Oklahoma

Oklahoma 2022 Schedule Preview: Get to Know the UTEP Miners

Published

2 years ago

August 16, 2022

Oklahoma 2022 Schedule Preview: Get to Know the UTEP Miners

The Oklahoma Sooners are lower than three weeks away from kicking off the 2022 season with a brand new coach and a brand new angle.

As September creeps nearer, AllSooners previews each recreation on the 2022 schedule.

Oklahoma’s 12-game common season schedule options six dwelling video games, 5 away video games and the annual neutral-site Purple River Showdown.

First up for the Sooners is the house opener with the UTEP Miners.

UTEP Miners

Convention USA

Sept. 3, 2:30 p.m.

Head Coach: Dana Dimel
2021 report: 7-6 (4-4 C-USA)
Offensive returning starters: seven
Defensive returning starters: eight

Key gamers

QB Gavin Hardison

Hardison, a junior, would be the key piece to the puzzle for UTEP in 2022. The issue is, each his No. 1 and No. 2 choices have departed, leaving the huge receiver room trying a lot completely different. High move catcher Jacob Cowing transferred to Arizona, leaving speedster Tyrin Smith as Hardison’s go-to man.

The most effective facet of the rising junior’s recreation is his arm energy and skill to throw the deep ball. Hardison threw for 3,218 yards and 18 touchdowns in 13 video games final season. His greatest flaw has been accuracy, throwing 13 interceptions and finishing simply 55 % of his passes. The Sooners can set the tone for the season early with a couple of fast takeaways towards a mistake-prone quarterback.

DE Reward Amaewhule

Amaewhule is a load for offensive strains to deal with and is within the backfield usually. Over the course of his Miner profession, he’s totaled 87 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, 14 sacks and even scored a landing.

At 6-foot-3, Amaewhule has nice measurement and energy. Oklahoma’s offensive line can have a pleasant check early towards an All-Convention USA expertise and an NFL prospect. The Sooners revamped the offensive line this offseason, however query marks nonetheless stay.

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LBs Breon Hayward and Tyrice Knight

The center of the protection is without doubt one of the strongest elements of this UTEP crew. Each Hayward and Knight amassed over 120 tackles every and earned All-Convention USA honors. The Miners have an skilled protection that finally helped lead final season’s shocking turnaround.

RB Ronald Awatt

Awatt is a candidate for a breakout season with prolonged carries and an even bigger function. Final season, he discovered 844 yards and 6 touchdowns on the bottom.

The senior again has critical potential to be a 1,000-yard rusher in 2022. Awatt can be working behind probably the greatest offensive strains in Convention USA and has nice imaginative and prescient and pace. Folks have taken discover, as he was listed on the Doak Walker Award watch listing.

High unit: Offensive line

The Sooners can have an early check towards a stout Miners offensive line. UTEP was inconsistent offensively final season, however ought to discover success working the ball this fall.

Andrew Meyer, Elijah Klein, and Jeremiah Byers will all be again in El Paso, giving the Miners three Honorable Point out All-Convention USA blockers.

The road was in a position to pave the way in which for UTEP’s high rusher, Ronald Awatt, who averaged 5.4 yards per carry. As a crew, UTEP racked up 2,112 speeding yards final season. Establishing a presence up entrance will give an skilled sign caller like Gavin Hardinson time to work.

The Sooners are heavy favorites within the opening matchup, however UTEP isn’t getting sufficient credit score as a crew. Oklahoma has performed in quite a lot of home-openers that have been significantly extra lopsided.

Final season, the Miners went for the large play time after time. It led to inconsistency, but additionally helped the Miners discover success for the primary time in a very long time. UTEP had 14 performs leading to longer than 50 yards final season. OU’s protection surrendered eight 50-yard chunk performs, good for a tie at 83rd within the nation.

If Oklahoma’s improved secondary can preserve the Miners from explosive performs, the Sooners ought to coast to the primary non-conference victory of the 12 months. Though Oklahoma is predicted to win comfortably, it is going to be a superb early check towards a really skilled Group of 5 crew. The offense should show effectivity early towards the Miners’ robust defensive entrance.

Search for offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby to assist Dillon Gabriel set up chemistry with quick connections early on. Then, as the sport goes on, Gabriel will be capable of showcase his long-awaited deep ball towards an unknown UTEP secondary.

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Oklahoma

Alabama's upset loss to Oklahoma completes wild day in college football as rankings could look a lot different

Published

3 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

Alabama's upset loss to Oklahoma completes wild day in college football as rankings could look a lot different

Entering Saturday night, all No. 7 Alabama needed was a win against unranked Oklahoma to remain very safe in the College Football Playoff bracket.

Earlier in the day, No. 5 Indiana was blown out, No. 4 Penn State barely squeaked by Minnesota, and No. 9 Ole Miss and No. 14 BYU both lost.

But, the Crimson Tide could not get the job done, as Oklahoma dominated to a 24-3 victory.

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Defensive end R Mason Thomas of the Oklahoma Sooners gets his hands in the face of quarterback Jalen Milroe of the Alabama Crimson Tide at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Nov. 23, 2024, in Norman, Oklahoma. (Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, who had been one of the nation’s best players, had his worst game of the season. He completed 11 of 26 passes for 164 yards with three interceptions and gained just seven yards on 15 carries for Alabama (8-3, 4-3). The Sooners held Alabama to 234 yards. He went just 2-for-7 for 62 yards before the half.

True freshman Xavier Robinson ran for career highs of 107 yards and two touchdowns as Oklahoma became bowl eligible and took coach Brent Venables off the hot seat.

The Sooners’ victory resulted in yet another edition of fans storming the field too early, but at least this one was practically over anyway, unlike the BYU-Arizona State game.

Oklahoma students and fans rush the field after they efeated Alabama, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Norman. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

APPALACHIAN STATE FANS PELT JAMES MADISON PLAYERS WITH SNOWBALLS BEFORE GAME

Ole Miss and Alabama, both in the bracket prediction last week, now have three losses on the season. This leaves the door wide open for 9-2 teams like Clemson and Iowa State, who had been ranked 17th and 22nd in the nation, respectively.

And now, Indiana’s college football playoff hopes, right after their undefeated season ending, may not look all that over. No. 10 Georgia and No. 11 Tennessee figure to move up a few spots with three teams ahead of them in the rankings all losing.

Although, it’s certainly not out of the question that Alabama could be on the outside looking in.

Oklahoma spirit team member celebrates after a touchdown against Alabama, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Norman. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

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The next rankings will come out on Tuesday, and it should be very exciting to see what the committee has in store.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Oklahoma

‘So what? Now what?’: Alabama players react to loss to Oklahoma

Published

11 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

‘So what? Now what?’: Alabama players react to loss to Oklahoma

No. 7 Alabama football should have defeated unranked Oklahoma. But the Crimson Tide didn’t.

Oklahoma had only won one SEC game all season. It wasn’t even bowl eligible before Saturday.

Then, the Alabama offense failed to score a touchdown and sputtered for much of the night. The Crimson Tide defense couldn’t stop Oklahoma’s rushing attack when the game was still close.

Alabama turned the ball over three times, with three Jalen Milroe interceptions.

As a result, the Crimson Tide fell 24-3 to the Sooners on Saturday at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma.

“There is no excuse,” linebacker Jihaad Campbell said. “None. Everybody saw it. Whoever was watching the game. We lost, and we’ve got to take it on the chin and keep learning from that.”

Alabama (8-3, 4-3 SEC) gave up 325 yards, with 257 yards, on the ground to Oklahoma and two touchdowns. Oklahoma (6-5, 2-5) had the nation’s 90th ranked scoring offense entering the game.

“Our job was to out-execute those guys, and we fell short tonight,” Campbell said.

Meanwhile, the Alabama offense tallied only 234 yards, with 164 through the air and 70 on the ground, to score only a field goal.

Milroe, who gashed LSU on the ground two weeks ago, couldn’t get anything going with his legs with only seven yards on 15 carries.

“They had a great game plan for us,” offensive lineman Tyler Booker said. “We’ve just got to get a hat on a hat. We have to execute better.”

The Alabama players who took part in interviews postgame showed a clear and intentional interest in moving on quickly from the result and performance in Norman.

“So what? Now what?” Booker said. “Can’t do anything about what just happened. What we can do is make sure we prepare our tails off.”

Next up is a matchup with Auburn in the Iron Bowl at Bryant-Denny Stadium to close out the regular season. Alabama won’t make the SEC Championship Game, but it might not yet be eliminated from the playoff just yet. The Allstate playoff predictor on Saturday night gave the Crimson Tide a 31% chance to still make the postseason.

“Got a big game next week,” Booker said. “Got to put all of our focus and energy there. Can’t do anything about what just happened. We’ve got to put all of our focus and energy into next week.”

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.

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Oklahoma

Live Updates: No. 7 Alabama Football at Oklahoma

Published

19 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

Live Updates: No. 7 Alabama Football at Oklahoma

NORMAN, Okla.–– Alabama has one final road test to pass in the regular season if it wants to compete for an SEC title and make it back to the College Football Playoff.

The No. 7 Crimson Tide plays at Oklahoma on Saturday night in the first matchup as conference foes in the SEC. BamaCentral will have coverage all night from Norman. Follow along for updates.

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(latest updates at the top)

Who: Alabama (8-2, 4-2 SEC) vs. Oklahoma (5-5, 1-4)

When: Saturday, Nov. 23, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium

TV: ABC/ESPN+

Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (Play-By-Play: Chris Stewart, Color: Tyler Watts).

Series: Oklahoma leads 3-2-1

Last meeting: Alabama defeated the Sooners in the Capital One Orange Bowl as part of the College Football Playoff 45-34. Tua Tagovailoa passed for 318 yards and four touchdowns while the Crimson Tide rushed for 200 yards across 42 carries between Josh Jacobs, Damien Harris and Najee Harris.

Last time out, Alabama: The Crimson Tide dominated Mercer 52-7 at home behind three touchdowns from Jalen Milroe and two touchdowns from Ryan Williams. The Alabama defense forced three more turnovers as they’ve now forced 16 in the last five games, making life challenging on opposing offenses.

Last time out, Oklahoma: The Sooners were off this past week, but went to Missouri two weeks ago and lost 30-23 after losing a fumble for a touchdown in the game’s final minutes. Oklahoma’s played five conference games and only won at Auburn this season.

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