Postgame Thoughts: Oklahoma 27, Auburn 21
If you didn’t believe in Sooner Magic before Saturday, perhaps you do now.
The Oklahoma Sooners scored one of their most miraculous victories ever, knocking off the Auburn Tigers, 27-21, for their first win in the SEC. At 4-1 overall, the victory gave OU some needed positive vibes heading into an off week.
Here are some off-the-cuff thoughts about what we witnessed at Jordan-Hare Stadium, based on one viewing of the game.
*This felt like a true “welcome to the SEC” moment for OU. Auburn had big personnel all over the field. The differences in physicality on the perimeter felt especially acute.
Additionally, the officials let plenty of contact and grabbing go. Teams just have to adjust in those situations. Lesson learned, hopefully.
*I figured Hugh Freeze would cook up an effective game plan, and Auburn’s head coach didn’t disappoint. The Sooners’ inability to string drives together on offense for most of the game allowed the Tigers to dominate control of the ball. Auburn rolled up an edge in offensive plays of 75 to 47 and nearly 11 more minutes in time of possession when all was said and done.
The open date is coming at an ideal time for the OU defense after back-to-back weeks of dealing with this team and Tennessee.
*Playing at a methodical tempo on offense, Freeze used formations and brutish running back Jarquez Hunter to capitalize on numbers advantages in light run boxes. The approach allowed the Tigers to ground out 178 yards on 39 carries (4.6 yards per attempt), excluding sacks. The water-torture tactics contributed to a 26-to-11 edge in first downs for Auburn.
The move back to Payton Thorne at quarterback also proved key. The veteran executed the patient game plan, and he also took advantage with deep shots in the passing game when situations presented themselves. The OU defense baited him into one major mistake on a pick-six by linebacker Kip Lewis, and it ended up swinging the game.
If the Tigers were slightly better at QB, this team would be a beast.
*On a related note, the biggest hole in OU’s defense is the lack of speed at cornerback. Opponents are going to continue testing the Sooners with one-on-one matchups out wide. It’s just a fact of life for this secondary, especially Kani Walker.
*Why am I spending so much time talking about Auburn? The Tigers owned this game from down to down. Frankly, OU won this game because it made timely plays:
A goal-line stand;
Forcing field goals in the red zone that Auburn subsequently missed;
A backyard two-point conversion;
An actual explosive passing play;
An interception returned for a touchdown.
The reality that some plays mean a lot more than others separates football from other sports and makes it interesting. You also can’t count on winning games consistently that way.
Still, no need to apologize for winning on the road against a talented team, especially considering the personnel issues the Sooners were facing yesterday
*Speaking of timely plays, R Mason Thomas is making a name for himself by coming up huge in high-leverage spots. Overall, though, he is becoming a force on the edge from down to down.
*Linebacker Kip Lewis was a strong addition to the defense last season, but he is growing into a playmaking star.
*Given how his season has played, receiver JJ Hester picked an ideal time to turn it on. His 60-yard catch in the second half has to go down as the play of the year for the offense so far. If he keeps it up, he should see a lot more action going forward.
*Freshman QB Michael Hawkins’ performance illustrated why he fits best within the constraints of this particular offensive structure – those constraints being… waves at everything. His escapability proved vital to keeping plays alive, and he can do so much damage with his legs on designed run plays. The coaching staff now needs to come up with ways to protect his health the rest of the way.
* In the end, this game was less about how OU won and more getting a needed shot in the arm. The Sooners didn’t dominate Auburn, but they did everything they could on the road to leave the door open enough to win. OU walked through it when the Tigers presented the opportunity.
Following a slew of injuries and a tougher-than-expected lineup of teams to start the year, OU should feel good about entering this open week at 4-1. Brent Venables and the coaching staff now have two weeks to reassess streamlining the offense. The Sooners can’t keep winning this way, but they have bought themselves time to come up with better ways for this specific team to excel in the remaining seven games.