Both Oklahoma and Auburn entered Saturday’s matchup with their backs against the wall. But the No. 21 Sooners were the team that looked a bit too tense early in the game.
Coming off a home loss to Tennessee in the program’s SEC debut, Oklahoma trailed by double digits with less than 10 minutes remaining in the game after scoring just 10 points through the first three quarters.
Offensive struggles weren’t totally unexpected for the Sooners, as Auburn has played sound defense even in its losses this season. And the Tigers’ Jordan-Hare Stadium was never going to be an easy setting for true freshman QB Michael Hawkins Jr.’s first career start.
What Oklahoma showed down the stretch, though, was an effort that could be a turning point in the team’s season.
Here’s a look at how the Sooners completed the comeback and clinched a 27-21 win against Auburn.
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Oklahoma vs. Auburn box score
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | F | |
| Oklahoma | 7 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 27 |
| Auburn | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
Auburn did a much better job of protecting the football with Payton Thorne at quarterback this week. But the one interception the senior did throw completely turned the game upside down.
Before that moment, Oklahoma turned a 21-10 deficit into a 21-16 deficit when a 60-yard throw from Hawkins to J.J. Hester set up a Javontae Barnes touchdown. The two-point try failed, and the Sooners seemed to be in trouble when Auburn approached field goal range with the clock starting to wind down in the fourth quarter.
Momentum shifted in an instant when Kip Lewis intercepted Thorne and ran it 63 yards back to the end zone to put Oklahoma in front.
That just happened. @KipLewis9 | #OUDNA pic.twitter.com/xmmZmYgoma
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) September 28, 2024
Auburn’s offense regressed on its final two drives. Thorne took two devastating sacks from R Mason Thomas on the first drive after the pick-six, and the Tigers only got close enough for a Hail Mary try that would be caught 13 yards short on their final possession.
Hawkins had an up-and-down day in his first start for Oklahoma, but two game-changing plays by the true freshman were the difference. Here’s a closer look at how Hawkins fared against Auburn.
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Michael Hawkins Jr. stats vs. Auburn
- Comp.: 10-15 (66.7%)
- Pass yards: 161
- Pass TD: 0
- INT: 0
- Sacks: 2
- Rush att.: 14
- Rush yards: 69
- Rush TD: 1
Hawkins certainly had his share of quiet moments in the win, but the big plays will almost certainly keep him in the starting role going forward.
The true freshman announced his presence with a 48-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter, showcasing blazing speed.
Welcome to College Football, Michael Hawkins Jr👀
pic.twitter.com/lAyYlvMhZq
— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 28, 2024
An excellent throw to J.J. Hester for 60 yards set up Oklahoma’s second touchdown of the night, and Hawkins’ finest moment might have come after Lewis’ pick-six to give the Sooners the lead. He put his body on the line for the two-point conversion, somehow surviving a hard landing unscathed and extending the lead to three.
Michael Hawkins freaking endearing himself to #Sooners fans everywhere.
Talk about laying it out there. pic.twitter.com/dMQ6ONy0AS
— TJ Eckert (@TJEckertKTUL) September 28, 2024
Hawkins had only 122 total yards outside of the pass to Hester and the rushing touchdown, which indicates how much of a struggle the middle of the game was for Oklahoma’s offense. Those flashes, though, are why Brent Venables was comfortable inserting Hawkins into the starting lineup in such a tough environment, and they made all the difference Saturday.
