Friday night kicks off the 2026 season for the Oklahoma Sooners, and after an offseason absolutely packed with high expectations, it’s finally game time in Norman. They’re facing off against the UTEP Miners in Week 1, and let’s be real, the Miners are coming in as heavy underdogs. UTEP just made the jump to their first season in the Mountain West Conference, moving over from Conference USA last year, so this is a fresh start for them.
The Miners Are Betting Big on New Blood to Turn Things Around
UTEP’s 2025 season was a brutal one, ending with a dismal 2-10 record. Their only wins came against UT Martin and Sam Houston, which, oof, that’s rough. But they’re rolling into 2026 with some serious changes, especially on offense. They’ve brought in new co-offensive coordinators Lanear Sampson and Joe Pappalardo, with Sampson taking the reins as the play caller. This is where it gets interesting: UTEP’s head coach Scotty Walden, now in his third year in El Paso, is known as an offensive-minded guy. He’s been through it a bit, going just 5-19 in his two seasons at the FBS level after coming over from Austin Peay. But hey, fresh season, right?
The biggest move for UTEP on offense? Landing transfer quarterback EJ Colson from Incarnate Word this winter. This guy isn’t just a warm body, either. Last year, Colson threw for 15 touchdowns, only four interceptions, and racked up 2,142 passing yards. Those are solid numbers, and his top weapons, tight end Judah Ezinwa and wide receiver Jeremiah Nash, are going to be critical as he tries to match wits with OU’s defensive excellence under Brent Venables. It sounds like UTEP wants to establish some kind of run game this year, too, after struggling badly with it last season, so we’ll see if that changes.
Can UTEP’s Defense Slow Down the Sooners?
On the defensive side for UTEP, new defensive coordinator Kyle Beyer is calling the plays, with Kelvin Sigler as co-defensive coordinator. They’ve got their work cut out for them, going up against Oklahoma offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, who’s aiming to get quarterback John Mateer and the whole Sooners offense flying out of the gate in 2026. The player to watch for the Miners’ D is veteran linebacker Jayden Wilson, who made the smart move to return to El Paso this offseason. If OU wants to establish that run game early and often, they absolutely *have* to account for Wilson’s presence. Special teams are always a wildcard, too, with OU’s Doug Deakin facing off against UTEP’s Payton Pardee, who is their defensive coordinator *and* tight ends coach. Walden even calls his special teams “Wefense” to emphasize everyone working together.
Look, historically, this matchup has been all Oklahoma. They’ve gone a perfect 5-0 against UTEP on the gridiron. We’re talking a 55-14 national championship season opener in 2000, a ridiculous 68-0 shutout in 2002, and even the closest game in 2012 in El Paso, where OU still escaped with a 24-17 win. Lincoln Riley got his first win as a head coach with a 56-7 drubbing in 2017, and Venables himself snagged his first career victory against UTEP, 45-13, in 2022. It’s a new season, but history is history. Get ready for some football!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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