Auburn opens SEC play Saturday with a road test against No. 11 Oklahoma.
Quarterback Jackson Arnold will face his former team for the first time since transferring to Auburn last winter.
The Tigers will look to make a statement in Norman after a 27-21 loss to the Sooners last season. But with Oklahoma appearing improved on both sides of the ball, the matchup promises to be a tough battle.
Both teams have benefited from transfer portal additions, but none more than Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer, a Washington State transfer.
Through his first three games, Mateer has passed for more than 900 yards and five touchdowns while adding four scores on the ground. Like Auburn’s Jackson Arnold, he’s a dual-threat quarterback and currently leads the Sooners in rushing attempts, averaging 11 per game.
His ability to escape pressure will be critical against Auburn’s pass rush, which ranks fifth nationally in total sacks.
Another offensive weapon the Tigers will be on the lookout for is senior tight end Jaren Kanak, who was converted from linebacker just two seasons ago.
Kanak has been a reliable source of big plays for the Sooners so far this season, averaging over 17 yards per reception on 14 catches.
Another favorite target of Mateer’s is senior receiver Deion Burks. The former Purdue Boilermaker leads the Sooners in both receptions and receiving touchdowns.
Even with the impressive start to the season for the Sooners’ offense, they have shown signs of weakness in their first three games.
Mateer has had a slight interception problem to start the year, throwing one in each game so far — though this is not uncommon in pass-heavy offenses like Oklahoma’s.
The Sooners’ rushing game has also struggled slightly, averaging just over four yards per carry, which ranks in the bottom half of college football.
The Tigers will aim to continue their dominant run-stopping performances from the first three games, hoping to force some turnovers along the way.
The real challenge when facing the Sooners lies in their defense, which currently ranks fourth in the nation in opponent yards allowed per game.
The Sooners have surrendered only 19 points through three games this season. Oklahoma’s pass defense has been flat-out dominant, with opponents averaging just 84.7 yards through the air per game.
Although they have yet to force a turnover this season, Oklahoma is one of only two teams in all of college football through Week 3 to allow fewer than 100 passing yards and rushing yards per game.
If Auburn hopes to have a chance at taking down the Sooners on Saturday, it will need an all-out offensive performance — both through the air and on the ground.
As the Tigers prepare to face Oklahoma on the road in their first top-25 matchup since 2021, they’ll look to neutralize the Sooners’ impressive passing attack and electric defense in hopes of starting the season 4-0 for the first time since 2019.
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Jonathan is a freshman majoring in industrial and systems engineering. He started with The Plainsman in the fall of 2025.
