No. 10 Oklahoma Opens 2026 Season Against UTEP After 10-3 Playoff Year
Updated
Updated · Soonersports.com · Sep 2
No. 10 Oklahoma Opens 2026 Season Against UTEP After 10-3 Playoff Year
3 articles · Updated · Soonersports.com · Sep 2
Summary
Friday’s 7 p.m. CT game in Norman opens Oklahoma’s 2026 season, with the No. 10/9 Sooners hosting UTEP in Brent Venables’ fifth year and OU’s third season in the SEC.
10-3 last season, Oklahoma enters with a defense that led the nation in sacks at 3.5 per game and tackles for loss at 9.4, while UTEP arrives after a 2-10 campaign and its first year in the Mountain West.
5-0 all-time against UTEP, the Sooners have won nine straight season openers and 20 consecutive home openers; the matchup is also just OU’s second Friday night regular-season home game.
169 straight originally scheduled home sellouts underscore Oklahoma’s home-field edge, and the opener also launches new fan features including an AI concierge, expanded tailgating options and other stadium-service upgrades.