SEC calls out officiating mistake that cost Auburn a TD in 7-point loss to Oklahoma

Sep 20, 2025; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Isaiah Sategna III (5) reacts after catching a touchdown pass during the first half against the Auburn Tigers at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

The Auburn-Oklahoma matchup on Saturday in Norman produced one of the best games of the day, but an officiating mistake has the outcome buried in controversy.

Thanks to a go-ahead touchdown run from QB John Mateer with a little under five minutes to go in regulation, No. 11 Oklahoma was able to hold off No. 22 Auburn 24-17. The Sooners set a school record by sacking Auburn QB Jackson Arnold (who transferred over from Oklahoma) 10 total times. It was a defensive battle from both sides. But one of OU’s two offensive touchdowns shouldn’t have counted at all.

With 10:45 to go in the second quarter, Mateer found Isaiah Satenga III for a 24-yard touchdown that put the Sooners ahead 10-3. However, right before the snap, it appeared as though Satenga was heading to the sideline for a substitution, but that was a ruse to hide him from the Auburn secondary. Once the ball was snapped, he sprinted down the field, without the knowledge of any Tiger player, and walked right into the end zone — an important play in a game decided by just seven points.

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But the play should have been called dead with Oklahoma penalized. The Southeastern Conference called out the officiating crew in a statement hours after the finish, explaining that the Sooners had broken the rules and should have received a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty.

“NCAA football Rule 9-2, article 2 is labeled ‘unfair tactics” with paragraph (B) stating:

“No simulated replacements or substitutions may be used to confuse opponents. No tactic associated with substitutes or the substitution process may be used to confuse opponents. This includes any hideout tactic with or without a substitution.

“The officiating crew did not properly interpret the action as a hideout tactic. If properly officiated, the second down play should have resulted in a team unsportsmanlike conduct penalty of 15 yards assessed from the previous spot.

“Appropriate accountability will be applied without additional comment.”

That’s a rather large screw-up…

Statement on @AuburnFootball/@OU_Football game: pic.twitter.com/PCn8AwLkeb
— SEC Officiating (@SECOfficiating) September 21, 2025

It’s not often we see statements like this from the league office, especially so soon after the game ended. But it was an obviously bad no-call. ESPN rules analyst Matt Austin said during the broadcast that it should have been a penalty. Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze was understandably upset about the call in his postgame press conference, too. Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator, Ben Arbuckle, disputed the idea of intentional deception, but the SEC clearly believes otherwise.