left to right: Fasusi — Pierre-Louis — Best — Ozaeta — Harris

46 minutes until kickoff

Currently don’t have eyes on two defensive pieces in the two-deep — Danny Okoye and Jeremiah Newcombe.

Everyone else on the two-deep is accounted for outside of offensive lineman Ryan Fodje, who is not expected to play tonight.

Jake Maikkula is even dressed out.

— Chapman

67 minutes until kickoff

Should get a good look at virtually every new piece tonight for the Sooners.

Earlier today, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that receiver Parker Livingstone will officially be available for tonight’s opener.

Sources: Oklahoma WR Parker Livingstone has been cleared to play and will be available against UTEP tonight. He'd recently missed some practice time with a concussion, but he will make his debut for the Sooners against UTEP. This will be his first game since transferring from… pic.twitter.com/wpEK9GBjGl
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 4, 2026

Livingstone was in concussion protocol earlier in the week.

OU is not expected to play either Jake Maikkula or Ryan Fodje tonight with the goal of getting at least one of those two back to play center next week in The Big House.

— Chapman

76 minutes until kickoff

Arkansas transfer defensive tackle Danny Saili will wear jersey no. 55 this year. He was granted a TRO yesterday, which will allow him to play for the Sooners until there is a hearing on the injunction.

Boise State defensive tackle Braxton Fely is not listed on the roster on the flip card that is distributed to media members in the press box, but that roster is not an official roster.

— Chapman

90 minutes until kickoff

There’s no doubt about it; it’s a scorcher today in Norman. Hopefully the sun will descend further behind the press box by kickoff to give the fans gathered here today some reprieve.

Aesthetics are a bit different today, as white goalposts are back at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. It’s a sharp look that is back for 2026.

— Chapman

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