Oklahoma Sooners prepare for season opener against UTEP in 2026

The Oklahoma Sooners begin their 2026 football season this Friday night with a home game against the UTEP Miners. Entering his latest campaign, head coach Brent Venables leads a team that expects to prioritize the ground game under offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle. Running backs Xavier Robinson and Lloyd Avant are expected to anchor the backfield, with Robinson projected to surpass 1,000 rushing yards for the season. Despite having multiple options, the team is not expected to produce a 1,000-yard receiver due to an offensive focus on spreading targets across the roster. The Sooners also look to improve their tight end depth, with Colorado State transfer Rocky Beers expected to feature prominently in the red zone. The team faces a challenging schedule that includes a Week 4 road trip to face Georgia.

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