Oklahoma and Auburn entered the season hopeful about their quarterback situations. Four weeks in, hope has been abandoned and now they’re just trying to find answers to spark arguably the most inconsistent offenses in the SEC.
The No. 21 Sooners made a quarterback change midway through its 25-15 loss to Tennessee last week and the decision will carry over to this week’s matchup in Auburn, where freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. takes over for Jackson Arnold. Meanwhile, Auburn’s players (especially the quarterbacks) have been criticized publicly by coach Hugh Freeze after both Payton Thorne and Hank Brown — who made his first SEC start last week against Arkansas — struggled in back-to-back games. Brown threw three interceptions in the first half last week and was benched, paving the way for Thorne (again).
Auburn and Oklahoma have never met in the regular season, and not many expected the first meeting between two storied programs to be framed by quarterback issues quite like this. Oklahoma has failed to eclipse 250 yards in its last three games. Auburn ranks second-to-last nationally in turnover margin at minus-2.5 per game.
Simply put, something has to give Saturday on the Plains, and the winner could get back on track for a successful season.
Oklahoma vs. Auburn: Need to know
Michael Hawkins Jr. sparked OU last week: Oklahoma’s problems on offense are not limited to quarterback Jackson Arnold, but at least Michael Hawkins Jr. provided a boost in an otherwise demoralizing loss to Tennessee last week. He threw for 132 yards and led the Sooners on two touchdown drives. He also ran for 22 yards. Mind you, he did most of this after the Arnold-directed offense managed minus-20 yards in the second quarter in one of the worst 15 minutes in Sooners’ history. He needs help, particularly from a makeshift offensive line that has underperformed all season, but at least the Sooners have something to be excited about as they face Auburn in their road debut in the SEC. Can Oklahoma get another receiver other than Deion Burks to step up? Hawkins needs all the help he can get on the road.
Auburn still working through QB battle: Brown supplanted Paton Thorne as Auburn’s starter two weeks ago, but after throwing three picks in the first half in the loss to Arkansas, the quarterback competition restarted at practices this week. Both were splitting time with the first-team offense, but Thorne is expected to start vs. the Sooners. Whoever starts, coach Hugh Freeze needs to rebuild some confidence in the quarterback room. He has openly criticized both players, but this week says he trying to help them mentally.
“Thing thing we’re preaching to them in that room is showing them all the good that they’re doing,” he said.
Thorne threw two second half touchdown passes last week, completing 13 of 22 passes for 213 yards after starting 1 of 7. There’s work to be done, but at least the veteran picked up the pace and responded.
Oklahoma’s defense is still great: Auburn has the worst turnover margin in the Power Four. Oklahoma is No. 1 in the country in takeaways with 12 through three games. That sets up terribly for Auburn at home. The Sooners don’t just have an opportunistic defense, it also dictates the tempo, effectively slowing down a pair of explosive offenses this season. That includes Tennessee, which scored 25 after averaging 63.7 points per game. The Sooners rank in the top 30 in three major categories (scoring, total, and rushing) but struggle a bit against the pass (61st in pass efficiency defense). Can Auburn take advantage despite struggling at quarterback?
How to watch No. 21 Oklahoma vs. Auburn live
Date: Saturday, Sept. 27 | Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Jordan-Hare Stadium — Auburn, Alabama
TV: ABC | Live stream: fubo (Try for free)
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No. 21 Oklahoma vs. Auburn prediction, picks
Oklahoma and Auburn have never faced off in the regular season, and both would probably like to avoid their first meeting Saturday just so they could skip the complementary storylines as the most inept offenses in the conference. Neither team is happy with their situations, particularly at quarterback, and the offensive lines have played a hand in their shared demise. The Sooners haven’t eclipsed 250 yards in three weeks and Auburn can’t settle on a quarterback while Freeze claims his Tigers could beat Arkansas nine straight times after losing 24-14 last week. If misery loves company, these two are right at home on the Plains. Michael Hawkins Jr. should spark Oklahoma’s offense, but the difference here is the Sooners’ incredible defense, which still plays at an elite level. Pick: Oklahoma SU (-130)
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