Oklahoma blanks UTEP behind 3 John Mateer passing TDs
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Welcome back, Oklahoma football. We missed you.
The Sooners are 1-0 on the season after a dominant 51-0 blowout of UTEP Friday night. While he struggled with inaccuracy at times on Friday, John Mateer’s 2026 debut went well, too. The senior Oklahoma quarterback led the Sooners to Friday’s win with 3 touchdown passes on 11/17 attempts for 225 yards.
Star receiver Isaiah Sategna picked up right where he left off in 2025, leading all receivers with 4 receptions for 76 yards and 1 touchdown. In addition, Sategna returned a UTEP punt 88 yards to the house, putting the Sooners up 14-0 early.
Sategna’s special teams score was the second punt return TD of his career and his first at Oklahoma. Check it out:
Lloyd Avant had a night to remember as well. The Colorado State transfer averaged 5.3 yards per rush, finishing with 79 rushing yards (15 attempts) and 1 touchdown, Oklahoma’s first score of the 2026 season. Oklahoma’s rushing attack — a question mark entering the 2026 season — finished Friday night with 39 attempts for 170 yards and 2 touchdowns.
On the evening it’s tough to find a real gripe with Oklahoma’s performance in against the Miners. The Sooners did turn the ball over once late in the 4th quarter as sophomore running back Andy Bass was stripped by a UTEP defender. However, the Sooners were able to force a field goal attempt, which the Miners missed. UTEP finished the afternoon 0-3 on field goal attempts.
On the other side of the ball, Oklahoma had to settle for a few field goals — but forgive us if we aren’t exactly ready to rake the Sooners over the coals for that. As one of the nation’s best kickers, Tate Sandell was a perfect 2-for-2 on the evening while sophomore Liam Evans hit his lone attempt of the night at 34 yards.
It gets a whole lot tougher next weekend for the Sooners, who are set to travel to Ann Arbor to take on the Michigan Wolverines at the Big House. Kickoff is set for Noon on FOX.
Ethan Stone is a Saturday Down South News Editor and an advocate for the return of the Seattle Supersonics.
