Texas is the Sooners' reminder not to overlook UTEP in season opener

Oklahoma could easily overlook UTEP and still step right over the Miners on its way to play No. 16 Michigan in Ann Arbor the next week, but OU head coach Brent Venables was reminded that Texas is an example of why the Sooners still need to give UTEP the time of day.

The Sooners open their season at 7 p.m. CT Friday in Norman against what is by far the easiest opponent on their loaded schedule. It's a glorified scrimmage that will still go on the record before a meaningful non-conference game against the Wolverines. The Miners, though, were also supposed to be the weakest opponent on Texas' schedule last season, but still didn't go down that easy.

Brent Venables reminds his players that UTEP can still threaten Oklahoma's bigger goals

"They went down to Austin last year, as I told our team, these guys are coming in here, they're not coming in here with any other mindset other than to fight their butts off and have an opportunity to hit you in the mouth, and (I) really expect that," Venables said during his weekly press conference.

The Longhorns ultimately beat UTEP 27-10 Week 3 of last season after entering the matchup by as much as 40.5-point favorites. It was a halftime score that caught college football fans' attention and had many flipping the channel when the Miners trailed just 14-3 at the break in Austin.

UTEP really held the Longhorns in check all game before just running out of talent and juice to ever get ahead. The Miners finally reached the end zone on a short touchdown run with 1:57 left in the fourth quarter, but by then, it was obviously in hand.

In UTEP's defense, the Longhorns' defense kept the Sooners out of the end zone all game last season when they met in the Red River Rivalry, and Texas could only get a field goal in the third quarter against the Miners.

Before that, Texas needed two rushing touchdowns from quarterback Arch Manning to get on the board in the first half, as the Longhorns couldn't get anything going through the air. Manning's second score came with just one second left on the clock, or else it would have been 7-3 at the half.

Texas had just 114 passing yards as Manning's Heisman Trophy dreams were dashed and the Longhorns were forced to rely on their run game with a whopping 56 attempts for 226 yards. The Longhorns also benefited from averaging 61.8 yards on three kickoff returns, which was an underrated factor in the game not being dangerously close near the end. It was not a day Texas could march down a long field.

After that early performance, it was surprising UTEP would go on to finish the season at 2-10 with a soft Conference USA schedule. The Longhorns went 9-3 and fell just short of the College Football Playoff.

The lesson learned is that even in the era of all the cream rising to the top through the transfer portal and NIL, no one can be overlooked. Now, even on a day like Texas had, the Sooners still won't lose to UTEP barring a miracle and one of the biggest upsets in college football history, but OU has more to accomplish than just getting a win Friday night.

The mission is to put the game away early so starters can rest and be 100% for the trip to Michigan, while also giving depth pieces experience that will be needed later on. There's no need for OU fans to stress about a loss on Friday night, but it could create worry for Week 2 if Oklahoma doesn't take care of business as a 41.5-point favorite with bigger fish to fry.

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