Oklahoma football: OU's 5 best season openers since 2000

Oklahoma football: OU’s 5 best season openers since 2000

NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 01: Quarterback Kyler Murray #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners looks to throw against the Florida Atlantic Owls at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners defeated the Owls 63-14. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

A 56-7 win over UTEP, 2017

Baker Mayfield kicked off what would end up being a Heisman-winning season with a Heisman-worthy performance in the Sooners’ 56-7 victory over UTEP.

Mayfield torched the Miners to the tune of 19-of-20 passing for 329 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, then in a sign of things to come, backup Kyler Murray came in and competed 10-of-11 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown. Even third-string Tanner Schafer got in on the action with a 3-for-5 day for 18 yards.

All in all Sooner quarterbacks went 32-of-36 for 496 yards, four scores and no picks.

The defense played one of its better games as well. After allowing a touchdown on the opening drive the Sooners put the clamps on the Miners, holding them to just 94 yards passing and 73 yards rushing.

With Ohio State coming up the next week the Sooners were able to rest starters and stay on the first couple of pages of the playbook, setting the stage for a huge win over the Buckeyes in Columbus.

Oklahoma would go on to the College Football Playoff for the second time in three years before falling in a double-overtime heartbreaker to Georgia that Sooner fans would still rather not talk about.

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