Oklahoma-Auburn: LIVE In-Game Observations

AUBURN, AL — Sooners on SI offers real-time observations from Jordan-Hare Stadium throughout Saturday’s Week 5 matchup between Oklahoma and the Auburn Tigers. Newest posts are at the top. Just keep your browser open and refresh often.

6:10 p.m.

The Sooners survive and will leave Auburn with a 27-21 win after the excitement you expect from OU’s first-ever SEC road trip. 

Freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. was clutch in the fourth quarter and finished his first career start with 161 passing yards, 69 rushing yards and a rushing TD. 

-DG

6:05 p.m.

Auburn needs a touchdown now. 

Zach Schmit makes a 39-yard field goal to put OU up 27-21 with 54 seconds left. Auburn doesn’t have a timeout left. 

-DG

5:55 p.m.

Again, it’s R Mason Thomas in the fourth quarter. 

Thomas sacks Payton Thorne on 4th-and-11 to give OU the ball back with 1:54 left. Auburn has two timeouts left. Thomas also sacked Thorne the play before to force Auburn to face the fourth-and-long. 

-DG

5:50 p.m.

And just like that, the Sooners have the lead. 

Kip Lewis picked off Payton Thorne and returned it for a 63-yard TD. OU then went for two, where Michael Hawkins Jr. took it himself and flipped over Auburn defenders into the end zone to give the Sooners a 24-21 lead with 4:06 left in regulation. 

-DG

5:40 p.m.

The Sooners aren’t done fighting yet. 

Jovantae Barnes ran it in for a 2-yard touchdown to put OU within five points after a failed two-point conversion with 8:32 left in regulation. The score was set up after Michael Hawkins hit JJ Hester deep for a 60-yard gain. 

-DG

5:35 p.m.

The best news for Oklahoma today has been Auburn’s kicking struggles. 

The Tigers are unable to bang through a 50-yard kick to give the ball back to Hawkins at the 33-yard line down 11. 

— RC 

5:12 p.m.

Stats at the end of the third quarter:

5:01 p.m.

Oklahoma thought it had a third down touchdown to Jovantae Barnes, but it was called back for an illegal motion. 

Hawkins tried to evade the pocket but got arm dragged, and Zach Schmit bangs through a field goal to cut the deficit to 14-10 with 2:26 left in the third quarter. 

— RC 

4:53 p.m.

Out of a timeout Oklahoma got two yards on a rush to the left and then a false start saved a messed up motion across the formation by Brenen Thompson. 

Then when Hawkins finally got moving forward, Jaquaize Pettaway gets hit for an illegal block in the back. 

I understand the offensive line limits a lot, but that’s more examples of coaches not having guys prepared for their moment. Mental errors galore in the first three snaps out of a timeout. 

— RC 

4:42 p.m.

The Sooners still haven’t allowed a rush of 20 yards (yet), but Auburn had runs of 11 yards, 5, 6, 7 and one yard on that last drive. 

Not a backbreaker, but keeping the defense on the field. Feels like the first time all year the OU defensive line doesn’t have the opposition getting pushed backwards on the early down runs. 

— RC 

4:35 p.m.

Seth Littrell has now run three screens to Bauer Sharp. 

I know the wide receivers are depleted, but Sharp just isn’t athletic enough to get that kind of focus. There’s no way any of the running backs aren’t better options for those plays.

— RC 

4:34 p.m.

Oklahoma center Branson Hickman was really slow to get up after the first down incompletion. 

— RC 

4:32 p.m.

Oklahoma starts the second half with an inside zone handoff. After 20 minutes of halftime, that’s the best play Seth Littrell came up with? 

Then Michael Hawkins has Brenen Thompson open deep on second down but he throws it too far and out of bounds.

Only a defensive holding penalty on a third-down scramble by Hawkins keeps the OU drives alive.

Sooners gonna need to create something here.

— JH

4:19 p.m.

Michael Hawkins’ touchdown run: 48 yards. 

Oklahoma’s offense on every other play in the first half: 63 yards. 

— RC 

4:09 p.m.

Which would you rather have? Bad kicking, or bad coaching? We saw both on that end-of-half exchange.

Auburn kicker Towns McGough had plenty of time to kick a walk-off field goal, but yanked it wide left.

However, Oklahoma subbed in too many players on the field for the play (and probably should have taken their time to sub anyway, they should be allowed to substitute at their own pace) and gave McGough an untimed down for a Mulligan re-do.

Instead of going into the half up 17-7, McGough yanks it again and the halftime score is Auburn 14, Oklahoma 7.

— JH

4:10 p.m.

Halftime stats:

4:09 p.m.

Oklahoma can’t get out of its own way, a staple of the Brent Venables era. 

Auburn missed the quick-change field goal, but OU was called for having 12 men on the field. 

The Sooners were absolutely bailed out, however. 

Tigers kicker Towns McGough shanked the second one, too. 

OU will get the ball out of halftime down 14-7.

— RC 

4:03 p.m.

For the second straight week, OU is going to get nearly doubled up in time of possession for the first half. 

And this defense looks tired. 

— RC 

3:58 p.m.

So far the Sooners have no sacks and no quarterback hurries. 

Don’t even remember the defensive line getting close to touching Thorne. 

That’s going to have to change because the OU defense is still going to have to come up with some key turnovers to help the offense out in this one. 

— RC 

3:56 p.m.

Auburn has stolen all of OU’s early momentum. So that last fourth down felt like an opportunity for a fake punt. 

It was in this very state (up the road a little in Tuscaloosa) 21 years ago this month that Brent Venables’ mentor, Bob Stoops, called for a fake punt from the 30-yard line. OU executed it perfectly, then scored a touchdown on the next play.

Venables doesn’t have Stoops’ nerve yet for such bravado, and chose to punt it. And now Auburn, leading 14-7, is trying to squeeze in one more score before halftime.

— JH

3:51 p.m.

Auburn quarterbacks came into today averaging 16.5 yards per completion. That ranks No. 5 in the nation. Lambert-Smith is second nationally with more than 28 yards per catch. It’s not like Oklahoma didn’t know Auburn was going to throw the ball deep today.

— JH

3:51 p.m.

Auburn’s first long drive (that ended on the goal line) was sparked by a conversion on third-and-10 back on its own 25. 

This time, the Tigers converted a third-and-9 on their own 20 with a nine-yard run. 

Oklahoma’s defense getting killed after it fails to get off the field. And now Thorne looks he’s in rhythm after getting a couple of passes batted down at the line of scrimmage. This is a bad recipe. 

— RC 

3:48 p.m.

With no safety help (again), Kani Walker gives up inside leverage to his receiver (again) and gives up a long touchdown pass (again), this time a 48-yard touchdown pass from Payton Thorne to Malcolm Simmons. Looks like the safety bit on an underneath route. Auburn leads it 14-7, 5:41 til halftime.

— JH

3:47 p.m.

Kani Walker got beat on the inside again, just like he did for the long touchdown against Tennessee. 

This one ended up being a 48-yard connection between Payton Thorne and Malcolm Simmons. 

Sooners now in a 14-7 hole with 5:41 left until halftime. The offense has done nothing outside of Hawkins’ long scamper. 

— RC 

3:43 p.m.

Oklahoma just had two 5-stars on the defensive line — PJ Adebawore and David Stone. Alas, the Sooners stunted to the left, and the play was a draw handoff anyway — and somehow still got the first down.

— JH

3:38 p.m.

That last throw by Hawkins was slightly off the bull’s-eye but was catchable. The third-down throw to Roberts should have been brought in, but was behind him and was broken up. Hawkins’ first incomplete pass.

So far Hawkins is 5-of-6 for 41 yards. Not bad.

— JH

3:37 p.m.

Jake Roberts and Bauer Sharp simply aren’t fast enough to be the focal points of Oklahoma’s game plan against this Auburn defense. 

Elzinga puts his first foot wrong this year, too, which hurts the Sooners. He had a chance to really pin the Tigers deep, but his punt only travels 28 yards before getting downed at the 18-yard line. 

Defense needs to get a stop to stay on top of the field position battle.

— RC 

3:29 p.m.

The Sooners gave up a 34-yard completion to open the drive, then gave up a 31-yard touchdown three plays later for the touchdown. Dez Malone appeared to turn the wrong direction when KeAndre Lambert-Smith faked an outside move, then couldn’t regain leverage and never turned around to find the ball. Catch was contested but poor technique by Malone to finish that play. Should have been a third-down stop.

— JH

3:27 p.m.

Tie ballgame in Auburn.

Dez Malone just got completely torched by Auburn receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith for a 31-yard score. 

Auburn’s offense has been pretty good on third down today. 

Finally, OU will get a bit of a field position reset though with the game at 7-7 with 12:52 left until halftime. 

— RC 

3:21 p.m.

First quarter stats from Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn:

3:16 p.m.

Oklahoma’s defensive front has been dominant so far today. Three passes batted down, one tackle for loss. Probably a lot more to come.

— JH

3:09 p.m.

Oklahoma’s offense couldn’t get out of the field position hole, but the Sooners did avoid a safety. 

Luke Elzinga hit a nice 56-yard punt and the coverage was solid. 

Tigers will take over at their own 40-yard line. 

— RC 

3:07 p.m.

Massive stop for the Sooners. 

Bowman was the first one to hit the ball carrier and OU will take over on its own 1-yard line. 

Now… time to avoid a safety…

— RC 

3:03 p.m.

Auburn got a first and goal and brought in its jumbo goal-line package, but the Sooners did not sub until third down. OU got stops on first, second and third down, then the Sooners have to burn a timeout as they’re late getting their jumbo defense in on fourth and 1. 

— JH

3:03 p.m.

Oklahoma had Auburn at third-and-10 on the Tigers’ own 25-yard line. 

Bad tackling let Jarquez Hunter convert, and then Auburn took that and marched all the way down the field. 

Too much has already been asked of this OU defense, but a stop there would have had the stadium completely turned against the Tiger offense and might have quieted things out for Hawkins to try and put the Sooners up by two scores. 

Things are hanging in the balance here on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, so still a big chance to get off the field without surrendering points. 

— RC 

2:57 p.m.

Oklahoma should have just had another three-and-out, but instead of tackling a screen pass for a minimal gain, Danny Stutsman missed the tackle and two DBs just rode their blocks downfield. Now Auburn is on the march.

— JH

2:55 p.m.

Five offensive snaps in to the game and the Auburn fans are already booing Payton Thorne and the offense. 

— RC 

2:50 p.m.

As soon as Michael Hawkins scrambled out of the pocket, Brenen Thompson raised a hand signifying he would not be caught. Thompson knew. Hawkins scores on a 48-yard touchdown run on a scramble up the middle and the Auburn defense is shell-shocked.

— JH

2:49 p.m.

Oklahoma’s starters on offense:

Tarquin – Sexton – Hickman – Nwaiwu – Taylor 

Thompson – Roberts – Sharp – Ragins – Barnes 

Hawkins Jr. 

— RC 

2:47 p.m.

Oklahoma’s starters on defense:

Thomas – Williams – Jackson – Downs 

Stutsman – Lewis – Omosigho 

Malone – Spears-Jennings – Bowman Jr. – Walker

— RC 

2:43 p.m.

OU wins the toss and will defer. Auburn takes the ball. Here we go.

— JH

2:25 p.m.

Well, the bald eagle soaring from its perch, directly in front of the press box and down to the 50-yard line (where his trainer waited with what looked like  handful of fish) was darn cool.

— JH

2:20 p.m.

Boomer Sooner is playing the Sooners off the field. 

We’re one (1) eagle flight away from kickoff here in Auburn. 

— RC 

2:06 p.m.

Per the warmups, this is how Oklahoma’s offensive line will play today:

LT – Tarquin LG – Sexton C – Hickman RG Nwaiwu RT Taylor

— RC 

1:52 p.m.

No real shock here but Branson Hickman is snapping to Hawkins and Troy Everett is snapping to Arnold. 

Hickman and Hawkins will start, unsure where Everett will factor into things today. 

— RC 

1:44 p.m.

Per an Oklahoma spokesman, tight end Kade McIntyre will wear jersey No. 86 today to allow Jacobe Johnson to wear No. 19 on offense. 

— RC 

1:30 p.m.

What a spot Michael Hawkins Jr. finds himself in today. Making his first start, he’ll have to battle the road atmosphere at Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn’s defense and the fact that he’s without receivers Deion Burks and Nic Anderson. Think we’ll find out a lot about his mental makeup this afternoon.

— RC