Oklahoma survived a grind in its SEC opener, leaning on a record-setting defensive performance and a late touchdown from John Mateer to outlast No. 22 Auburn 23-16 and move to 4-0.
The Sooners sacked Auburn quarterback Jackson Arnold 10 times — a single-game school record — and that dominance up front dictated the tone of a low-scoring battle between two talented SEC newcomers. Neither quarterback fully seized control, though Mateer strung together 11 straight completions in the second half to engineer the scoring drives Oklahoma needed down the stretch.
Auburn briefly grabbed a 17-16 lead in the fourth quarter, but Mateer answered immediately with a 75-yard march capped by a diving touchdown run at the goal line. The Tigers failed to respond on their final possession, eventually giving up a game-sealing safety.
Arnold finished 21 of 32 for 220 yards with a handful of clutch scrambles, though his rushing totals dipped to minus-11 because of the sacks. Mateer posted 271 yards on 24-of-36 passing with two total touchdowns, including the go-ahead score that sealed the win.
For Oklahoma, it wasn’t just another victory as the favorite — it was a statement SEC debut against a ranked foe and a milestone moment for Brent Venables in Year 4 at the helm.
Read below for highlights and analysis as Oklahoma knocks off Auburn in a marquee Week 4 showdown.
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