College Football Rankings 2022: Projected AP Top 25 for Week 2

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Oklahoma coach Brent Venables sings the OU alma mater with players after a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the UTEP Miners at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. Oklahoma won 45-13.Ou Vs Utep /

The Brent Venables era got off to a roaring start as Oklahoma’s offense looked Lincoln Riley-esque after a quarter as the Sooners raced out to a 21-0 lead.

UTEP made things closer before halftime, scoring 10 points in the second quarter to Oklahoma’s seven but the Miners didn’t cross the goal-line again. Oklahoma’s pass defense could use some work as it gave up 288 yards through the air but it also did see 51 passes but that’s not acceptable against UTEP.

Oklahoma saw Dillon Gabriel take the field for the first time and he lived up to expectations, passing for 233 yards and a touchdown on 15-of-23 completions. He has so much to give this offense and I think this will be a nice fit. It also seemed like Gabriel and Marvin Mims have a nice connection, teaming up three times for 81 yards. Brayden Willis had three catches for 40 yards and two scores.

Oklahoma’s run game, too, was impressive with 259 rushing yards and four scores on 6.8 yards per carry.

Oklahoma looks like the Big 12 title favorite early on.

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