Campus location: El Paso, Texas
Nickname: Miners
Conference: Conference USA
All-time record vs. OU: 0-2
Last game: The Miners finished off a 5-7 season by losing 31-14 at Central Florida. UTEP trailed 31-0 going into the fourth quarter.
Last meeting with OU: In 2002, the Sooners returned two picks for touchdowns in a 68-0 rout. Antwone Savage got the barrage rolling by dashing for a 56-yard touchdown on the game's second play. Nate Hybl threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns and Quentin Griffin rushed for 108 yards and a pair of scores, giving the Sooners by their largest margin of victory since hammering New Mexico State by 70 points in 1989.
Key player: Mike Price is building his offense around quarterback Nick Lamaison, who originally signed with Tennessee. At UTEP last season Lamaison threw for 1,718 yards with 12 TDs with 10 interceptions.
Why UTEP might win: The Sooners have a history of struggling in openers. Look no further than 2010, when Utah State took OU to the brink in a 31-24 Sooners victory. That Utah State team was no better than this UTEP squad.
Why UTEP might lose: Every other reason. The Sooners have superior talent at every position, and are looking for redemption following a disappointing end to the 2011 season. This one could get ugly early.