Oklahoma Caps Off 10-2 Season With Statement Win, Eyes College Football Playoff Positioning
In a season that’s been anything but predictable, Oklahoma finished its regular-season campaign with a gritty 17-13 win over LSU, closing out November undefeated and holding firm at No. 8 in the latest AP poll. The Sooners are now 10-2 overall and 6-2 in SEC play, and while the AP ranking is a nice nod, all eyes in Norman are on what the College Football Playoff committee decides next.
Let’s be clear: Oklahoma didn’t just stumble into the top 10. This was a team that found its rhythm late, rattling off four straight wins in November - including two on the road against ranked SEC opponents - and showing the kind of resilience that playoff contenders are built on.
Their final stretch included victories over No. 18 Michigan, No.
10 Alabama, and No. 25 Missouri.
Even Tennessee, who OU beat on the road earlier in the month, is still hanging around just outside the top 25.
The Sooners’ only blemishes came against Ole Miss and Texas - two teams still firmly in the playoff conversation themselves, ranked No. 6 and No. 14, respectively. But what Oklahoma has done since those losses is what’s turned heads. They’ve tightened up defensively, leaned on timely offensive playmaking, and shown the kind of grit that defines championship-caliber squads.
Saturday’s win over LSU was a perfect snapshot of that growth. It wasn’t pretty - far from it - but it was gutsy.
Quarterback John Mateer had one of the more rollercoaster performances of his season, throwing three interceptions but also delivering two massive touchdown strikes: a 45-yarder to Deion Burks and a 58-yard bomb to Isaiah Sategna. That second one gave Oklahoma the lead for good with under five minutes to play, capping off a comeback that saw the Sooners erase two second-half deficits.
Mateer finished with 318 passing yards - his highest total since Week 1 - and while the turnovers could’ve sunk them, his ability to bounce back in crunch time was the difference. That kind of mental toughness, especially against a physical LSU defense, is exactly what coaches want to see heading into postseason play.
But Mateer didn’t do it alone. Oklahoma’s defense was lights out.
The Sooners held LSU to just 198 total yards and 3.6 yards per play - both season lows for the Tigers and their worst output since a 2018 loss to Alabama. The defense came through with several game-saving plays, including a red-zone interception by Peyton Bowen after Mateer’s first pick, and a clutch fourth-down pass breakup by Bowen with just over a minute left to seal the win.
That’s the formula Oklahoma’s been riding: bend-but-don’t-break defense, explosive offense when it counts, and a team that doesn’t flinch when the pressure’s on.
Now, with the regular season in the books, the Sooners await their fate in the College Football Playoff rankings. They were No. 8 in last week’s CFP poll - same as the AP - which puts them in prime position to potentially host a first-round playoff game under the new 12-team format.
But nothing’s guaranteed. Championship weekend looms, and with it, a final reshuffling of the rankings.
What Oklahoma has done, though, is make a compelling case. They’ve beaten three ranked teams, survived the gauntlet of SEC play, and closed the season on a four-game heater. If the committee values momentum, quality wins, and strong finishes - and history says they do - the Sooners might just be in line for a home playoff game at Owen Field.
For now, Oklahoma fans can enjoy the ride. The Sooners are back in the national spotlight, and they’ve earned every bit of it.