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Campus Clash

(22) Auburn Tigers at (11) Oklahoma Sooners

Auburn: (3-0)

This is one of Auburn’s best starts in recent memory. In an SEC where nine teams are still undefeated, Hugh Freeze has his Tigers off to a flying start. That kind of early-season success has been rare for Auburn lately — this is a program that hasn’t won a national championship since 2010, when Cam Newton led the charge, and their last title game appearance came in 2014 in a loss to Florida State. So, what’s been the key to their hot start? First, the addition of Eric Singleton Jr. has added a new dimension to the passing game. The Georgia Tech transfer has made an immediate impact with his speed, separation skills, contested-catch ability, and red zone production. He’s quickly become a go-to target. On top of that, Auburn has been able to run the football at will, dominating the line of scrimmage. The quarterback play has also seen a noticeable jump with Jackson Arnold, who transferred from Oklahoma. Watching him on tape, he looks far more comfortable in Freeze’s system than he ever did at Oklahoma. Sometimes, a change of scenery is exactly what a player needs — and that seems to be the case here. This Saturday afternoon, Freeze and Arnold will return to Norman in what promises to be one of the weekend’s marquee matchups.

Oklahoma: (3-0)

I got a good look at the Sooners in Week 2, and I came away impressed. Offensively, they’re already a step ahead of where they were last season, where consistency was hard to come by. Now? This offense is starting to look like the Oklahoma teams we saw during the Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, and Jalen Hurts era — but with a bit more balance. When I was talking to Israel Rivera (who I record College Football Showdown with), he asked me who the most impactful transfer in the country has been. I didn’t hesitate — I said John Mateer. He showed me everything I needed to see in that win against Michigan: poise, arm talent, mobility, and the ability to make throws on the move. He’s confident, and he makes the offense go. That said, Oklahoma still needs a more consistent running game to take some of the load off Mateer. Against Michigan, he carried the ball 19 times for 74 yards. That’s too much for a QB over the long haul — especially in the SEC. Still, this group handled its business against Temple in Week 3, avoiding the classic trap-game scenario. Defensively, this is exactly what you expect from a Brent Venables team. They fly to the football, they hit, and they’re disciplined. Now, they get to welcome a familiar face back to town.

Auburn X-Factor: Jeremiah Cobb

Cobb has been the heartbeat of Auburn’s ground game. He might not have world-class top-end speed, but he has excellent vision, patience, and short-area burst. He consistently finds space in tight windows and can break through to the second and third levels. On top of that, he’s a capable receiver out of the backfield, adding another layer to this offense. He’ll be critical this week against a physical Oklahoma front.

Oklahoma X-Factor: Danny Stutsman

I’ve raved about this kid on the radio and on this site. Stutsman is one of the best linebackers in the country and the emotional leader of this Oklahoma defense. He’s got elite speed, a nose for the football, and he hits like a truck. Every team needs a guy like him — a tone-setter. And in a game like this, his impact could be the difference.

Final Thoughts:

This is a battle of two unbeaten SEC teams, but the storyline writes itself: Jackson Arnold returns to Oklahoma. Brent Venables knows this kid’s tendencies, strengths, and weaknesses better than anyone. Expect the Sooners to throw a variety of looks at him to disrupt his rhythm. The question is: can Auburn’s offensive line hold up? If I’m Auburn, the key is to run the ball and get the ball out of Arnold’s hands quickly. You can neutralize pressure if the ball is already gone. Cobb’s presence in both the run and pass game will be essential. Still, I give the edge to Oklahoma. They have the more polished passing attack, they convert better on third down, and they’ve shown more red zone balance. If they can find even modest success running the ball, they should be able to wear Auburn down over four quarters.

Prediction:

Oklahoma 31, Auburn 17