Ranking OU's opponents in 2025: Auburn
Editor’s note: This is a series previewing each of the Sooners’ opponents in 2025. OUInsider will rank all 12 opponents by their significance, difficulty and entertainment value on a 1-10 scale, publishing each installment based on which team is next in the rankings. This installment focuses on Auburn, the team ranked fourth in this series.
Maybe the biggest get-your-popcorn-ready moments of Oklahoma’s entire season happens in Week 4, in the opening game of the SEC slate.
That’s when Jackson Arnold makes his return.
The former Oklahoma quarterback will be in just his fourth game with the Tigers when he makes his heavily-anticipated return to Owen Field. The five-star prospect had a chaotic season with the Sooners in 2024, which included beginning the year as the starter, getting benched after three first-half turnovers against Tennessee, before reclaiming the job late in the year. The result? Arnold transferred out but stayed with in the SEC.
To add insult to injury, it was Arnold’s replacement — Michael Hawkins Jr. — who played a key role in the Sooners’ come-from-behind win at Auburn last season. Fair or not, Arnold isn’t likely to be greeted with open arms by the OU faithful.
Even without the Arnold factor, this is a huge game for the Sooners. This is the SEC opener, they get to play at home, and it’s essentially a must-win game given the difficulty of the schedule. Plus, the Sooners have never played Auburn at home.
There’s no shortage of storylines or intrigue here. Here’s an overview of what the Sooners will face against Auburn this fall:
GAME INFO
When: 2:30 p.m. or 7 p.m. CT
Where: Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
TV: TBD
OUINSIDER METRICS
Difficulty: 8.5/10
Entertainment Value: 10/10
Significance: 9/10
Total score: 27.5/30
AUBURN OVERVIEW
2024 STATS
Record: 5-7 (2-6 SEC)
Scoring offense: 27.8 points per game (71st nationally)
Scoring defense: 21.3 points per game (28th)
Total offense: 429.4 yards per game (29th)
Total defense: 330.8 yards per game (31st)
KEY DEPARTURES
QB Payton Thorne (2,713 passing yards, 21 TD, 9 INT, 62.8% completion)
RB Jarquez Hunter (187 carries, 1,201 yards, 8 TD)
WR Keandre Lambert-Smith (50 receptions, 981 yards, 8 TD)
LB Dorian Mausi (81 tackles, 9 TFL, 2.5 sacks)
LB Jalen McLeod (57 tackles, 14 TFL, 8 sacks)
KEY RETURNERS
WR Cam Coleman (37 receptions, 598 yards, 8 TD)
DE Keldric Faulk (45 tackles, 11 TFL, 7 sacks)
KEY ADDITIONS
QB Jackson Arnold (Oklahoma)
LB Xavier Atkins (LSU)
OT Mason Murphy (USC)
BIGGEST STORYLINE
Can Arnold find success at Auburn?
OU fans will surely be tuned in for Arnold’s first season with the Tigers. But they’re not the only ones who will be watching.
There’s a ton of pressure on Arnold this season, both individually and for the team. The Tigers have had four straight losing seasons and didn’t even reach bowl eligibility in 2024. The offensive struggles were a big reason why last season was so disappointing — they scored more than 24 points just once in conference play last season.
Enter Arnold, who is in prime position to prove he can still be a high-caliber quarterback. The former five-star prospect simply wasn’t anywhere near good enough last season. But the offense as a whole was simply a disaster, which included the mid-season firing of then-offensive coordinator Seth Littrell. The Sooners’ top-five wide receivers all missed significant time, and the offensive line also dealt with injuries. It’d be hard to argue that Arnold was dealt a fair hand.
But he’s got a fresh start and a new gig with an SEC school. It’s a huge opportunity for Arnold, and the Tigers desperately need him to produce.
ANALYSIS
The Sooners and Brent Venables are in a make-or-break year, and they have a chance at an early statement victory against an SEC opponent that’ll be led by the highly-touted quarterback that left in the offseason. Could there be more entertainment value?
The Michigan and Auburn games give the Sooners two massive early opportunities to prove they’re moving forward from an awful season in 2024. If the Sooners lose to Auburn — and Arnold plays well in the process — that would be a pretty tough pill to swallow. There is all the motivation in the world for the Sooners to win big at home.
OUINSIDER SCHEDULE SERIES
12. Kent State
11. Illinois State
10. Temple
9. Missouri
8. Ole Miss
6. Tennessee
5. LSU
4. Auburn
3-1. ???