The Oklahoma Sooners enter the 2026 college football season with a fresh sense of purpose. Ranked tenth in the AP Poll, the team is poised to tackle a demanding schedule that includes a much‑anticipated home clash with UTEP on September 4 at 7 p.m. ET. The matchup will be streamed on SEC Network+ and promises to be a showcase of the Sooners’ revamped roster.
Defensive Foundations
Defensively, Oklahoma will lean on a core that returns standout tacklers Kip Lewis and Owen Heinecke at linebacker, as well as defensive end Taylor Wein, Adepoju Adebawore and Danny Okoye. The secondary, featuring Eli Bowen, Courtland Guillory and Peyton Bowen, also returns experience, while kicker Tate Sandell, the 2025 Lou Groza Award winner, will handle special‑teams duties.
Offensive Overhaul
Offensively, the Sooners have added depth through both the transfer portal and the coaching staff. Former NFL tight ends coach Jason Witten now shapes the unit, and the team welcomes transfers such as Hayden Hansen from Florida, Rocky Beers from Colorado State and Jack Van Dorselaer from Tennessee. New faces like receiver Trell Harris, running back Lloyd Avant and offensive lineman Noah Best are expected to make immediate impacts.
The Road Ahead
The quarterback position will be anchored by EJ Colson, a newcomer from UTEP who hopes to reverse the Miners’ 2‑10 slump. Joining him are returning backs like Jonathan Hatton Jr. and a cast of fresh talent including Cole Sullivan, who arrived from Michigan. The blend of veteran experience and fresh arms creates a competitive atmosphere heading into the season opener.
Beyond the field, the game marks a milestone for the program’s aspirations of returning to the College Football Playoff. Coach Brent Venables, who has guided the team through a tough schedule, sees the contest as a litmus test for his squad’s depth and resilience. With the Sooners unbeaten in their last five meetings against UTEP, the stakes are high, and fans are eager to see how the new pieces fit together.