NORMAN - Lloyd Avant didn’t need long to make his presence felt in an Oklahoma uniform.
In Friday’s 51-0 season-opening rout of UTEP, the Colorado State transfer led the Sooners with 79 rushing yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, offering an encouraging first look for a team that needs a sharper ground game in 2026 after finishing 13th in the SEC in rushing offense a year ago.
Avant’s production wasn’t flashy, but it was effective. Of his 79 yards, 56 came after contact, and his 3.73 yards after contact per rush ranked second on the team behind freshman tailback Jonathan Hatton Jr., who had 20 yards after contact on three carries.
For Avant, the debut came with the usual opening-night nerves.
“It was a great game,” Avant said. “Pregame, a little nervousness going on. But it was just another practice for me to go out, play the game, execute and just play with the guys that I love to play with.”
His approach was simple, and it showed in the way he ran.
“Just run the ball hard,” Avant said. “Doing that consistently every play was just the mindset going into it.”
Oklahoma spread the work around in a big way, with eight Sooners recording at least one carry. Transfer walk-on Ben McCreary finished with 40 rushing yards, while junior Xavier Robinson added 30 yards on seven touches.
OU offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle liked what he saw from Avant, and he didn’t hesitate to spell out why.
“I thought Lloyd came out, played his butt off,” Arbuckle said. “I thought Lloyd was exactly who he's been since he's shown up here: consistent, hardworking, tough, reliable.”
That kind of start matters, even in a game where Oklahoma controlled everything and could have chosen its final margin. Avant was part of a dominant offensive showing, but both he and Arbuckle were quick to point out that the bar rises fast from here.
The Sooners head to Ann Arbor next week for a matchup with No. 16 Michigan.
The Wolverines opened their season with a 13-12 win over unranked Western Michigan, a result that raised eyebrows, even if their defense held up well enough. Western Michigan’s backs averaged 2.9 yards per carry and the Broncos finished with 132 rushing yards.
Arbuckle said the Sooners still have plenty to clean up before facing a tougher test.
“The run game as a whole, I thought a lot of things that we've been emphasizing showed up today - it ain't good enough,” Arbuckle said. “Pad level, velocity off the ball, straining on certain things, receivers and perimeter blocking can all just be so much better, and we have to.”
Avant, for his part, sounded satisfied with the opener - but not settled.
“We can do better, but it was a great start to the season, and we're going to improve on it over the whole season,” Avant said.
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The upcoming Oklahoma-Michigan matchup at Michigans stadium already has the feel of a major September test, and the way the game is being administered adds another layer for fans to keep an eye on. The contract calls for the officiating crew to be appointed by the home teams conference, a setup that traces back to changes made after a 2006 Oklahoma game, when concerns around officiating helped shape how future big nonconference meetings would be handled.
Michigans own recent weekend only sharpened the spotlight on the rules side of things, after its game against Western Michigan ended in controversy when a last-second Hail Mary stood following replay review. The Big Ten later issued statements and replay footage, and with Oklahoma heading into a game that will be shown on Fox, the Sooners and Wolverines are meeting in a spotlight matchup where every flag, review and explanation figures to draw plenty of attention. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Just Gave Oklahoma Fans A Reason To Feel Better
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Michigan had to sweat its way past Western Michigan, and for Oklahoma fans that kind of ugly finish offers at least a little comfort heading into a marquee matchup. Even in a win, the Wolverines left behind enough questions about how consistently they can move the ball that the Sooners have reason to believe their own strong start may travel well into next week. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Underwood Just Gave Oklahoma Fans A Bigger Reason To Watch
Bryce Underwoods debut for Michigan had a little of everything, including a reminder of why his name has already started carrying extra weight beyond Ann Arbor. The Wolverines spent most of the afternoon grinding through an offense that never quite got comfortable against Western Michigan, but the game still turned into the kind of season opener people remember because of one wild finish and the quarterback who helped create it.
For Oklahoma fans keeping tabs on the ripple effects around the sport, the bigger takeaway is the spotlight Underwood can bring whenever he takes the field. Michigan needed a dramatic ending to escape with a win, and the rookie quarterback showed enough arm talent and late-game poise to make the finish matter. There were also rough patches along the way, which only adds to the intrigue the next time he lines up and the stakes get a little higher. [Read more 🡒]