It wasn’t pretty, but the Oklahoma Sooners accomplished what they needed in order to secure a spot in the College Football Playoffs. The Sooners came from behind and had to overcome three interceptions, to beat LSU 17-13 Saturday at Gaylord Family – Memorial Stadium in Norman.
The Sooners who are now 10-2 overall, 6-2 in the Southeastern Conference and No. 8 in the CFP, are likely in a position to host a first-round game in the playoffs after winning four straight games. LSU dropped to 7-5, 3-5 SEC and is bowl eligible.
OU head coach Brent Venables admitted it might not have been a great game, but he was glad about the outcome.
“There’s not a whole lot to really write about on the stat sheet, other than that score,” Venables said.
He also said this has been the case the whole season for his team, having to battle adversity, but they’ve been able to battle enough to win ten games.
“The narrative wasn’t always on their side, and they had to kind of fight through that as well,” Venables said. “But to be able to share in this moment with them. I just have so much appreciation, respect for our players and staff.”
The only points in the first quarter came off the foot of OU’s Tate Sandell who kicked a 38-yard field goal.
In the second quarter, LSU tied the game with a 25-yard field goal by Damian Ramos, and the score was 3-3 at halftime.
The Tigers took the lead with 11:21 left in the third quarter when Zavion Thomas caught a one-yard touchdown pass from Michael Van Buren Jr. This came following a drive by OU that ended with an interception by A.J. Haulcy, who returned it 42 yards to the Oklahoma 33-yard line.
The Sooners tied the game as John Mateer connected with Deion Burks on a 45-yard touchdown pass play, and the score was 10-10 with 1:47 left in the third quarter.
LSU took the lead again midway through the fourth quarter when Ramos kicked a 43-yard field goal, making the score 13-10.
With 4:16 left to play in the fourth quarter, Mateer threw a 58-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Sategna to give the Sooners the 17-13 win.
Mateer finished with 23-of-38 passing for 318 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. Sategna caught nine passes for 121 yards, improving his team-leading season totals to 65 catches, 948 yards, seven touchdown receptions and 1,276 all-purpose yards.
OU finished with a total of 393 total yards of offense.
For LSU, Van Buren, who started at quarterback for injured starter Garrett Nussmeier, completed 14-of-25 passes for 96 yards and he ran for 33. Thomas caught three passes for thirty yards, and he caught the one touchdown.
LSU interim head coach Frank Wilson III said he felt his team played good enough to win.
“I thought in spots, we played outstanding and gave ourselves a chance,” Wilson said. “Unfortunately, it was not enough and we fell short.”
Oklahoma’s defense played well, holding the Tigers to 198 total yards and the Sooners came up with a late stop to hold on for the win. LSU converted only two of 14 third downs.
“I told our team I’m extremely proud of them, of the way that they competed, the way that they believed that they could win this game and came into it with that mindset and played accordingly,” Wilson said.
OU now waits to see who and where they will play in the CFP.