AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn built a double-digit lead early in the fourth quarter but No. 21 Oklahoma rallied with 17 straight points to defeat the Tigers 27-21 Saturday at sold-out Jordan-Hare Stadium.
"I couldn’t be prouder of their effort, their preparation, the way they worked and the way they played harder," Auburn coach Hugh Freeze said. "They deserved to win the game. I have to find a way to help them win these games. It is not on them and their effort today."
Luke Deal’s 1-yard touchdown catch put the Tigers ahead 21-10 with 14:12 remaining in the game. Cam Coleman’s 42-yard reception late in the third quarter and Payton Thorne’s 2-yard run on fourth-and-1 from the 3 preceded Deal’s TD catch.
Auburn’s defense then stopped the Sooners on fourth-and-10 when Jalen McLeod sacked Oklahoma quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. at the Tigers’ 45-yard line.
Jarquez Hunter gained 22 yards on the next play, finishing with 17 carries for 97 yards, to give Auburn a first down at Oklahoma’s 33-yard line, but after a pair of incompletions and a rush for no gain, Auburn missed a 51-yard field goal attempt.
Oklahoma capitalized with a 60-yard pass and a 2-yard touchdown run from Jovantae Barnes. Auburn forced an incompletion on the 2-point attempt and led 21-16 with 8:32 to play.
Auburn again crossed midfield, but on third-and-4, Kip Lewis returned an interception 63 yards for a touchdown that put Oklahoma ahead 24-21 with 4:06 to play after Hawkins’ 2-point conversion run.
Oklahoma (4-1, 1-1) stopped Auburn on fourth down and added a field goal in the final minute to secure the victory.
The Tigers outgained Oklahoma 482-291, with Thorne completing 21 of 32 passes for 338 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.
With Auburn leading 14-7 at the half, Oklahoma had first-and-goal at the 2-yard line after a pass interference penalty, but the Tigers’ defense held firm, with Keldric Faulk and Demarcus Riddick making a third-down stop to force a 24-yard field goal.
Riddick led the Tigers with six tackles and a sack. Auburn held Oklahoma to 2-for-11 on third down.
"Our defense played a heck of a game," Freeze said. "They gave them (Oklahoma) two explosive plays, but other than that, I thought they were remarkable."
Auburn dominated time of possession in the first half, controlling the ball for 19:08 while overcoming an early 7-0 deficit to take a 14-7 halftime lead.
Hawkins raced 48 yards up the middle for a touchdown that gave the Sooners a 7-0 lead two and a half minutes into the game.
Auburn then drove 74 yards on 13 plays to Oklahoma’s 1-yard line, consuming nearly half of the first quarter, but came away empty-handed when the Sooners stopped Sam Jackson V for no gain on fourth-and-goal from the 1.
Thorne connected with Coleman for a 34-yard gain on Auburn’s first play of the second quarter. Three plays later, on third-and-3, Thorne pumped and threw to the end zone for KeAndre-Lambert Smith, who made a spectacular catch to tie the score at 7-7 after Town McGough’s extra point.
Auburn drove 81 yards for a go-ahead score on its next possession, with Thorne teaming up with Malcolm Simmons for a 48-yard touchdown that put the Tigers ahead 14-7 with 5:41 to play in the first half.
Riddick recorded his first career sack to force a three-and-out that gave Auburn’s offense another opportunity before halftime.
The Tigers drove 60 yards in 11 plays but missed a 27-yard field goal as the half ended.
"I have to help our team get over the edge when you have a chance to win a game like that," Freeze said. "I am proud of those young kids. I thought they played really well and they are starting to mature some. But gosh, this one stings for sure.”
After opening the season with five consecutive home games, Auburn (2-3, 0-2) visits No. 2 Georgia next Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC and the Auburn Sports Network.
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer