UTEP falls in season opener to #10 Oklahoma, 51-0
NORMAN, Oklahoma - The UTEP Miners will look towards better days ahead after losing their season opener against the 10th ranked Oklahoma Sooners, 51-0.
UTEP begins the 2026 campaign, 0-1.
UTEP quarterback EJ Colson completed 6 passes on 12 attempts for a total of 52 yards.
The Miners will now prepare for their home opener Saturday, September 12 against Texas Southern.
(Courtesy: UTEP Athletics)
John Mateer threw for 225 yards and three touchdowns, leading Oklahoma (No. 9 AFCA, No. 10 AP) to a 51-0 win over UTEP in the season opener for both teams on Friday night at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
Mateer completed 11-of-17 passes, connecting with Rocky Beers (40 yards), Isaiah Sategna III (34 yards) and Trell Harris (48 yards) for scores, before giving way to second-stringer Whitt Newbauer late in the third quarter.
Sategna added an 88-yard punt return for a touchdown for the Sooners, who posted their 10th consecutive season-opening win. Sategna had a big night with 215 all-purpose yards — 76 receiving, 115 on punt returns and 24 on kick returns.
OU compiled 401 yards of offense, including 170 on the ground as Lloyd Avant scampered for 79 yards and a TD.
“I give a ton of credit to OU; it’s a really good football team. I think watching them on tape and then seeing them live in person, they’re a better version of what they were last year; they’ll be a force. Kudos to Coach Venables. I have a lot of respect for that football team. I thought Oklahoma played with class and want to give a big shout-out to that,” third-year UTEP head coach Scotty Walden said. “I thought at times we moved the ball well. I thought our coaches had a great scheme. I thought our kids fought and competed, but it will be a big week to clean it up.”
The Miners trailed 27-0 at halftime but had their highlights, particularly offensively as they crossed midfield on three of five drives while yielding just one sack to the Sooners’ high-powered defensive front. Two of the drives ended deep in Sooner territory but resulted in missed field goals from 33 and 50 yards.
OU thwarted a couple more UTEP scoring opportunities in the fourth quarter. A 51-yard run by backup quarterback Raymond Moore III gave the Miners a first down at the OU 24, but he fumbled on the ensuing play and the Sooners recovered at their own 31. Later, UTEP took possession at the OU 18-yard line following a fumble by Andy Bass that was forced by Derek Burns and recovered by Adarius Hutchinson. But UTEP was pushed back and couldn’t cash in on a 41-yard field goal try.
Making his UTEP debut, EJ Colson Jr. completed 6-of-12 passes for 52 yards. The Miners found success in the ground game led by Moore III (nine carries - 49 yards) and El Paso native Tavorus Jones, who rushed five times for 24 yards with a long of 23. UTEP finished with 198 yards of offense, 112 rushing
Safety Donavan Howard led the UTEP defense with six tackles, while Burns picked up a sack. Burns was also responsible for two of the Miners’ five tackles for losses.
The Sooners had four sacks and 10 tackles for losses.
It was the first meeting between the teams since 2022. The Sooners moved to 6-0 all-time against the Miners, including 5-0 in Norman.
UP NEXT
The Miners return to the Sun Bowl to take on Texas Southern in the home opener next Saturday (Sept. 12) at 7 pm, sponsored by GECU. It’s “Heritage Night,” and the first 10,000 fans will receive a free black T-shirt as the Miners will wear their black Texas Western uniforms. Make it a “Day with the Miners” and attend the volleyball team’s match against UC San Diego at 3 pm. Then come tailgate at Paydirt Pete’s Pregame Party Zone Presented by Bud Light, open to all fans on Glory Field beginning at 4 pm. Fans can also enjoy a spectacular postgame fireworks show.
Tickets are available starting at $20 by visiting www.utepminers.com/tickets, by calling 915.747.UTEP, emailing tickets@utep.edu or by visiting the Eisenberg Family Ticket Office (500 W. University Ave., 79968). Football/volleyball combo packs are also available for $26. The football game can also be heard on 95.5 FM KLAQ and will be streamed on MW+ (to sign up, visit https://watch.themw.com/utep/).
