Saturday’s clash between Oklahoma and LSU had all the makings of a heavyweight showdown, but it was a freshman cornerback and a pregame misstep that stole the headlines.
Before No. 8 Oklahoma punched its ticket to the College Football Playoff with a gritty 17-13 win over LSU, Tigers wide receiver Barion Brown made waves for all the wrong reasons.
During warmups at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Brown was caught on video scraping up the painted grass in the end zone with his cleats-kicking up turf with each step like he had a score to settle with the field itself. It was a moment that quickly went viral, and one that Oklahoma’s Courtland Guillory didn’t forget.
Brown, a senior and one of LSU’s most dynamic offensive weapons, didn’t just have a quiet game-he had his least productive outing of the season. He finished with just three catches for nine yards, all while being shadowed for most of the afternoon by Guillory, a true freshman who played like anything but.
To put it in perspective: this was the first time all season Brown failed to crack double-digit receiving yards. And it came in the biggest game of LSU’s year, with a playoff spot on the line.
After the final whistle and the Sooners’ celebration, Guillory took to Instagram to send a subtle but pointed reminder. Sharing the viral clip of Brown’s pregame antics, Guillory tagged the LSU wideout and added a simple caption: “9 yards btw.” No trash talk, no theatrics-just a quiet flex from a freshman who backed it up on the field.
Guillory has been a revelation for Oklahoma this season. Despite being just a year removed from high school, the former four-star recruit has started nine of the Sooners’ 12 regular-season games, racking up 39 tackles and six pass breakups. He’s quickly become a key piece in a secondary that’s helped fuel Oklahoma’s playoff run.
What makes Guillory’s performance Saturday even more impressive is the stage. This wasn’t a midseason tune-up-it was a CFP eliminator.
And he was lined up across from a seasoned senior with a reputation for big plays. Yet Guillory didn’t blink.
He played with poise, physicality, and the kind of confidence that makes you forget he’s still in his first year.
As for Brown, it’s a tough pill to swallow. The viral moment before kickoff was meant to show swagger, maybe even send a message.
Instead, it became a footnote to a frustrating afternoon. And Guillory made sure that message got flipped on its head.
In the end, it’s Oklahoma moving on-and Guillory proving that even in a game full of stars, sometimes it’s the youngest guy on the field who shines the brightest.