No. 21 Oklahoma mounts a late comeback to shock Auburn, claiming its first Southeastern Conference victory.
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AUBURN, Ala. – Kip Lewis returned an interception 61 yards for a game-winning touchdown as No. 21 Oklahoma overcame an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat Auburn 27-21 on Saturday, marking the Sooners' first Southeastern Conference victory.
“This was my first taste of Sooner magic as a head coach,” said Oklahoma coach Brent Venables. “The last four drives on both offense and defense were incredible. We performed at our best when it mattered most.”
This matchup was Oklahoma’s first SEC road game after their transition from the Big 12. The Sooners rebounded from a loss to Tennessee in their SEC opener the previous week.
True freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. impressed in his first start, accumulating 230 yards of total offense after taking over from Jackson Arnold during the Tennessee game.
Though the Sooners (4-1, 1-1 SEC) struggled offensively for much of the contest, they capitalized on key mistakes by the Tigers (2-3, 0-2). Oklahoma halted Auburn on a fourth down at the 1-yard line in the first quarter, and the Tigers squandered two opportunities for short field goals late in the second quarter.
Auburn’s Payton Thorne threw for 338 yards and three touchdowns, but his sixth interception of the season proved crucial in the game’s outcome.
“I need to ensure that Thorne better understands the situation,” said Auburn coach Hugh Freeze. “We should have run the ball there, and I need to be clearer with him on what we need to do.”
With 8:32 remaining, Oklahoma’s Jovantae Barnes reduced Auburn's lead to 21-16 with a 2-yard touchdown run, set up by a 60-yard pass from Hawkins to J.J. Hester. The subsequent 2-point conversion attempt failed, keeping Auburn ahead by five.
Lewis then intercepted Thorne—returning to the starting role after a two-game absence—and raced down the field with just over four minutes left.
A late field goal by Oklahoma extended their lead to six points, and Thorne’s final pass attempt fell short of the end zone as time expired.
Despite nearly 200 more total yards of offense than Oklahoma, Auburn was left frustrated.
“We didn’t play very well,” admitted Venables. “But we were exceptional when it counted.”
The Takeaway:
Oklahoma: The Sooners’ sluggish offensive start, exacerbated by numerous injuries at wide receiver and inconsistent play along the offensive line, continued on Saturday. However, Hawkins’ dual-threat capability could ignite their offense moving forward, complementing an already strong defense.
Auburn: Penalties, questionable clock management, and unproductive drives have plagued the Tigers, who have lost all three of their home games against power-conference opponents this season. They now face a challenging stretch ahead with a losing record.
Game-Changing Drive:
Auburn's 22-yard run from Jarquez Hunter with just over 11 minutes left and a two-score lead led to back-to-back incompletions from Thorne and a run for no gain, resulting in a missed 51-yard field goal. This possession took only 1:31 off the clock and opened the door for Oklahoma’s comeback.
Poll Implications:
Oklahoma may have a chance to climb back into the Top 20 following this comeback victory on the road.
Next Up:
Oklahoma: The Sooners will have a bye week before facing No. 1 Texas in Dallas on October 12.
Auburn: The Tigers will travel to play No. 2 Georgia next Saturday.