HotFootballTake: Auburn Heads to the Biggest County in Texas for a Showdown with the Sooners
Jackson Arnold Returns to Norman with Something to Prove
The most meaningful games don’t always show up in November. Sometimes, they drop in September—loaded with receipts. Auburn’s trip to Norman isn’t just another SEC clash. It’s layered with tension, memory, and stakes that cut deeper than standings.
At the center of it all: Jackson Arnold.
A year ago, he was Oklahoma’s future. Now? He’s Auburn’s present—rolling back into the house that nearly broke him.
The Impossible Situation
Arnold’s 2024 season was a wreck—and not all of it was on him. Oklahoma’s offensive line leaked like a busted dam, coughing up 50 sacks. His wideouts were gone. The playcalling was a mess. The offensive coordinator didn’t make it to Thanksgiving. At one point, Arnold even got benched. The kid everybody circled as a breakout star? Trapped in a system that crumbled around him.
So he left. And he leveled up.
Auburn gave him what Norman never did: an O-line that can maul, weapons who can actually separate, and a system designed to fit his skillset. Surrounded by bruisers in the trenches and playmakers like Cam Coleman and Eric Singleton Jr. (cleared to go after a hip pointer scare), Arnold has turned the page. He’s not just “bouncing back.” He looks like the quarterback everybody thought he could be.
Now he walks back into Norman with the cameras rolling and a shot to flip the entire narrative.
Oklahoma’s New Identity
This isn’t the same Sooners team either. It’s their SEC home opener, and they’ve looked flat-out nasty so far. Brent Venables has built a defense that’s eating teams alive—top five in scoring D, sack rate, and efficiency. Opposing QBs are hitting under 50% against them.
Quarterback John Mateer has caught fire, dropping over 300 a game and tallying eight total scores already. If he delivers in this one, don’t be shocked if Heisman chatter starts circling.
So yeah—it’s strength vs. strength. Auburn wants to lean on the ground game with Jeremiah Cobb and let Arnold control tempo. Oklahoma wants to blow it up, crash the pocket, and dare Arnold to test a secondary that knows his tendencies like the back of its hand. On the flip side, Mateer and the Sooners’ passing game will take direct aim at an Auburn secondary that’s still got holes.
Auburn’s Real Test
Through three games, Auburn’s offensive line has bullied people. But they haven’t seen a front like Oklahoma’s yet. This one comes down to protection: can Arnold actually breathe long enough to push the ball downfield? Or does Venables’ pass rush crack the pocket and force mistakes?
Defensively, Keyron Crawford has to be a wrecking ball again. He leads the Tigers in sacks, tackles, and TFLs. If he and Auburn’s front can harass Mateer into bad decisions, the Tigers can drag this game into the mud they love.
Injuries Could Swing It
Both sides are limping in. Auburn’s down RB Durrell Robinson and might be without multiple corners (Jay Crawford, Champ Anthony). Oklahoma’s missing three starting O-linemen, which is a nightmare against an Auburn front that knows how to get home.
Singleton Jr. being cleared is massive. His vertical speed is the kind of weapon that forces Oklahoma to play honest, opening up space for Coleman and Cobb underneath. Auburn’s offense is simply different when No. 1 is on the field.
The Pick
Vegas loves Oklahoma by a touchdown. The models agree. But this feels like the kind of game numbers don’t get right.
Auburn’s physicality travels. They’ve got a QB with receipts to cash, a run game that can drain the life out of a stadium, and just enough chaos energy to flip the script. If Arnold keeps his poise and Auburn avoids turnovers, they won’t just steal a win—they’ll leave Norman with an entirely new identity.
Projection: Auburn 27, Oklahoma 24.