NORMAN — The Oklahoma Sooners’ dreams of returning to the College Football Playoff are alive and well.
Coach Brent Venables and the Sooners survived LSU for a 17-13 win Saturday at Owen Field in Norman that will all but lock up the Sooners’ first trip to the CFP since 2019.
“Hard to kill,” Venables said on the ABC broadcast.
OU outgained LSU 393-198, but the Sooners’ offense was plagued by turnovers.
OU quarterback John Mateer completed 23 of 38 passes for 318 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.
The Sooners struggled on offense, but two big plays gave them all the points they needed.
Isaiah Sategna III scored on a 58-yard catch in the fourth quarter to put OU (10-2, 6-2 SEC) up for good.
Deion Burks had a 45-yard touchdown catch one quarter earlier.
LSU falls to 7-5 overall and 3-5 in the SEC.
The playoff bracket and bowl games will be unveiled Sunday, Dec. 7.
Watch Oklahoma vs LSU live with Fubo
| 🨀 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| LSU | 0 | 3 | 7 | 3 | — | – |
| Oklahoma | 3 | 0 | 7 | 7 | — | – |
1:16 left in fourth quarter: OU 17, LSU 13 | Sooners take over on downs
The Oklahoma Sooners will survive the LSU Tigers.
Facing fourth-and-2 at the OU 29-yard line, Michael Van Buren Jr.’s pass is batted down.
OU will take over and can kneel it out.
—Jeff Patterson, sports editor
4:16 left in fourth quarter: OU 17, LSU 13 | John Mateer connects on 58-yard TD pass to Isaiah Sategna III
The Sooners are back in front.
John Mateer and Isaiah Sategna III catch the LSU sleeping on a wide-open 58-yard touchdown pass.
—Jeff Patterson, sports editor
5:04 left in fourth quarter: LSU 13, OU 10 | Sooners’ defense holds again
The Tigers go three-and-out and punt again.
OU takes over at its 16-yard line.
—Jeff Patterson, sports editor
6:36 left in fourth quarter: LSU 13, OU 10 | Sooners punt after another three-and-out
False start.
Incomplete pass (that nearly hit the umpire)
Completion under pressure that ends up 4 yards short.
Grayson Miller punts for the seventh time.
LSU takes over at its 30-yard line.
—Jeff Patterson, sports editor
7:56 left in fourth quarter: LSU 13, OU 10 | Tigers retake lead on Damian Ramos FG
LSU shows some signs of life on offense, driving 42 yards on seven plays.
Gracen Halton forced a fumble that put LSU out of field-goal range, but Michael Van Buren Jr. connected on an 18-yard pass on third-and-long to set up a 43-yard field goal for Damian Ramos.
—Jeff Patterson, sports editor
12:34 left in fourth quarter: OU 10, LSU 10 | Sooners go three-and-out
John Mateer nearly threw his fourth interception on a second-down pass. One play later he was trapped in a shrinking pocket for no gain to cap a three-play drive that went 2 yards.
LSU takes over at its 32-yard line.
—Jeff Patterson, sports editor
14:05 left in fourth quarter: OU 10, LSU 10 | Sooners force another punt
The Tigers go 17 yards on five plays before punting again.
LSU has just 124 yards of total offense.
—Jeff Patterson, sports editor
1:47 left in third quarter: OU 10, LSU 10 | Deion Burks ties it up with 45-yard TD catch
Deion Burks has been quiet the past few weeks. As Brent Venables likes to say, he was “right on time.”
The Sooners’ receiver scored a touchdown on a 45-yard screen pass from quarterback John Mateer to tie the game.
—Colton Sulley, Staff writer
2:30 left in third quarter: LSU 10, OU 3 | Sooners defense gets ball back
Brent Venables opted to punt instead of having his offense try a fourth-and-1.
His decision paid off as his defense, yet again, forced a stop and a punt to give OU’s offense the ball back.
—Colton Sulley, Staff writer
4:00 left in third quarter: LSU 10, OU 3 | Sooners punt instead of going for fourth-and-1
OU’s offensive struggles continued on the drive. The Sooners ran three plays, tried to get the Tigers to jump offside, before deciding to punt.
OU has yet to reach the red zone.
—Colton Sulley, Staff writer
5:40 left in third quarter: LSU 10, OU 3 | Sooners defense forces punt
OU’s defense continues to keep the Sooners in the game, forcing yet another punt.
The Sooners’ offense led by quarterback John Mateer — who has thrown three interceptions — is up.
—Colton Sulley, Staff writer
7:49 left in third quarter: LSU 10, OU 3 | John Mateer throws pick No. 3
OU quarterback John Mateer found Javonnie Gibson for a 30-yard gain. The Sooners were driving. And then … Mateer threw his third interception of the game.
Mateer is 17-for-29 with 174 yards and three interceptions as the Sooners trail LSU 10-3.
—Colton Sulley, Staff writer
11:21 left in third quarter: LSU 10, OU 3 | Tigers take lead after John Mateer interception
LSU took a 10-3 lead following John Mateer’s second interception of the day.
OU’s offense will need to find something on its next drive.
—Colton Sulley, Staff writer
13:24 left in third quarter: OU 3, LSU 3 | John Mateer throws second pick
OU quarterback John Mateer completed a 29-yard pass to wide receiver Isaiah Sategna III before, on the very next play, tossing his second interception of the day.
That’s been the story of Mateer and the Sooners’ offensive day — find some success before shooting themselves in the foot.
—Colton Sulley, Staff writer
If it’s complementary football the committee is looking for, it’s not going to find it in Norman.
The Sooners sport an otherworldly defense and an abominable offense. OU is College Football Playoff-bound with a win, but it’s fair to wonder if this performance might cost the Sooners a first-round home game.
There’s real pressure on John Mateer and Ben Arbuckle heading into this second half. The good news? One touchdown, heck, one more field goal, might be enough. LSU has no shot at moving the ball against this OU defense.
— Joe Mussatto, columnist
HALF: OU 3, LSU 3 | Sooners punt, pin LSU at 6-yard line
The Sooners’ offense punted for the fourth time, pinning LSU at its own 6-yard line.
The Tigers handed it off once and ran the clock out.
—Colton Sulley, Staff writer
4:23 left in second quarter: OU 3, LSU 3 | Sooners’ defense forces another punt
OU’s defense is doing its job.
The Sooners forced LSU to punt for the fifth time on Saturday. OU’s offense takes over at its own 20-yard line.
—Colton Sulley, Staff writer
7:55 left in second quarter: OU 3, LSU 3 | Sooners offense punts again
Rinse and repeat.
Following a 21-yard run by Tory Blaylock, the Sooners’ offense stalled again and punted. OU is 1-for-7 on third downs.
—Colton Sulley, Staff writer
9:56 left in second quarter: OU 3, LSU 3 | Tigers punt for fourth time
It’s been a long afternoon for LSU’s offense.
Video review overturned a potential first down and the Tigers had to punt for the fourth time.
—Colton Sulley, Staff writer
12:01 left in second quarter: OU 3, LSU 3 | Sooners offensive struggles continue
OU ran three plays for eight yards and was forced to punt. The Sooners’ offense, which failed to find much rhythm against Missouri last week, is out of sorts again.
On third-and-2, quarterback John Mateer rushed a pass to tight end Kaden Helms, who didn’t have time to catch it.
—Colton Sulley, Staff writer
13:35 left in second quarter: OU 3, LSU 3 | David Stone, Kip Lewis combine for third-down stop, force field goal
LSU kicker Damian Ramos tied the game with a 25-yard field goal. A pair of Sooners defensive penalties allowed the Tigers to lead a six-play, 42-yard drive.
—Colton Sulley, Staff writer
End of first quarter: OU 3, LSU 0 | Defensive battle through one
OU and LSU are struggling offensively through one quarter, combining for 112 total yards.
The Tigers are facing a second-and-goal after a pair of Sooners defensive penalties (facemask on Courtland Guillory and roughing the passer on PJ Adebawore).
—Colton Sulley, Staff writer
4:08 left in first quarter: OU 3, LSU 0 | Tigers punt after three straight incompletions
LSU has started Saturday’s game with three three-and-outs and an interception.
The Tigers have run 10 plays and have recorded 10 yards.
—Colton Sulley, Staff writer
4:31 left in first quarter: OU 3, LSU 0 | Drive stalls, Tate Sandell drills 38-yarder
OU’s offense found some success in the pass game before its drive stalled.
Quarterback John Mateer connected with wide receiver Javonnie Gibson for 27 yards. Mateer then completed three short passes before misfiring on a few, forcing kicker Tate Sandell to drill a 38-yard field goal.
—Colton Sulley, Staff writer
9:32 left in first quarter: OU 0, LSU 0 | Tigers punt
Kip Lewis batted down a third-down pass and LSU was forced to punt again.
After five combined possessions, the Sooners and Tigers have combined for 18 total yards.
—Colton Sulley, Staff writer
10:35 left in first quarter: OU 0, LSU 0 | Sooners punt
Following Peyton Bowen’s interception, OU gave the ball right back.
The Sooners ran three plays — two runs by Tory Blaylock and an incompletion by Mateer on third down — before punting.
—Colton Sulley, Staff writer
11:50 left in first quarter: OU 0, LSU 0 | Sooners, Tigers trade picks
On third-and-6 on the Sooners’ own 46-yard line, OU quarterback John Mateer’s pass was deflected by Patrick Payton and intercepted by Harold Perkins Jr., who almost scored, but was stopped at the four-yard line.
On the first play of the Tigers’ drive, Sooners safety Peyton Bowen picked off Michael Van Buren Jr.
Through just over three minutes, there have been two turnovers and zero first downs.
—Colton Sulley, Staff writer
12:59 left in first quarter: OU 0, LSU 0 | Sooners force quick three-and-out
OU forced a quick three-and-out, forcing LSU to punt.
The Sooners take over at their own 42-yard line.
—Colton Sulley, Staff writer
As expected, OU will officially be without offensive lineman Heath Ozaeta against LSU on Saturday, per the SEC pregame availability report. Ozaeta was listed as doubtful on Friday night.
In addition to Ozaeta, the Sooners’ offensive line will also be missing starting center Jake Maikkula, who was ruled out on Friday night. Without Maikkula, OU’s expected to start Febechi Nwaiwu at center.
There was no change to LSU’s pregame report.
Here is the full pregame report:
Oklahoma
- RB Jovantae Barnes: Out
- DB Gentry Williams: Out
- DB Kendel Dolby: Out
- DL R Mason Thomas: Out
- OL Troy Everett: Out
- OL Jake Maikkula: Out
- OL Jacob Sexton: Out
- OL Heath Ozaeta: Out
- OL Jake Taylor: Out
- DB Reggie Powers III: Out first half (targeting)
LSU
- WR Aaron Anderson: Out
- QB Garrett Nussmeier: Out
- DE Gabriel Reliford: Out
- OL Braelin Moore: Out
- OL Ory Williams: Out
—Colton Sulley, Staff writer
What channel is Oklahoma vs LSU on today?
Oklahoma vs LSU will be streamed on Fubo in Week 14 of the 2025 college football season. Mark Jones (play-by-play) and Roddy Jones (analyst) will call the game from the booth at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
What time does OU play today? Oklahoma vs LSU time
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 29
- Start time: 2:30 p.m. CT
The Oklahoma vs LSU game starts at 2:30 p.m. from Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
Oklahoma vs LSU predictions, picks, odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday, Nov. 28:
- Spread: OU (-10.5)
- Over/under: 36.5
- Moneyline: OU -500 | LSU +375
OU 17, LSU 0: The Sooners’ ferocious defense shuts out a struggling Tigers offense to solidify CFP standing —Colton Sulley
OU football schedule 2025
- Week 1 | Saturday, Aug. 30: Oklahoma 35, Illinois State 3
- Week 2 | Saturday, Sept. 6: Oklahoma 24, Michigan 13
- Week 3 | Saturday, Sept. 13: Oklahoma 42, Temple 3
- Week 4 | Saturday, Sept. 20: Oklahoma 24, Auburn 17
- Week 5 | Bye week
- Week 6 | Saturday, Oct. 4: Oklahoma 44, Kent State 0
- Week 7 | Saturday, Oct. 11: Texas 23, Oklahoma 6
- Week 8 | Saturday, Oct. 18: Oklahoma 26, South Carolina 7
- Week 9 | Saturday, Oct. 25: Ole Miss 34, Oklahoma 26
- Week 10 | Saturday, Nov. 1: Oklahoma 33, Tennessee 27
- Week 11 | Bye week
- Week 12 | Saturday, Nov. 15: Oklahoma 23, Alabama 21
- Week 13 | Saturday, Nov. 22: Oklahoma 17, Missouri 6
- Week 14 | Saturday, Nov. 29: vs. LSU at 2:30 p.m. (ABC)
