Episode Details

Oklahoma Sooners LIVE #217
Hosts: Rob Fontenot (Rob Bass / MCM) & Roger Schilling
Platform: OklahomaVOCFB
Sponsor: FanDuel
Length: ~1 hour 11 minutes
Focus: Week 1 preview vs. UTEP (Friday, 7 p.m. CT, Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, SEC Network+) plus Touchdown or Turnover and Fun Facts.

They plan a live postgame show Friday after the game. Michigan is next week.

Intro & Banter (0:00–4:40)

Roger surprises Rob in a matching Hawaiian shirt (bought at Sam’s). Big Eye Posse energy is high. Regulars in chat: Grandmaster H, Specialty / Special T, Mars, Jimmy Satterfield, Chloe Schilling, Bishop, and others.

Nicknames flying: Grandmaster H, Specialty, later Jimmy Jam / Jimmy Slick for Satterfield. They plug the Big Guys and Boomer Sooners Facebook page and VOCFB merch (circle-of-trust bit, coffee mug / BGP shirt ideas).

No one in the chat is worried about losing to UTEP. “We better not.”

UTEP Preview (4:40–23:20)

The opponent

• 2-10 last season (Conference USA); first year in the Mountain West.
• New QB EJ Colson (Incarnate Word after a stop at UCF). Hosts note Incarnate Word is in San Antonio.
• Must replace leading rusher, top four receivers, and most starters. Only four returning starters — all on defense (LB, DT, CB, S). Bottom of the country in returning starters.
• Two new offensive coordinators.
• Coach Scotty Walden reportedly donated salary toward NIL.
• 2025 they hung around vs. Texas for a stretch (final 27-10; 14-3 at half in the clip Roger watched). Hosts still dismiss them.

Betting / history

• OU favored by 41.5 (books around 40.5–42.5). Total 50.5.
• Series: OU 5-0 vs. UTEP. Combined score 248-41 (~8 points per game allowed).
• 2022 meeting: OU 45, UTEP 13 (Venables’ first season as HC — they briefly debate Temple vs. UTEP as the true debut).
• EA simulation had UTEP up 24 at half; hosts laugh it off. “UTEP is not good.”

How they expect OU to play

• Vanilla play-calling to hide things from Michigan.
• Heavy run game once they get a lead. Five RBs available: Xavier Robinson (projected starter), Lloyd Avant, freshman Jonathan Hatton Jr., plus others. Roger is all-in on Hatton Watch — predicts 100 yards in the second half even if he doesn’t start, and at least one long explosive (50+).
• Starters likely limited after a big first half. Health for Michigan is the priority. “Not a trap game like Kentucky.”
• Defense should dominate a brand-new UTEP offense. Second-team defense may be better than UTEP’s first-team offense.
• Common-opponent angle: beat UTEP worse than Michigan later does.

Chat lean: most think they cover easily (42-0, 52-0 type scores). Grandmaster H is the skeptic on the cover because of vanilla calling.

Touchdown or Turnover (23:20–51:00)

Twenty propositions. Hosts + chat vote TD or Turnover.

| # | Proposition | Consensus lean |
|---|-------------|----------------|
| 1 | OU covers 41.5 | Touchdown (Grandmaster H: Turnover) |
| 2 | Over 50.5 | Touchdown (Grandmaster: Turnover) |
| 3 | UTEP scores (even a FG) | Split — hosts expect at least a FG on a busted coverage / backup unit |
| 4 | Venables’ HC debut was vs. UTEP | Looked up mid-show; 2022 was 45-13 vs. UTEP |
| 5 | Gavin Freeman coming-out party | Mentioned; positive |
| 6 | OU defense scores a TD | Touchdown (pick-six or scoop-and-score; Kip Lewis comps) |
| 7 | Defense gets an INT | Touchdown (they starved for INTs early last year) |
| 8 | John Mateer 4 total TDs (pass + rush) | Split — hosts think run-heavy so maybe 3; could still hit 4 |
| 9 | Parker Livingstone 25+ yard catch | Touchdown (deep t