UTEP Opens 2026 at #10/9 Oklahoma Under the Friday Night Lights

9/3/2026 8:45:00 AM

UTEP NOTES | OU NOTES | MW NOTES

EL PASO – UTEP football opens its 109^th season at national power No. 10/9 Oklahoma on Friday night at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman on Friday, Sept. 4. The Miners and Sooners are scheduled for a 6 p.m. MDT/7 CT kickoff and will be streamed on SEC Network+. UTEP is opening at its second Power Four opponent in three years. The 2026 campaign also marks the first as a Mountain West school.

Fans can listen to the Miners and Sooners on 95.5 KLAQ with "The Voice of the UTEP Miners," Jon Teicher, returns for his 46th season calling the action for the Orange and Blue. Former UTEP football coach Aaron Price joins "Teich" in the booth, while Mando Medina will roam the sidelines.

The Miners last played in Norman on Sept. 3, 2022, while making their fifth trip overall.

New UTEP quarterback EJ Colson Jr., a transfer from UIW, is a dual-threat for third-year UTEP head coach Scotty Walden's "Blue Blaze" offense. Colson Jr. was especially efficient in the air, completing over 70 percent of his passes in 10 starts in 2025. He passed for 16 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Colson Jr. got it done on the ground, rushing for 287 yards and three scores. Colson made his first collegiate start in 2024 while playing at UCF.

Colson Jr. will have multiple targets, with 6-2 wide receiver Carver Cheeks transferring and joining his brother, 6-7 tight end Cash Cheeks. Cash will see his first action since appearing in 11 games at Northern Colorado in 2024. Carver hauled in 71 receptions for 929 yards and seven total touchdowns (six rec., one rush) in 2025 at Northern Colorado. Senior wide receiver Jaden Smith will take the field for the first time since 2024, when he appeared in four games. Senior Miner back Kam Thomas will play in his first game since starting the season opener at Utah State last year.

Defensively, the "Orange Swarm" defense returns multiple veterans. Junior defensive tackle Ashton Coker, junior cornerback Justin Content, and redshirt senior Xavier Smith will don the Orange and Blue for a third consecutive season. Senior linebacker Jayden Wilson will be in his second season. The El Paso native was a menace, racking up 92 tackles and three forced fumbles. He played in all 12 games, starting the last nine. Another 915 product, Shay Smith, made the switch to linebacker after playing quarterback in the last two seasons.

The Sooners, coming off their 43^rd 10-win season, have six defensive players returning for 2026 who made at least six starts in 2025 – senior defensive end Taylor Wein, junior nose tackle Jayden Jackson, fifth-year linebacker Kip Lewis, senior safety Peyton Bowen, junior cornerback Eli Bowen and sophomore cornerback Courtland Guillory.

On offense, fifth-year quarterback John Mateer will be under center for fifth-year head coach Brent Venables. Mateer completed over 62 percent of his passes for 2,885 yards and 14 touchdowns. Mateer threw 11 interceptions, but rushed for 431 yards and eight touchdowns in his first season as a Sooner.

"[Oklahoma] had one of the top defenses in the country last year, the top rushing defense last year, number one in sacks, and were third in TFLs. The core is what you've got to stop. They get after the quarterback with simulated pressure. They don't have to bring six or bring seven to get home. They're very talented up front. They can rush four and can give you the illusion, or the simulation, that they're going to bring more, and make you set your protection one way, and they're bringing from another," Walden said. "So we have to do a great job in preparation to have a great concrete plan for our kids. But it all starts up front with that defensive line. I haven't looked at what Michigan has this year. But I can't imagine we'll see a better D-line this year. This D-line [OU] is playoff-caliber, national championship-caliber. The linebackers run, and they hit. The DBs cover really well. And then offense, [WR] Isaiah Sategna III, we got to know where he's at. He's one of the most explosive playmakers in the country. They're very physical up front. We're going to have to do a fantastic job of handling the trenches."

UTEP (0-0, 0-0) vs. #10/9 Oklahoma (0-0, 0-0)
Date: Friday, Sept. 4
Time: 6 p.m. MDT/7 CT
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
Venue: Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (83,489)
X Updated: @UTEPFB

STREAM: SEC Network+
PxP: Ted Emrich
Analyst: Fozzy Whittaker
Sideline: Maria Martin

Radio: 95.5 FM KLAQ
PxP: Jon Teicher
Analyst: Aaron Price
Sideline: Mando Medina

WHERE TO WATCH & LISTEN
The Miners and Sooners will be televised on the SEC Network+ with Ted Emrich and Fozzy Whittaker on the call and Maria Martin on the sideline. The action will be on 95.5 FM KLAQ with "The Voice of the UTEP Miners" Jon Teicher, calling play-by-play in his 46th season. 'Teich', who called his 500^th game on Oct. 11, 2023, at FIU, is joined in the booth by former UTEP assistant coach Aaron Price for analysis. El Paso native and longtime member of the local media, Mando Medina, will report from the sidelines. The contest can also be heard on the UTEP Miners app.

SERIES VS. OKLAHOMA
The Miners are 0-5 against the Sooners. UTEP last played Oklahoma on Sept. 3, 2022, with the Sooners coming out on top, 45-13. Oklahoma jumped out to a 21-0 lead before the Miners got within 11 points (21-10) following K Gavin Baechle's 48-yard field goal to start the second quarter and a RB Ronald Awatt two-yard touchdown rush with 8:18 left in the first half. QB Garvin Hardison finished 26-of-43 for 244 yards and WR/RB Reynaldo Flores led UTEP with 76 yards on seven receptions, while WR Tyrin Smith paced the Miners with eight catches for 71 yards. DB Justin Princetallied 10 tackles while LB Tyrice Knight had nine stops. It was OU head coach Brent Venables's first collegiate game at the helm. UTEP will face OU for the fifth time in Norman. UTEP first faced OU on Sept. 2, 2000.

ABOUT NO. 10/9 OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables, in his fifth season at the helm, saw seven Sooners selected in the 2026 NFL Draft in April. Venables's elite defensive unit ranked sixth nationally in total defense (272.5 yards per game) following a trip to the College Football Playoff and a 10-3 overall record. In 2026, OU returns multiple student-athletes on defense: junior DT David Stone (42 tackles, 8.0 TFL in 2025), redshirt junior LB Kip Lewis (38 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 5.0 sacks), senior S Peyton Bowen (47 tackles, 2 INT), and sophomore CB Courtland Guillory (41 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 7 PD). On offense, redshirt senior John Mateer returns as OU's starting quarterback. Mateer threw for 2,885 yards and 14 touchdowns in his first season as a Sooner. The Washington State transfer has thrown for 6,291 yards, 46 touchdowns and 19 interceptions in his collegiate career. Mateer has completed 247-of-397 attempts (63.7 percent) in 36 career games. Junior Xavier Robinson is expected to be OU's primary running back. Robinson hit 100+ rushing yards against Tennessee and Ole Miss in 2025. Robinson enters Friday's contest with 654 yards on 132 carries (5.0 avg.) and nine total touchdowns (eight rush, one rec.) in 19 career games at OU. Venables will face UTEP for a second time in his career after commencing his collegiate coaching career against the Miners on Sept. 3, 2022. Venables is 32-20 overall in his career, including 0-4 in postseason action.

VERSUS AP TOP 25
The Miners are 4-61, including 1-41 on the road. UTEP last faced a ranked team in 2025 at No. 7 Texas. UTEP last beat a ranked opponent on Oct. 3, 2009, in a 58-41 win over No. 12 Houston in the Sun Bowl. The last road win against a ranked opponent was on Nov. 2, 1974, in a 31-27 victory at No. 14 Arizona State.

VERSUS SEC
UTEP is 1-12 versus Southeastern Conference teams all-time. The Miners defeated Olde Miss in the 1967 Sun Bowl.

FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
For the first time in program history, UTEP will begin the season on a Friday. It is the first of two scheduled Friday games this year, with the Miners set to play at Oklahoma and later in the season at Air Force. That last happened in 2006 with the Orange and Blue competing at Tulsa (10/27/06) and at UAB (11/10/06). The last time the Miners had a Friday night contest was in a convincing 27-10 victory against Boise State (9/23/22) four years ago. It is the initial Friday night road game since 2021 (lost at UAB, 42-25, 11/26/21).

TURNING THE CALENDAR TO SEPTEMBER
After five straight seasons of beginning the season in the month of August, UTEP kicks off the 2026 campaign in a more traditional month with the Sept. 4 matchup at Oklahoma. The last time it happened was in 2020 when the Miners welcomed Stephen F. Austin (9/5/20) to the Sun Bowl.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN
UTEP will begin the year on the road for the fourth straight season, something that hasn't happened since a four-year stretch (2003-06) 20 years ago. The Miners have fallen the past three times they started things off on the road, but they did blast I-10 rival NM State, 30-3, in the campaign lid lifter in 2021. Coincidentally, of the prior four road matchups with Oklahoma, two (2000, 2017) have come in the first game of the year.

TOUGH SLATE EARLY
UTEP is playing two of its first three games on the road for the fourth consecutive campaign. The Miners hadn't endured a stretch of that nature since an eight-year sequence spanning 1995 through 2002. Furthermore, two of the initial three matchups are against Power Four programs (at Oklahoma, at Michigan). The last time UTEP locked up with multiple Power Four opponents within the first three contests was in 2017. That year the Miners started the season at OU, returned home to play host to CUSA member Rice before hitting the road to lock up at Arizona in the then Pac-12.

STARTING AT A POWER PROGRAM
For the second time under head coach Scotty Walden, UTEP will begin the season on the road against a Power Four program. The Miners also did so at Nebraska in 2024. The Orange and Blue haven't kicked off the season at a Power Four program twice in a three-year span since playing at Arkansas (2015) and at Oklahoma (2017).

NEW LOOK UNDER CENTER
EJ Colson Jr. is poised to make his UTEP QB debut at Oklahoma. It will mark the third time in as many years that the Miners will have a newcomer under center to begin the campaign. Skyler Locklear earned the nod in 2024 while Malachi Nelson received the call in 2025. Colson, who started 10 games last year while starring for UIW, is poised to have his second start at QB at the FBS level. He started for UCF against Cincinnati in 2024, completing 1-of-4 passes while also rushing a trio of times.

MORE ON COLSON JR.
Colson Jr. was named to the 2025 All-Southland Conference second team after throwing for 2,142 yards on 210-of-296 passing (70.9 percent). He passed for 16 touchdowns with only four interceptions, while gaining 287 yards and three scores on the ground. Colson Jr.'s season-high in passing yards was 339 (29-45) with three total touchdowns (two pass, one rush) at UTRGV. He tossed a season-high three TDs on a pair of occasions (at UTSA, vs. Lamar). Colson Jr. rushed for a season-most 103 yards and two scores versus ACU.

PLAYMAKERS RETURNING ON DEFENSE
Seven returnees highlight the Orange Swarm: DL Shakaun Bowser (23 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks), DT Ashton Coker(25 tackles, 4.0 TFL, 1 QB hurry), CB Justin Content (58 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 1 INT, 6 BU), LB Garrett Hawkins (10 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 1 QB hurry in three games), S Kode Lowe (38 tackles, 4.0 TFL, FR, FF), S Xavier Smith (60 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 INT, 4 BU) and LB Jayden Wilson (second on team with 92 tackles, 8.0 TFL, 1 INT, 6 QB hurries, FR, 3 FF).

BOWSER BREAKDOWN
DL Shakaun Bowser, the defensive unit's 2025 Trench Warrior, played in 11 games, making four starts. He tallied 23 tackles with 3.0 tackles for loss (12 yards), 2.0 sacks, a fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry in his first season with the Miners. Bowser registered a season-high five tackles and had a fumble recovery against rival NM State. He recorded sacks against UT Martin and at Missouri State. Bowser is a transfer from Garden City CC where he played three seasons (2022-2024). He registered 35 tackles with 5.5 TFL and 1.5 sacks in 11 games played in 2024.

KEEPING UP WITH COKER
DT Ashton Coker returns for his third season with the Orange and Blue. Coker made nine starts in 11 games played as a sophomore. Coker recorded 25 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss and a hurry. He tallied a season-high five tackles with a 0.5 TFL against LA Tech. Coker registered three tackles and 2.0 TFLs in UTEP's win over UT Martin. Coker has three years of eligibility that includes this season.

COVERING CONTENT
CB Justin Content is another player on the Orange Swarm returning for his third season at UTEP. The junior played in all 12 games, making 11 starts. He was sixth on the team with 58 tackles and among the CUSA leaders in tackles by a cornerback. Content amassed a career-high 13 tackles and picked off his first career pass against LA Tech. Content has three years of eligibility, including this season.

BALL HAWK
LB Garrett Hawkins played the first three games in 2025 before missing the remainder of the season due to an injury. Before going down, Hawkins totaled five tackles with a hurry and half a TFL in a victory over UT Martin. Hawkins followed with five more stops at No. 7 Texas. Hawkins will be in his third season under Scotty Walden, as he saw action in 12 games at Austin Peay in 2023. Hawkins scored his first collegiate touchdown on a fumble return against ETSU in 2023. Hawkins was also named a defensive captain in 2026.

GET LOWE
S Kode Lowe, one of the Miners' captains on wefense, returns for his second season at UTEP. Lowe played in all 12 games with four starts in 2025. He totaled 38 tackles with 4.0 tackles for loss, a fumble recovery, a forced fumble, and a QB hurry. Lowe tallied a season-high eight tackles with 2.0 TFL against ULM. Lowe concluded the campaign with seven stops and a fumble recovery at Delaware.

X MARKS THE SPOT
S Xavier Smith, a redshirt senior, returns for his third season at UTEP. Smith started all 10 games played and ranked fourth on the team with 60 tackles. He added 1.5 tackles for loss, four breakups, a hurry and an interception. Smith's first career pick as a Miner came at No. 7 Texas to go along with six tackles. Smith was credited with eight tackles against LA Tech and eight more against Jax State. Smith (20 starts) has the most starts on the Orange Swarm.

WILSON'S WAY
LB Jayden Wilson, a native of El Paso, returns for his second season at UTEP. Wilson emerged as one of the team's top linebackers in 2025, ranking second on the team with 92 tackles. Wilson played in all 12 games, starting the last nine. Wilson ranked tied second in CUSA with three forced fumbles. He added 8.0 tackles for loss, 0.5 sack, a fumble recovery, an interception, and six hurries. The senior has two years of eligibility, including this season.

KAM ON THE EARL CAMPBELL TYLER ROSE AWARD LIST
MB Kam Thomas was announced to the 2026 Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List on Aug. 24. Though Thomas played one game in 2025, his playmaking skills were vital in 2024 as he started in all nine games played. In his first season with the Miners, Thomas led the team with 200 yards on 10 punt returns, including a 93-yarder for a touchdown. Thomas was named to the 2024 All-Conference USA first team as a specialist. He led UTEP with 871 all-purpose yards and ranked fifth in CUSA in all-purpose yards per game (96.8). Thomas tied for the team lead with 47 receptions for 532 yards (11.3 avg.) and two scores. Against rival NM State, Thomas's efforts helped the Miners overcome a 24-7 deficit, returning a punt 93 yards for a touchdown. He added 90 yards on four catches, including a 69-yard reception that helped set up a touchdown against the Aggies. UTEP came back to win 42-35 in the season finale in Las Cruces. Thomas started the first game in 2025 at Utah State, but missed the remainder of the season due to an injury.

ALL-CONFERENCE TRANSFERS
The Miners added multiple transfers, highlighted by seven all-league performers from their respective conferences in 2025. LB Isaiah Bogerty (second team All-SWAC), WR Carver Cheeks (first team All-Big Sky), QB EJ Colson Jr.(second team All-Southland Conference), DL Elijah Fields (second team All-Southland Conference), S Donavan Howard ('25 second team All-CIAA, '24 first team), OL Jayden Trapp (second team All-Lone Star Conference) and Brian Williams Jr. (first team All-SWAC).

BOGERTY BREAKING THROUGH
LB Isaiah Bogerty comes to UTEP after playing in 31 career games at Texas Southern. He notched 187 career tackles (84 solo) with 8.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and two passes defended in four seasons.

CARVING UP THE DEFENSE
Carver Cheeks, a 6-2, 192-pound WR, played in 30 career games at Northern Colorado (2023-25). Cheeks totaled 1,284 yards on 91 receptions and nine touchdown the last two years at UNC. In 2025, he hauled in 71 receptions for 929 yards and six scores and added a rushing touchdown. Cheeks set career highs in receiving yards (223), receptions (nine), long catch (75 yards) and receiving scores (three) at Sacramento State.

FIELDS WORKING THE GRIDIRON
DL Elijah Fields joins the Miners after playing in 30 games at SFA (2023-25). He recorded 65 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, a pass breakup and two forced fumbles during his career with the Jacks. Fields recorded a season-high five tackles with a TFL at Montana State.

DOMINANT DONAVAN
S Donavan Howard played in 20 career games at Virginia State (2022, 2024-25), being named All-CIAA twice – first team in 2024, second team in 2025. Howards recorded 65 tackles (41 solo), 3.0 TFL, four interceptions, 13 passes defended and a fumble recovery during his career with the Trojans. In 2025, Howards tallied 39 tackles, six breakups, two picks and returned a fumble for a touchdown.

TRAPPING DEFENDERS
OL Jayden Trapp, a 6-3, 294-pound guard, brings experience after playing in seven games at Texas A&M-Kingsville in 2025. TAMK excelled on offense, rushing for 26 touchdowns, while passing for 26 scores and 3,518 yards in the air.

BAM
OL Brian Williams Jr., listed at 6-2, 341 pounds, will take the reins at the center position for the Miners in 2026. Last season at Jackson State, Williams Jr. saw action in nine games, with nine starts.

SPEAKING OF THE O-LINE
UTEP's projected starting offensive line is comprised of: Omoruyi Aliu-Otokiti (6-4, 320), Grayson Johnson (6-9, 324), Jaymon Lamb (6-3, 282), Tyler Roberts (6-8, 307), and Brian Williams Jr. (6-2, 341). That's an average height of 6-5 and a weight of 315 pounds. Every year, the line has increased in both categories. In 2024, the average was 6-0, 299 pounds, and in 2025 it was 6-4, 303 pounds.

RETURNING KICKER
K Carlos Arreola saw action in 11 games in 2025, connecting on 27-of-28 PATs and finishing 3-for-6 on field goals. Arreola made all five PAT attempts at Sam Houston. Arreola connected on a career-long 42-yard field goal at Utah State in the '25 season opener, and hit a 39-yarder at No. 7 Texas.

'26 CAPTAINS
UTEP head coach Scotty Walden announced his captains for the 2026 season on Aug. 24. Redshirt sophomore QB EJ Colson Jr. and redshirt senior WR Jaden Smith will head up the "Blue Blaze" offense, while for the "Orange Swarm" defense, senior LB Jayden Wilson and redshirt junior LB Garrett Hawkins were appointed. Redshirt seniors MB Kam Thomas and S Kode Lowe will lead the Wefense unit.

2026 ROSTER BREAKDOWN
The Miners will see 60 newcomers to the program (13 OL, 11 DL, 9 DB, 6 WR, 4 QB, 4 RB, 4 TE, 3 LB, 3 K/P, 2 LS, 1 MB). Twenty-seven (27) are true freshmen, 19 are from FCS-Division II-NAIA schools, eight from junior colleges, and six FBS players. Of the 110 players on the roster, 50 are returnees.

915 IN THE HOUSE
Eleven (11) student-athletes are from El Paso. K Carlos Arreola (Clint HS), TE Johan Camacho (Bowie HS), Juan Camacho Jr. (Bowie HS), S Jaime Guerrero (Eastlake HS), RB Tavorus Jones (Burges HS), OL Eric Sandoval Araujo (Franklin HS), MB Daveon Singleton (Chapin HS), LB Shay Smith (Franklin HS), WR Marcus Torres (Pebble Hills HS), LB Jayden Wilson (Austin HS), and OL Craig Wydra (Andress HS) are on the 2026 roster.

STATE OF THE ROSTER
Seventy-two (72) players are from the Lone Star State on the 2026 roster. Here's how the rest of the roster breaks down: Georgia (5), California (4), Alabama (3), Arizona (3), Colorado (2), Florida (2), Oklahoma (2), Tennessee (2), Virginia (2), Illinois (1), Indiana (1), Kentucky (1), Louisiana (1), Maryland (1), Michigan (1), Mississippi (1), New York (1), North Carolina (1), Ohio (1). Three players are international – Australia (1), England (1) & Mexico (1).

BLUE BLAZE BIG PLAYS IN 2025
UTEP finished first in CUSA with seven 60+ yard plays from scrimmage, tied for first with four 70+ yard plays and tied first with one 90+ yard play. The Miners ranked tied for second with 32 30+ yard plays, and also tied second with 16 40+ yard plays.

ORANGE SWARM SACK ATTACK
The Orange Swarm defense has racked up 44 sacks in the last two seasons. The Miners led CUSA with 36 sacks in 2024, while posting 28 in 2025 to rank tied for third.

TACKLING BEHIND THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE
The Orange Swarm has amassed 173 tackles for loss over the last two years. The Miners ranked first in CUSA with 87 TFL in 2024 and were second in 2025 with 86 TFL.

OPPONENTS' 2025 POSTSEASON NOTES
Five of the Miners' opponents advanced to postseason play in 2025. Hawai'i (9-4) defeated Cal in the Hawai'i Bowl, Michigan (9-4) lost to Texas in the Citrus Bowl, New Mexico (9-4) was edged out by Minnesota in the Rate Bowl, North Dakota State (12-1) fell against Illinois State in the NCAA FCS Playoff second round, and Oklahoma (10-3) lost against Alabama in the College Football Playoff first round.

MW+ INFORMATION
MW+ will be the exclusive streaming platform for live events across all 21 Mountain West sponsored sports not distributed on national linear television. Miner Nation can watch all its teams all season long, including matchups you won't find anywhere else. Exclusive access will be available with mic'd up moments, behind-the-scenes, and original content. It'll be the one destination for everything Mountain West.
SIGN UP AT: https://watch.themw.com/utep/

UP NEXT
UTEP returns to the Sun City to host Texas Southern in the home opener on Saturday, Sept. 12. The Miners and Tigers are set to kick off at 7 p.m. in Sun Bowl Stadium. The contest will be streamed on MW+ and can be heard on 95.5 FM KLAQ and the UTEP Miners app.

For complete coverage of UTEP Football, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @UTEPFB (Twitter/Instagram/Facebook) or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at UTEPMiners.com.

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