✌🏽 Happy Monday, friends. Let’s ride.

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The Main Thing

Let’s recognize a special someone worthy of all the praise in the world.

You.

You did it. You made it through the most chaotic Oklahoma offseason since … well, last year when it and Texas announced their move to the SEC.

Perhaps OU’s scare against Tulane in its ‘21 season opener was a warning for what was to come. Not that it matters so much now. That coaching staff is gone, and the new one’s approval rating couldn’t be higher even without having played a game yet.

It’s a complete reset, which is always calming for a program coming off of a disappointing campaign. Of course, public opinion will adjust with the season. OU is bound to lose a game at some point,

So, welcome to Week 1. Oklahoma hosts UTEP for the first time since 2017

But what a ride it’s been to get here.

We aren’t likely to really know how good this OU team is until it heads to Lincoln, Nebraska, on Sept. 17 for its first road test. And even then, the Huskers might not be the measuring stick OU particularly wants for itself.

But for anyone who’s been glued to their phones over the last 10 months, consuming whatever OU football offseason content they could get their hands on, simply seeing OU snap the ball on Saturday should be therapeutic after what’s felt like the longest OU offseason I can remember.

A round of applause for you.

We’re back, folks.

We made it.

— Joe Buettner

🏈 Game day details

UTEP Miners (0-1, 0-1 C-USA) at No. 9 Oklahoma Sooners (0-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• When: Saturday, Sept. 3 | Time: 2:30 p.m. CT

• Place: Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman

• TV: FOX

• Radio: Sooner Sports Network

• Spread: Oklahoma -31.5 | O/U: 57

• All-time series: OU leads 4-0

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🗳 Preseason survey

The readers have spoken.

Ahead of Oklahoma’s 2022 football season, we asked you all to fill out a fan survey to get a better understanding of your expectations for this year’s team.

We received 124 responses, and I can’t thank you all enough for your participation.

Let’s dig into the results.

Read now

📚 Read options

• Dillon Gabriel and the gulch: How bond forged in Hawaiian ravine will be key in climb OU's 2022 season poses [Read more at OU Daily]

• 'Reason I’m here today': How Jim Gush started Brent Venables' journey to OU football coach [Read more at The Oklahoman]

• Eric Gray and Key Lawrence describe what motivated team during Cale Gundy situation [Read more at Tulsa World]

• DaShaun White embracing leadership role, versatility in Sooner defense [Read more at Norman Transcript]

• Tulane transfer Jeffery Johnson brings unique perspective after being on the visiting sideline at Owen Field [Read more at SI Sooners]

• Former four-star RB and Washington transfer Emeka Megwa has apparently enrolled at Oklahoma [Read more at SI Sooners]

🔒 Recruiting trail

Oklahoma picked up a pair of blue-chip commitments and jumped to No. 4 in the 247Sports Composite team recruiting rankings over the weekend.

Meet the latest Class of 2023 prospects to verbally commit to Oklahoma:

• Four-star WR Anthony Evans seemed destined for Georgia. Oklahoma came in late, however, to secure Evans’ verbal and add another major weapon to OC Jeff Lebby’s offense. [Read more at Sooner Scoop]

• Alabama wanted him but Oklahoma came out on top for four-star DB Makari Vickers. The Florida product is one of the top Class of 2023 prospects, regardless of position, in the country. [Read more at 247 Sports]