Tag: 2022 Week 1

The calm before the storm, it’s finally time for Oklahoma Sooners Football

The new chapter of Oklahoma Sooners Football finally begins today.

It’s finally time. No more preseason rankings. No more talking heads ranking the new head coaching hires. No more college football playoff expansion. No more offseason hype videos. Finally. It is time for Oklahoma football once again.

It has been 271 days since Brent Venables landed in Norman, 279 days since the former head coach deaparted and 248 days since the Sooners last took the field in San Antonio for the Alamo Bowl against Oregon.

The team that wil be wearing the crimson and cream this afternoon will be very different than that squad.

The leading rusher Kennedy Brooks is gone. Both starting quarterbacks departed for USCs on opposite sides of the country. The defense will utilize an entirely different scheme, as will the offense.

The Brent Venables era will officially begin today. I’ve long said that, despite his phenomenal resume, Venables needs to prove he can be the guy in charge on Saturdays.

Since being brought in, Venables has completely changed the culture around Oklahoma football. The coaches feel it and so do the players. How will that change affect how the team plays on Saturdays? Well, it’s time to find out.

A year ago, Oklahoma played Tulane in Norman after a hurricane pushed the game out of New Orleans. The then No. 2 ranked Sooners struggled in the second half against the inferior Green Wave, limping to a 40-35 win. That score would become a theme for the season. The only teams Oklahoma beat by more than a score were TCU and Texas Tech: both of which had recently fired their head coaches.

If the Sooners have similar issues against UTEP today, something went horribly wrong. It’s really that simple. After all of the talk of how different this program is now, it’s time to show it. UTEP has no business hanging around in this football game.

Today marks the real beginning of a new era for Oklahoma football. It’s time for the Sooners to retake their spot among college football’s elite.

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The calm before the storm, it’s finally time for Oklahoma Sooners Football

The new chapter of Oklahoma Sooners Football finally begins today.

It’s finally time. No more preseason rankings. No more talking heads ranking the new head coaching hires. No more college football playoff expansion. No more offseason hype videos. Finally. It is time for Oklahoma football once again.

It has been 271 days since Brent Venables landed in Norman, 279 days since the former head coach deaparted and 248 days since the Sooners last took the field in San Antonio for the Alamo Bowl against Oregon.

The team that wil be wearing the crimson and cream this afternoon will be very different than that squad.

The leading rusher Kennedy Brooks is gone. Both starting quarterbacks departed for USCs on opposite sides of the country. The defense will utilize an entirely different scheme, as will the offense.

The Brent Venables era will officially begin today. I’ve long said that, despite his phenomenal resume, Venables needs to prove he can be the guy in charge on Saturdays.

Since being brought in, Venables has completely changed the culture around Oklahoma football. The coaches feel it and so do the players. How will that change affect how the team plays on Saturdays? Well, it’s time to find out.

A year ago, Oklahoma played Tulane in Norman after a hurricane pushed the game out of New Orleans. The then No. 2 ranked Sooners struggled in the second half against the inferior Green Wave, limping to a 40-35 win. That score would become a theme for the season. The only teams Oklahoma beat by more than a score were TCU and Texas Tech: both of which had recently fired their head coaches.

If the Sooners have similar issues against UTEP today, something went horribly wrong. It’s really that simple. After all of the talk of how different this program is now, it’s time to show it. UTEP has no business hanging around in this football game.

Today marks the real beginning of a new era for Oklahoma football. It’s time for the Sooners to retake their spot among college football’s elite.

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Best photos from the last two matchups between Oklahoma and UTEP

A look back at the most recent matchups between the Oklahoma Sooners and UTEP Miners in fantastic photos.

The Oklahoma Sooners are 4-0 all time against the UTEP Miners. In those four wins, the Sooners have averaged 50.75 points per game with an average margin of victory of 43.75 points.

The last time the Sooners played the Miners was in 2017. That was also a season opener and it also featured a first-time head coach making his debut with the Oklahoma Sooners; Lincoln Riley.

The Sooners won that game 56-7 and it featured Baker Mayfield making the start and Kyler Murray coming in later in the game. Mayfield was 19 of 20 and threw for 329 yards and three touchdowns to kick start his Heisman campaign. Murray was 10 of 11 for 149 yards and a touchdown as the Sooners rolled to victory.

Now, Brent Venables turns the page on a new chapter of Oklahoma football, making his debut against UTEP as well. Will the Sooners repeat history against the Miners with another blow out win? Or will it be like the 2012 game that was a win, but nearly as big a margin of victory in the Sooners 24-7 win down in El Paso.

We’ll find out on Saturday.

Until then, enjoy some of the best photos of Oklahoma’s last two performances against the Miners.

3 UTEP Miners that could cause problems for the Oklahoma Sooners

UTEP has some playmakers on both sides of the ball that could give Oklahoma fits if they aren’t careful.

Oklahoma finally straps up their pads on Saturday to take on a UTEP Miners team coming in off a 31-13 week zero loss to North Texas.

UTEP struggled to compete in the second half, allowing UNT to score 17 unanswered points and unable to do anything offensively in the second half.

That won’t work if they plan to remain competitive against Brent Venables’ Sooners. A team who comes in with the added juice of playing for a first-year coach. Add that to the fact that the Palace on the Prairie will be rocking, and things could snowball fast for UTEP.

Oklahoma can’t take UTEP for granted, or they will find themselves in a second-half dog fight like OU did this time last year with Tulane. The talent level may not be up to Big 12 standards, but UTEP has some pieces that could make life difficult for the Sooners.

Up Next: An Explosive Wide Receiver

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Oklahoma Sooners vs. UTEP Miners: Sooners Wire staff predictions

Sooners Wire staff predicts the Oklahoma Sooners’ Week 1 matchup vs. the UTEP Miners.

The Oklahoma Sooners open the season with the UTEP Miners coming to town for Week 1. It should be a raucous environment to kick off the Brent Venables era.

If the Sooners’ spring game attendance record of 75,000 is any indication, fans of the program are itching to get things underway in the first year for Venables.

Each week on Sooners Wire, we’ll give you our predictions for the Oklahoma Sooners’ matchup.

You can also check out our thoughts on how the 2022 season will play out for the Sooners.

Sooners Wire staff predictions for OU vs. UTEP

Take a deep breath, Sooner fans. We made it.

After an offseason none of us saw coming this time last year, Oklahoma football is back. This time last year, as the Sooners prepared for Tulane, we talked about Spencer Rattler as a Heisman hopeful, and OU fighting for the College Football Playoff.

Neither materialized, and Lincoln Riley left for USC, which allowed Brent Venables to come back as head coach.

His first game is against UTEP, and the energy in Norman should be electric. Venables brings his incredible national championship-winning caliber defensive approach with him, and Jeff Lebby is bringing the tempo back on offense. The Sooners should cruise, but how this team comes together on Saturday will be something to watch.

New starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel lights up the scoreboard before departing sometime early in the third quarter. Two touchdown passes for him combined with rushing touchdowns by Eric Gray and Marcus Major. Defensively, I see three OU takeaways. One by Billy Bowman, my breakout player of 2022 for OU.

Oklahoma 48, UTEP 13

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Up Next: More Sooners Wire Staff Predictions

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Big 12 Predictions for Week 1: Backyard Brawl takes center stage

The Backyard Brawl returns, providing a marquee matchup between West Virginia and Pitt at the top of the Big 12 schedule for Week 1.

It’s game day for the Big 12 as two teams get their seasons underway with some Thursday night football action. Not only will we get two Big 12 contests tonight, but we’ll also get games on Friday as well. A solid three days of Big 12 action.

There aren’t many great games this week. Only two games feature Power Five matchups. West Virginia goes on the road to renew its Backyard Brawl rivalry with Pittsburgh, and TCU takes on Colorado in what could be a preview of a future conference matchup.

There’s a lot to watch for as several teams break in new coaches or quarterbacks, providing intrigue to the start of the 2022 season for the Big 12.

Each week, we’ll take a walk through the Big 12 schedule and predict each game.

Versatility gives DaShaun White an opportunity to shine as Sooners’ ‘Cheetah’

Moving from WILL linebacker, DaShaun White has the versatility to be productive as the Sooners’ “Cheetah” in Oklahoma’s defense.

A new defensive scheme brings new deployments to the Oklahoma Sooners. Unlike the 3-3-5 of the Alex Grinch era, Brent Venables runs more of a traditional 4-3 defense in base packages.

To combat the passing and spread evolution that’s occurred in college football over the last 20 years, teams are looking for versatile athletes to play hybrid positions on defense. For Brent Venables, his answer has been the development of the “Cheetah” position in his defense.

The player in recent years that’s best displayed the versatility that the “Cheetah” requires is former Clemson star, Isaiah Simmons.

The “Cheetah” serves as a hybrid between a linebacker, slot cornerback, and safety. A player that can provide support in the running game and be a difference maker in coverage. They can also rush the passer when called upon. Not only does a player have to have the requisite athleticism to cover a variety of pass catchers and be effective in the running game, but they also have to have the football IQ to understand his responsibilities at a variety of positions within the defense.

The “Cheetah” will line up all over the field, and that’s what the Oklahoma Sooners are asking of senior linebacker DaShaun White. White, who was also elected captain for the week one matchup against UTEP, made the move from WILL linebacker over to Cheetah, and Oklahoma defensive coordinator Ted Roof spoke on how he feels White will fit in there at Cheetah.

“Well, it starts with the versatility, the ability to play coverage and at the same time be physical enough to get in the box and be efficient in there,” Roof said during media availability on Monday. “So, [it’s] a lot of versatility there when you start looking at the overall skill set and job description of that position. And that’s where it starts. So, that’s where we are. But DaShaun’s had a great camp, has adjusted really well because, you know, he was playing WILL earlier in camp, and we moved him to the Cheetah position. But he still has the ability to play WILL as well.”

While [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] and [autotag]David Ugwoegbu[/autotag] will man the Sooners’ traditional linebacker spots, White’s ability to play “Cheetah” allows the Sooners to keep three linebackers on the field in a lot of situations. Even when teams go with three or more wide receivers, Oklahoma won’t give up anything in the running game because of White’s ability to play the run.

Changing positions in the middle of fall camp can provide a challenge, but White’s experience as a three-year starter in the Sooners’ defense provides him the opportunity to find success because of his versatility. He’s seen a lot in his time with the Sooners, and that experience will help White thrive in his new position.

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‘Loves to compete’: Jalil Farooq slated to start for the Oklahoma Sooners

After providing a glimpse of his ability in the Alamo Bowl, Jalil Farooq is set to make the first start of his career against the UTEP Miners.

In the aftermath of the 2021 season, the Oklahoma Sooners lost the top four players in receptions. [autotag]Michael Woods[/autotag] and [autotag]Jeremiah Hall[/autotag] left for the NFL, while [autotag]Jadon Haselwood[/autotag] and [autotag]Mario Williams[/autotag] found new opportunities via the transfer portal.

But that doesn’t mean the Oklahoma Sooners don’t have talent in their wide receiver room. Oklahoma brings back its leader in receiving yards from the last two seasons, [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag]. Mims was underutilized by the previous coaching staff, especially in the second half of the season.

Returning to the field after missing nearly all of 2021 is the guy that tied with Mims for the team lead in receptions in 2020, [autotag]Theo Wease[/autotag]. Wease brings back his dynamic yards after the catch ability that helps turn short receptions into big gains.

But the receiving talent doesn’t stop there.

One of the big takeaways from the Oklahoma Sooners Alamo Bowl win over Oregon was the performance of [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag]. Farooq, who had played sparingly during his freshman season, had a memorable performance that provided a glimpse of his future with the Sooners.

Against the Ducks, Farooq had three receptions for 64 yards, including a total of 48 yards after the catch.

He’s carried that over into a fabulous spring and fall camp and has earned an opportunity to start for the Sooners in Week 1 vs. UTEP.

“I think the thing with ‘Lil, man, is he’s continued to mature, one,” Lebby said in his week on media availability. “He’s been the same guy in the building every single day. He’s got this huge future, and I think he’s just now starting to figure it out. And the guy loves to compete. He loves to play football. And, to me, he’s shown what we’re all about as a unit, as a team. He’s worked incredibly hard. He’s been the same guy. He’s been accountable. He’s been dependable. He’s been tough. And so those things have put him in a position to go do some fun things this fall.”

And this is part of the fun that Farooq provides on the field. His speed and ability to break tackles in the open field give Oklahoma another playmaker in the passing game.

A trio of Theo Wease, Marvin Mims and Jalil Farooq are going to put a lot of pressure on opposing secondaries. While Mims and Wease are more established names, it will not be long before defenses will have to account for Farooq as well. And that will open things up even more for the Sooners’ passing attack.

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Oklahoma Sooners name captains for season opener vs. UTEP

The Oklahoma Sooners named five captains ahead of their Week 1 matchup with the UTEP Miners.

On Monday, the Oklahoma Sooners checked off several items on their game week agenda, culminating in the release of their captains to open the 2022 season against UTEP.

[autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag], [autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag], [autotag]DaShaun White[/autotag], [autotag]David Ugwoegbu[/autotag] and [autotag]Justin Broiles[/autotag] will serve as captains in Week 1.

During fall camp, [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] shared how the Sooners would go about picking their captains for the season opener.

“I believe in promoting older guys who have been here,” Venables said. “They’ve paid a price. It means a little more something to them. Being a senior should be a big deal. Needs to be a big deal. We’re going to honor that and recognize that.”

Venables added during his coaches show on Monday night that the Sooners will elect captains each week.

Transferring in from UCF, Dillon Gabriel has been one of the highlights of the offseason. His teammates and coaches have raved about his leadership and work ethic. He’s worked diligently to build relationships with his offensive teammates, taking the pass catchers and offensive linemen on separate retreats. The unquestioned starter for the Oklahoma Sooners, Gabriel looks to build upon a productive career at UCF for OU.

One of the leaders on this team for more than a year, Brayden Willis, looks to be on the verge of a breakout season. The starting tight end in Oklahoma’s depth chart release, Willis has the size and the athleticism to be a game-changer for Oklahoma’s offense. He has played in 35 games since 2018, posting career bests in the passing game as part of a H-back rotation in 2021.

DaShaun White is one of the more experienced players on this team heading into 2022. He’s played in 41 games over four seasons and 36 games as a three-year starter for the Sooners. Now set to unveil the cheetah position in Brent Venables’ defense, White’s leadership and experience will help a Sooners’ defense that is breaking in eight new starters on defense.

Like White, David Ugwoegbu is one of the more experienced players on the defense. Though he hasn’t started as much at linebacker, he’s played in 33 games for the Oklahoma Sooners. After a fantastic offseason in Jerry Schmidt’s strength and conditioning program, Ugwoegbu looks primed for a breakout season at mike linebacker.

Not to be overlooked is senior safety Justin Broiles, who was listed on the initial depth chart as an option to start along with Key Lawrence. But even if Broiles doesn’t start, he’ll find ways to make an impact on the field, namely on special teams. Only Patrick Fields played more snaps than Broiles for Oklahoma’s defense in 2021. He’s an important member of the special teams’ units as well, playing on each unit in 2021.

Depth chart? Check. Media availability? Check. Captains released? Check. Coach’s show? Check.

Looks like it’s time to play some football.

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Oklahoma Sooners open the season as heavy favorite over UTEP Miners

As game week gets underway, here’s a look at the opening lines for Oklahoma’s matchup with UTEP courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook.

With week zero in the books, it’s time to turn our attention to game week for the Oklahoma Sooners as they prepare to welcome the UTEP Miners to Norman.

UTEP is coming off of a disappointing week zero loss to the University of North Texas. It was a 14-13 game at halftime as the two sides rallied from a scoreless first quarter to put some points on the board in the second.

After UTEP kicked a field goal to close the first half, UNT scored 17 unanswered points to pull away from the Miners to take the early-season Conference USA matchup.

The Sooners will welcome a UTEP team hoping to bounce back from a disappointing second half to perform better in Norman. However, as the early-week point spread indicates, UTEP may not provide much of a challenge.

The Oklahoma Sooners begin their first game week of the Brent Venables era with something to prove, and UTEP provides the right opportunity to make their first statement of the season. The Sooners open up as 31.5-point favorites. There’s little doubt that Oklahoma will win the game, and though it’s a big spread, the Sooners offense will provide an explosive opening week, which should give OU a chance to cover the spread in Venables’ first game as the head coach.

As the Sooners begin game week, let’s take a look at the opening lines.

The lines, courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook

  • Point spread: Oklahoma -31.5
  • Money line: Oklahoma -10000, UTEP +1500
  • Over-under: 56.5

Click here to place your bets at Tipico Sportsbook.

Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.

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