Preseason predictions, after a whole offseason of them, are finally over, and now it's time for game-specific predictions for the Oklahoma Sooners, including the score and what helped it get to that count.
The Sooners enter Year 5 under Brent Venables and open their 2026 college football season against UTEP at 7 p.m. CT Friday at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. It's expected to be a massacre against what should by far be the weakest foe on OU's loaded schedule.
Here's predicting just how much things will get out of hand and what else could happen in those 60 minutes:
John Mateer scores via ground and air
This wouldn't have been a very bold prediction the first four weeks of last season before quarterback John Mateer broke the thumb on his throwing hand. He started his OU career by notching both a passing and rushing TD in his first four games as a Sooner. In his debut against FCS Illinois State, he tossed three touchdowns and rushed for another while breaking Baker Mayfield's record for most passing yards (392) in an OU debut.
UTEP isn't much different than Illinois State, while Mateer should be much improved with a lot more weapons around him and now built like a tank that should plow over defenders. Offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle won't run Mayfield a lot to keep him healthy, but still enough.
Mayfield will start 2026 like he did 2025, scoring in multiple ways. Better yet, if I really wanted to get bold, I think the Sooners' first points of the season will be a Mateer rushing TD.
Isaiah Sategna III has at least one catch of 40+ yards
Returning top receiver Isaiah Sategna will break away at least once Friday night, if not more, for a 40-plus yard gain. He’s just too fast, and UTEP’s defenders are, well, not fast. The Sooners won’t even try anything special to get Sategna some space. It’ll just be as simple as Sategna taking a short pass over the middle and taking off with it or blowing past the secondary.
Yes, it’s against UTEP, but this should be a confidence booster for OU fans, because the Sooners need more explosive plays in 2026 as bad as Lane Kiffin needs drama to sleep at night.
Elijah Thomas catches first career TD
Friday night will be wide receiver Elijah Thomas' first real chance to show what he can do, and he should get a lot of time to show off. After two offseasons of hype, Thomas will likely get his first career start since Parker Livingstone is expected to be unavailable while in concussion protocol since last week.
I'm not calling Thomas to fully break out immediately, and Sategna and maybe even Virginia transfer Trell Harris could still put up better numbers than him, but he'll make his presence known. Since it's his first real action at receiver, Thomas should also be left out there longer than the others, even during a blowout, which means more opportunities to catch a TD pass, even from Whitt Newbauer or Bowe Bentley late in the game.
Final score prediction: Oklahoma 55, UTEP 3
Expect the unexpected in college football, but probably not Friday night on Owen Field. The Sooners will beat UTEP with ease while being more worried about staying healthy and ironing out wrinkles before their trip to No. 16 Michigan next week.
No Group of 6 opponent or lower ever got into the end zone last year against Venables' defense. That trend continues into 2026. The Sooners' offense should also be immensely better, so they put more points on the board than they ever did last season.
The only thing that could slow the Sooners down or keep them from covering that 41.5-point spread, per FanDuel, is that they might pull the reigns back early to make sure everyone is healthy and ready to take on the Wolverines.
Add us as a preferred source on Google