The Tigers nearly erased a double-digit deficit in Norman, but Oklahoma held on to secure a hard-fought victory in their first SEC clash.
NORMAN, Okla. | Auburn fought valiantly but came up just short on Saturday night, dropping its SEC opener to No. 11 Oklahoma, 24-17, in front of a packed crowd at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
The Tigers (2-2, 0-1 SEC) fell behind 17-3 in the second half but mounted a late rally behind quarterback play and defensive stops. A fourth-quarter touchdown narrowed the Sooners’ lead to seven, and Auburn had one final possession in the closing minutes. However, Oklahoma’s defense stiffened, forcing a turnover on downs to seal the win.
Oklahoma Shows SEC Readiness
The Sooners (4-0, 1-0 SEC) earned their first SEC win since officially joining the conference, making a statement against a tradition-rich Auburn program. Quarterback Jackson Arnold led the charge with two touchdown passes, while running back Gavin Sawchuk added balance on the ground.
Head coach Brent Venables praised his team’s resilience, noting that adjusting to the physicality of the SEC would be key for Oklahoma moving forward.