Skip to main content
Auburn

Series history: Tigers seeking first win over Oklahoma

by: Caleb Jones5 hours agoCalebJ_Rivals
Auburn, AL - 20240928 - Auburn Tigers Football vs. #21 Oklahoma Sooners
AUBURN, AL - SEPTEMBER 28 - Auburn Running Back Damari Alston (0) during the game between the Auburn Tigers and the #21 Oklahoma Sooners at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, AL on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. Photo by Austin Perryman/Auburn Tigers

Auburn travels to Norman, Okla., for the first time in program history Saturday.

It will be the fourth all-time meeting between Auburn and Oklahoma, with all three wins in the series belonging to the Sooners.

RELATED: Three big storylines: Arnold’s return, QB duel and playoff stakes

First meeting: 1972 Sugar Bowl

Prior to Oklahoma joining the SEC, Auburn’s only games against the Sooners were postseason matchups. The first was the 1972 Sugar Bowl, where Auburn lost 40-22.

Both teams were top-5 teams entering the contest, but Oklahoma smoked the Tigers in the first half. Oklahoma led 31-0 at halftime, with quarterback Jack Mildren taking home MVP honors. Mildren rushed for 149 yards and three touchdowns in the win.

Tigers clash with Heisman finalists

In the second-ever meeting between Auburn and Oklahoma, the Sooners boasted two Heisman finalists on their roster. Quarterback Baker Mayfield, who later won the award one season later, and receiver Dede Westbrook led the Sooners to a 35-19 victory in the 2017 Sugar Bowl.

Mayfield tossed two touchdowns on 296 yards passing. The Sooners rushed for 228 yards, with running backs Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon splitting most of the carries.

Auburn played three quarterbacks, as starter Sean White and backup John Franklin III both left the game with injuries. Jeremy Johnson played the fourth quarter for Auburn, with an Oklahoma touchdown on the first drive of the quarter essentially putting the game out of reach.

Fourth quarter collapse

Auburn nearly upset No. 21 Oklahoma last season in Jordan Hare Stadium, leading by double figures in the fourth quarter.

With just over four minutes to play, Auburn held possession and led 21-16. The Tigers moved the ball into Oklahoma territory, before Kip Lewis intercepted Payton Thorne and ran it back for a go-ahead touchdown.

Auburn never scored again and dropped to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in SEC play.

One year later, Auburn is led by former Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold, who returns to his old stomping grounds. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CST on ABC.