No. 21 Oklahoma won its first SEC game and rallied for a 27-21 victory over Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday.
Kip Lewis ran an interception back 63 yards for a pick 6 with four minutes left in the fourth quarter, giving the Sooners a 22-21 lead. OU QB Michael Hawkins Jr. then ran around the right side and jumped the pylon for a two-point conversion and a three-point lead.
Oklahoma would later make a field goal to make it 27-21. The win gives Hawkins, a true freshman making his first start in place of the benched Jackson Arnold, an SEC road win to start his college career.
Hawkins passed for 161 yards and completed 10 of 15 passes, while also rushing for 69 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. Jovantae Barnes added 61 yards and a score for the Sooners. JJ Hester gained 86 yards on three catches, including a 60-yard grab that led to Oklahoma’s go-ahead goal.
Auburn built a 21-10 lead early in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard pass from Payton Thorne to Luke Deal. The seven-play, 58-yard drive was highlighted by an excellent grab down the left sideline by Cam Coleman for a 42-yard gain. Five plays later, Auburn was in the end zone and seemingly had Oklahoma reeling.
Despite the late turnover, Thorne did everything he could to justify head coach Hugh Freeze’s decision to reinstate him as the starter after being benched for freshman Hank Brown. His 48-yard pass to Malcolm Simmons put Auburn ahead with a touchdown midway through the second quarter.
The senior QB threw for 338 yards and three touchdowns while completing 21 of 32 passes. But that pick 6 was a backbreaker. Freeze also cited turnovers in making the QB change.
Jarquez Hunter led Auburn with 97 yards on 17 carries and helped the Tigers run out the clock until Thorne was intercepted. Cam Coleman recorded 82 yards on three catches, followed by KeAndre Lambert-Smith getting a touchdown and 77 yards among his five receptions.
On Oklahoma’s next possession, the offense failed to put any points on the board, with Hawkins being sacked on fourth-and-10 at the Auburn 40-yard line.
The Sooners’ injuries at receiver seemed particularly notable as the offense was unable to move down the field with explosive play. Deion Burks, Nic Anderson, Jayden Gibson, Jalil Farooq and Andrel Anthony were all out for Oklahoma on Saturday.
