Andy & Ari On3 - Oklahoma HOLDS OFF Auburn in SEC play | Sooners vs Tigers INSTANT REACTION

Episode Date: September 20, 2025

Andy is on site in Norman, and he updates us LIVE from the SEC matchup between the Auburn Tigers and Oklahoma Sooners. As this game was close throughout, watch here as Andy Staples provides his instant analysis from Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. Join On3 today and get one full year of access to The Athletic included! https://www.on3.com/subscribe/C Watch our show on YouTube! https://youtube.com/live/Ly8iwf5gOc8 Hosts: Andy Staples, Ari WassermanProducer: River Bailey Interested in partnering with the show? Email [e-mail] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to an instant reaction edition of Andy and RON3 presented by BEDMGM, and I'm on the field here in Norman. I just watched a pretty incredible comeback by the Oklahoma Sooners, because it looked like Auburn had things figured out. Auburn finally got something going in the run game. Auburn finally takes a lead, and then Oklahoma drives down the field. John Mateer diving in for the touchdown. Oklahoma's defense then takes over. Acts number 10 and 11, the 11th from R. Mason Thomas is a safety that gives Oklahoma a 24 to 17 win. What a game. What a win for the seniors. It was kind of a sloppy game for both teams.

But I think when we look at this thing compared to the Auburn Oklahoma game last year, which was a very close win for Oklahoma last year, this looked like two good teams playing each other. Maybe not the cleanest game between two good teams. Both teams had a ton of penalties. But both teams look like they can compete in the SEC. Both defenses look incredibly fast. Both teams struggled to run the ball until Auburn got a little bit going late, and then Oklahoma got a little bit going on that last drive. But it was a phenomenal game, and this is what you wanted from John Mateer.

This is what you were hoping you would get out of John Mateer with the game on the line, with your team down by one in the fourth quarter, of a tight SEC game, what would John Mateer do? How would he respond? He responded by leading his team down the field. He responded by getting into the end zone. That is exactly why Oklahoma went and got Ben Arbuckle. That is exactly why Oklahoma went and got John Mateer. Now, we'll probably have to talk about Oklahoma's first touchdown. The Isaiah Satania catch on the sideline, on the trick play. I am curious what the SEC is going to say about that. I'm sure they're going to get asked about it. I'm sure if you freeze is sending in a video, but for those who didn't see it, basically what

happened was Oklahoma goes up-tempo. They don't substitute. But Isaiah Satania, after the play previous ended, kind of walked toward the sideline. But he didn't walk over the sideline. He kind of stood on the sideline. Oklahoma didn't change any players out. And when they snapped the ball, the Auburn defense did not realize Satania was on the field, easy pitch and catch for a touchdown.

Now, if you read the rule, it says you can't mimic any substitution pattern, whether you actually make a substitution or not. So by the letter of the rule, maybe there should have been a penalty. But did they actually mimic a substitution pattern, or did Satania just stay where he was going to stand for the next play? I think that's what Oklahoma is going to argue. And Oklahoma obviously practiced that play all week. So I'll be very curious to hear what the SEC says about this if they say anything at all,

that one obviously a point of contention in the game. Now, there were some calls that kind of went both directions that didn't feel great. Like you had what appeared to be a pass interference on Cam Coleman on a trick play that Eric Singleton threw. They didn't throw a flag. But then they threw defensive pass interference down near the goal line on Oklahoma that the crowd thought was a horrible call. And then there were some offensive pass interference on the Sooners that the Oklahoma crowd was not a huge fan of. But I'd say it went both ways. So I don't think anybody's going to come away from this saying the refs hosed us. Both teams had their chances. And Auburn, it looked like they just couldn't get anything going on the ground. The quarterback draws that

worked so well against Baylor just really didn't work against Oklahoma, though there was a really great scramble that Jackson Arnold had on a fourth and long to keep a drive alive in the fourth quarter that I believe ended in a touchdown. So they got a little bit going. And then they really got going on the ground in the fourth quarter. I think if Auburn can run on this defense, they can probably run on a lot of defenses. So I'm confident in Auburn's offense going forward

and especially watching people try to cover Cam Cullen. That is going to be a nightmare for teams. Cam Coulman is awesome. But here's the thing. Oklahoma and Isaiah Titania, who they got from Arkansas, they've got a great target there. And remember, Giovanni Gibson, the player from Arkansas Pine Bluff,

who was in Arkansas Monticello Bowl weevil at the start of his career, he didn't play today, but they think he may be back for the Kent State game. He's the one to remember, they thought he'd be their best receiver in spring practice. He broke his leg near the end of spring practice.

He's finally coming back. So both these offenses, I think, are going to get better as the season goes on. As for the defenses, they're both really good now. These defenses are going to scare people. They are fast, they are physical, and they get out of the quarterback.

Oklahoma's especially. 11 sacks, 11. It was pretty incredible watching them on that last drive because Jackson Arnold knew what was coming, and there was nothing he could do about it. That last play, which, by the way, if you pick the game on Monday, and it was Oklahoma,

is six and a half and you picked Auburn and Auburn was about to lose by five and you saw safety you probably were real happy about that so yes my my picks record is going because of that safety but that's okay they're just trying to win the game nothing wrong with that but jackson arnold was completely overwhelmed on that play completely overwhelmed just incredible pass rush by oklahoma all day Auburn's offensive line is going to have to protect jackson Arnold better down the stretch. But here's the thing. I'm not sure they're going to play a lot of teams this season that are going to have a pass rush as good as Oklahoma. And I think that's what I keep coming back to. I know I said at the beginning of this video, but this feels so

different than when Oklahoma went to Auburn in one last year. It felt like those were two teams that were not very good, that were just kind of having a, I don't know, a pillow fight. And that game turned on a very bad interception thrown by Peyton Thorne, and Oklahoma wins. This time, I don't feel like anybody is a dog in this game. I don't feel like anybody played exceptionally poorly. I mean, you may want to criticize Jackson Arnold for taking the sacks, but there wasn't much he could do in that situation. They needed to protect him better.

He still winds up throwing for 200 yards on 21 to 32 passing. It's not the most efficient day. Didn't throw a pick, though there were two that Oklahoma dropped in the first. half that probably should have been picks. But I thought Jackson Arnold play well in a tough road environment that used to be his home stadium. John Mateer, meanwhile, 24 of 36, 271 yards, one TD. It's not his best passing day either, but he came through when it was necessary. And I think that the difference here, and it probably did come down to who had the better quarterback. So, you know, if you're Oklahoma and you want to say in that exchange or in that the change of quarterbacks, they came out ahead.

I would agree with that. I think John Mateer was the better quarterback. I don't think Jackson Arnold played terribly, and I think Jackson Arnold is going to lead Auburn to a lot of wins this year. But John Mateer just had a little bit better pocket presence, a little more escapeability, and that was the difference. Yes, a little. Auburn's pass rush, not as good as Oklahoma's pass rush.

I got some hecklers here. They said, a little, a little. No, listen, Mateer's escapability is the difference in this game because what would have been sacks on the other side were not sacks of John Mateer. And I think that was the biggest difference in the game. So that is going to work out for Oklahoma. And I got to tell you, watching this game and watching Arch Manning play this year, Red River is going to be interesting. Red River is going to be really interesting because if the Arch Manning that you saw against Utep shows up, Against that defense that just put Jackson Arnold on the ground 11 times, that's going to be something.

That's going to be a very, very interesting game. But in general, Oklahoma, in the off season, going out and getting Ben Arbuckle, going out and getting John Matier, they did what they needed to do. They got a quarterback that makes them competitive in the SEC, and they should be thinking playoffs. They should be thinking SEC championship. They should be thinking all of it. Auburn should not let this loss wreck its season. Auburn still has a lot ahead of it. Again, last year when Auburn lost and it looked like losses previous,

you thought, okay, this is what they're going to be. But I look at the way Auburn came back in this game because Oklahoma was controlling it for most of the game. Auburn came back. They convert the fourth and long. They go score. that's the kind of thing you've got to be able to do to win in this league. It didn't work today, but it's going to work down the road.

So I don't feel negative about either of these teams. I do feel like they have a lot in front of them. But John McTeer, you know, he's on the top of every Heisman list. There's a reason for it. He's going to stay on the top of every Heisman list. Because what he did today against a really good defense, the numbers aren't off the charts great, but the moments were there,

that last touchdown. Remember, he struggled to run. Their design quarterback runs in this game not nearly as effective as what John Mateer's used to. But that last one, that's when it mattered, he got in the end zone. And I think that's the important thing. So, very excited for this.

I hate that Ari had to miss it. or he was at his daughter's birthday party. He was playing pin the tail on the donkey. I was watching an incredible football game. But remember, we have the wrap-up show, 11.30 p.m. Eastern Time. We got games starting in Miami, Florida and Miami. We got games starting in Bloomington, Indiana, Illinois, Indiana. We got to talk about Nebraska and Michigan.

We got to talk about a bunch of crazy games. Clemson getting truck-sticked by Syracuse, home we have a lot to talk about tonight but i think here they have a lot of celebrating to do after the game ended favorite son toby keith grew up in more oklahoma just up by 35 from here comes blaring through the speakers the late great toby keith how do you like me now compared to last season i like you a hell of a lot better oklahoma and i am very very excited about what you can be You know, best one.