Louisiana State University outscored Oklahoma 13-0 in the second half to defeat the Sooners, 37-17, Saturday night in front of 99,364 fans at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.
It was the final game of the regular season for both teams. Oklahoma, who became bowl eligible with a win last week against Alabama, dropped to 6-6 overall and 2-6 in the SEC. The Tigers improved to 8-4, 5-3 SEC.
LSU head coach Brian Kelly said his team refused to listen to the naysayers.
“They simply went out and played inspired football the last two weeks,” Kelly said. “They put consistent performances together the last two weeks, and I’m really proud of their performance. They played well against Vanderbilt; they played well against Oklahoma. Both those teams beat a team in Alabama, that we lost to.”
LSU jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter when Kyren Lacy caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Garrett Nussmeier.
The Sooners tied the game when defensive lineman R Mason Thomas picked up a fumble caused by Gracen Halton’s sack of the LSU quarterback and Thomas returned it nine yards for a touchdown. It was Thomas’ first career touchdown and OU’s fourth defensive touchdown of the season.
Following an LSU field goal which gave the Tigers the lead in the second quarter, OU took the lead on a two-yard run by Xavier Robinson, putting the Sooners ahead, 14-10 with 7:22 remaining in the second quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff, LSU’s Aaron Anderson returned the ball from his own goal line, 100 yards for a score, giving the Tigers the lead at 17-14.
Late in the second quarter, OU’s Zach Schmit kicked a 44-yard field goal to tie the game 17-17.
However, the Tigers regained the lead, 24-17, just before halftime on a 40-yard pass from Nussmeier to Chris Hilton Jr.
The Sooners offense failed to generate any scoring opportunities in the second while the Tigers continued to roll.
Nussmeier and Hilton connected again for a 45-yard touchdown on LSU’s first possession of the third quarter to make the score 31-17.
The Tigers added two fourth-quarter field goals to finish out the scoring.
“I felt like we were three different units out there today, not all representing Oklahoma together,” said OU head Brent Venables. “I thought our guys on defense came out in the first quarter, they created some momentum. Offensively we didn’t play very well in the first quarter, in the second quarter we were kind of on our heels a little bit defensively and gave up a 50-yard run and a 38-yard pass for a touchdown.”
OU quarterback Jackson Arnold completed 14-of-21 passes for 110 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed 17 times for 75 yards. It was Arnold’s second straight game and third this season with at least 75 rushing yards.
Jacob Jordan led OU with six receptions for 42 yards while Sam Franklin carried the ball six times for 61 yards, including a season-long 34-yard run.
Nussmeier finished with 22-of-31 passing for 277 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Hilton caught two passes, both resulting in touchdowns.
LSU outgained OU 395 to 277 in total offensive yards.
The Sooners are bowl eligible for the 26th consecutive season (second-longest streak nationally) and will find out its bowl destination on Sunday.