Oklahoma Sooners Storm Back To Hold Off LSU Tigers

In a game that had more twists and turns than a country backroad, the Oklahoma Sooners somehow, someway, kept their College Football Playoff dreams from turning into a full-blown nightmare. It was ugly, it was tense, and for three quarters, it looked like Quarterback John Mateer was doing his best to personally gift-wrap a spoiler victory for LSU. But in the end, Oklahoma did what they’ve done all month: survive and advance.

Down 13-10 late in the fourth, with the ghosts of three interceptions haunting his every move, Mateer had to find a way to shake it off. The season was on the line. He dropped back, saw Isaiah Sategna streaking wide open like he’d just heard there was free brisket behind the end zone, and uncorked a 58-yard prayer that was answered. Touchdown, Sooners. 17-13. The crowd at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, which had been holding its collective breath for what felt like an eternity, finally exploded.

But LSU wasn’t about to just pack up and head back to the bayou. They marched right back to midfield, setting the stage for one last dramatic stand. It was up to Brent Venables’ defense, the same unit that had kept the team in the game all afternoon, to slam the door shut. And slam it they did. A fourth-down pass breakup sealed the deal, and Oklahoma escaped with a 17-13 victory, punching their ticket to the CFP for the first time since 2019.

The Mateer Rollercoaster Punches Oklahoma’s Ticket

Let’s be honest: for about 45 minutes of game time, Mateer was playing like he’d left his talent back in the locker room. His performance was a masterclass in giving a coaching staff heart palpitations. Three interceptions, missed reads, and a general sense of unease defined his day. One pick was a tipped-ball tragedy that set LSU up deep, only for Peyton Bowen to make a circus interception in the end zone to bail him out. Another directly led to LSU’s only touchdown.

Just when you thought it was time to start questioning the decision to leave him in, Mateer would pull a rabbit out of his hat. He connected with Deion Burks for a 45-yard catch-and-run touchdown to tie the game, a flash of the brilliance Oklahoma needed. Then came the game-winner to Sategna.

It was a Jekyll and Hyde performance that perfectly summed up the Sooners’ gritty November run: do just enough, and let your playmakers make plays. Mateer finished with 318 yards, two touchdowns, and those three pesky interceptions. Not pretty, but it got the job done.

The Sooner Defense Was the Real MVP

While Mateer was playing with fire, the Oklahoma defense was the fire department, putting out blazes all over the field. They held LSU to a laughable 66 total yards in the first half. They bent after Mateer’s second interception gave LSU a short field, but they never truly broke. Gracen Halton was a one-man wrecking crew, blowing up a trick play and later forcing the hurried throw that ended LSU’s final drive.

The Tigers’ offense looked completely lost, finishing with a meager 198 total yards and going a dismal 2-for-14 on third down. It was a suffocating, dominant performance that gave the offense every chance to wake up and win the game. On a day where the offense sputtered, the defense was the engine that powered Oklahoma to a 10-2 regular season finish.

Now, the Sooners wait. Their spot in the College Football Playoff seems secure, a testament to a season of gut-wrenching wins and improbable comebacks. It wasn’t always elegant, but in college football, a win is a win, and Oklahoma found a way to get the biggest one of their season.